Gains in Texas Budget a Source of Hot Debate
Does Texas need a constitutional cap on spending growth to protect it from the whims of future lawmakers or save it from the current ones? Supporters of the proposal are at odds. Full Story
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Tax Incentives Could Prove Divisive For GOP
Republican leaders like to say government should just get out of the way and let the private sector do work its unfettered magic. But during the session, they may have a hard time squaring their stated philosophy with their support for tax giveaways to private industry. Full Story
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What if Government Officials Were Scrutinized Like Football Coaches?
Imagine a government as accountable to voters for its performance as football coaches are to the ire of fans and boosters. Full Story
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TribLive: Seliger on the Cost of a College Education
At this morning's TribLive conversation, state Sen. Kel Seliger, R-Amarillo, the chairman of the Senate Higher Education Committee, discussed the prospect of tuition reregulation and whether the state is adequately funding higher ed. Full Story
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Two Years After Big Cuts, Battle Over Budget Caps Looms
After the Legislature cut billions of dollars from the state budget in 2011, some hoped to see at least some of the funding restored in 2013. But with the next legislative session quickly approaching, others are pushing to limit that spending. Full Story
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State Leaders Adopt Spending Cap for 2014-15 Budget
State leaders including Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and House Speaker Joe Straus on Thursday voted to cap the state’s spending growth rate at 10.71 percent for the next-two year budget. Full Story
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College Funding Turns on Definition of "Provide"
The state of Texas used to cover half of the costs of higher education at state colleges and universities. Now it's around 13 percent at the University of Texas at Austin and 22 percent at Texas A&M University in College Station. Full Story
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F1 Drivers to Start Their Engines in Unlikely Spot
Austin will be the epicenter of the auto racing world this month when its new, $400 million track — the Circuit of the Americas — hosts the first Formula One race in the United States since 2007. Full Story
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U.S.-Panama Trade Pact Brings Hope, Controversy
A free trade agreement between the U.S. and Panama takes effect Wednesday, bringing with it the controversy over jobs and taxes that is associated with all tariff-reducing agreements. Full Story
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UT/TT Poll: Economic Issues Are Top Concerns
Economic and immigration issues remain top concerns in the state, according to the University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll. Full Story
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UT/TT Poll: Most Texans Say U.S. on Wrong Track
Most Texans believe that the country is on the wrong track but that the state is headed in the right direction, according to the University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll conducted this month. Full Story
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Inside Intelligence: The Political Environment
For this week's nonscientific survey of politics and government insiders, we asked about the direction of the state and the country, the state of the economy and the most important problems facing Texas and the U.S. Full Story
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Texas Unemployment Rate Fell to 6.8 Percent in September
Texas added 21,000 nonfarm jobs in September, according to numbers released Friday by the Texas Workforce Commission. The gains brought the state's unemployment rate to 6.8 percent, down from August's 7.1 percent. Full Story
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At Budget Meetings, Policy Decisions Few Voters Notice
A couple of key "process" decisions — adopting an official prediction of how much the economy and population will grow, and deciding how big a patch to put on the current state budget — could limit state spending for the next two years. Full Story
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Something Borrowed, Something Sued
The decision that comes from the school finance trial that will begin on Oct. 22 will set the tone for the next round of reforms. But there’s a separate conversation happening outside the courtroom that could be equally instructive — and indicates funding for schools may face challenges not only at the state but the local level. Full Story
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State Lawmakers Take Aim at Accounting Tricks
Some of the extra tax revenue the state has recently found will be needed to help pay for accounting gimmicks used to help balance the current budget. Ahead of the next legislative session, lawmakers are looking to put an end to such tricks. Full Story
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Readying a Rail Bridge Over the Rio Grande
It has been more than 100 years since Texas and Mexico saw a new railroad line that spans both countries. That streak is set to end this year with the expected completion of the Brownsville West Rail Bypass International Bridge. Full Story
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Interactive: Measuring the Gender Wage Gap
Women in Texas made 70 cents for every $1 that men made in 2011, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey. Use this interactive to examine the gender wage gap in Texas by industry and region. Full Story
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Inside Intelligence: About Those Money-Makers...
For this week's nonscientific survey of government and political insiders, we asked about tax reform, swapping local property taxes for something else, and whether voters and legislators are on the same page on casinos. Full Story
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Guest Column: Wake Up — Schools Are Failing
Texas local school bureaucrats are not graduating enough of our students ready for college or career. We need to wake up, and wake up now, to the deeper truth that it is time to stop blaming the messengers. It is time to fix the problem. Full Story
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