The state has a Rainy Day Fund with billions of dollars in it, but Texas lawmakers would rather use accounting tricks to balance their next budget.
Texas Legislature
Posted in
Politics
House passes budget after more than 15-hour debate
After 15 and a half hours of debate on hundreds of amendments to the Texas House budget, lawmakers in the lower chamber passed the two-year, $218 billion document, with 131 votes in favor and 16 votes against.
Posted in
State Government
As lawmakers try to fix city pensions, personal and business ties emerge
Several Texas lawmakers have personal or business ties to the Houston and Dallas pension systems, as the Legislature considers bills aimed at fixing both cities’ pension problems.
Posted in
Economy
Amid clash over procedure, Texas House moves to defund Enterprise Fund
While the Texas House on Thursday voted to defund a controversial economic development program and put the money toward services for vulnerable children, a group of Tea Party Republicans complained about the way the vote was handled.
Posted in
State Government
House delivers rebuke to TABC, cuts travel budget
The Texas House on Thursday voted unanimously to cut the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission’s travel budget and restrict its use of money from outside groups.
Posted in
Health care
Texas families fear closure of state homes for people with disabilities
Legislators are considering a bill that would create a commission tasked with determining the fate of Texas’ 13 state supported living centers by 2018.
Posted in
State Government
Three things to know as the Texas House kicks off a marathon budget debate
If history is any guide, the Texas House is poised for a long day with its fair share of drama as the chamber takes up a $218 billion budget that has drawn 400 proposed amendments.
Posted in
Higher Education
Texas lawmakers might let community colleges offer bachelor’s degrees
More than a dozen bills have been filed this session that would let more two-year colleges offer four-year degrees.
Posted in
Higher Education
Texas senators mull eliminating Top 10 Percent Rule
The Senate Higher Education Committee on Wednesday reviewed the state’s automatic college admissions rule, which is popular among minorities but loathed among many suburban students and parents.
Posted in
Politics
Bills aimed at controversial Dallas-Houston bullet train sail out of Senate committee
Five bills approved by the Senate Transportation Committee Wednesday would impact or hinder a private company’s plans to build a bullet train from Dallas to Houston.
