At our 4/30 conversation, state Rep. Sylvester Turner, D-Houston, vice chairman of the House Appropriations Committee and a candidate for Houston mayor, talked about the events this week in Baltimore — and the takeaways for other big cities.
Sylvester Turner
Posted in
Economy
Video: A Conversation With Sylvester Turner
Full video of my 4/30 conversation with state Rep. Sylvester Turner, D-Houston, vice chairman of the House Appropriations Committee and a candidate for Houston mayor.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Chambers Not Too Far Apart on Border Security
Despite appearances, the House and Senate aren’t too far apart on border security funding, says the lone border lawmaker on the budget conference committee. One sticking point is funding for state trooper pay.
Posted inState Government
The Brief: April 29, 2015
Gone are accusations of gamesmanship as lawmakers get to work finding common ground on the session’s border security bill.
Posted in
Energy
Bill Would Ban Fees for Conserving Electricity
One state lawmaker has an idea to encourage Texans to conserve energy: Stop charging them for doing so. Rep. Sylvester Turner’s legislation would bar companies from charging customers for using too little energy – a common practice.
Posted inState Government
The Brief: April 2, 2015
The blowback experienced by Indiana over its religious freedom law has Texas’ largest business organization worried about efforts this session to update this state’s law on the subject.
Posted in
Economy
After 18-Hour Debate, House Gives Early Approval to Budget
After an overnight debate that veered from polite disagreements to an angry outburst, the Texas House tentatively passed a $210 billion two-year budget early Wednesday morning with a 141 to 5 vote.
Posted inState Government
The Brief: March 30, 2015
The reviews are in for Ted Cruz’s first campaign swing this weekend through New Hampshire, a key early presidential primary state.
Posted inState Government
The Brief: March 25, 2015
GOP budget writers had help closing the books on the Medicaid program for the current fiscal year with help from an unlikely source — the Affordable Care Act.
Posted in
State Government
$209.8 Billion Budget Plan Headed to House Floor
The House Appropriations Committee on Tuesday backed a $209.8 billion two-year budget that would leave $8.4 billion on the table, along with billions more in the state’s savings account. The budget plan now goes to the full House.
