Property Tax Easy to Hate, Tough to Mess With
Property tax bills are big, but they have a couple of political advantages for legislators. For one thing, they don't take most of the blame over those levies. Full Story
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Even in Budget Crunch, Tax-Free Weekend Lives On
Texas may miss out on the $65 million shoppers are expected to save during tax-free weekend, which starts today. But even as the state faces further budget shortfalls, the holiday, created in 1999, still draws bipartisan support. Full Story
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Additional Tax for Small Tobacco Companies Debated
The state House Ways and Means Committee heard discussion Tuesday on a possible extra tax on small tobacco companies to equalize what the big tobacco companies call a competitive advantage because of pricing. Full Story
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Guest Column: Why Democrats Should Support a Tax Cut
When it makes sense, we shouldn’t act as if we will never consider tax cuts as an economic stimulant. In fact, if Democrats really want to shed our image as the taxing party, there’s a tremendous opportunity staring us in the face. Full Story
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Texas Weekly Newsreel: Guide to Texas Races
This week on the Newsreel, check out our guide to upcoming Texas political races. And, with the runoffs out of the way, lawmakers start talking about the session ahead — and the state budget. Full Story
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State's Economic Forecast a Mixed Bag
The comptroller's office announced Friday in its latest financial update that while the state will have more money in its coffers than previously thought, uncertainty about global economic strains could hurt Texas' two main money makers: energy and exports. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
Texas Feeling Effects of National Trucker Shortage
Though unemployment remains relatively high nationally, Texas faces a dearth of qualified truckers, spurred by high training costs and what some consider overly strict government regulations. And the state's economy is feeling the strain. Full Story
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Employment Figures Reflect Little Change in Texas Economy
Texas added 12,900 nonfarming jobs last month, keeping the unemployment rate virtually the same as it was in May, according to statistics released Friday by the Texas Workforce Commission. Full Story
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Straus: Process to End Budget Diversions Starts Now
Texas House Speaker Joe Straus called on lawmakers Monday to start figuring out how to stop diverting billions of dollars in dedicated taxes and fees that are being used to balance state budgets. Full Story
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Perry's UI Bet Pays Off
In 2009, Gov. Rick Perry rejected a $555 million offer from the Feds to cover unemployment insurance, then turned around and asked the Feds for a loan. Critics jumped, but that was likely the plan all along, and for the governor, it worked out fine. Full Story
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Texas Scientists Regret Loss of Higgs Boson Quest
As European scientists reveal groundbreaking discoveries about the Higgs boson particle, Texas scientists reflect with regret about a machine that got partly built near Dallas. They say it would've accomplished the mission a decade earlier. Full Story
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Interactive: U.S. Census Data Reveals Texas Business Patterns
It's not booming, but business in Texas has picked up. This interactive uses newly released U.S. Census Bureau data to show business patterns by county and Texas' economic progress through the recession. Full Story
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Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman / Becca Aaronson -
Decision Frees Cable Companies to Pursue State-Issued Franchises
Cable companies can now break existing contracts with cities, negotiating instead for state-issued franchises, after the U.S. Supreme Court decided not to hear an appeal of a ruling that declared a 2005 Texas law unconstitutional. Full Story
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Mexico Invited to Join Trade Pact Talk
After being excluded from the initial dialogue over a Pacific free-trade partnership that includes the U.S., Mexico has officially been invited to join the discussion. Full Story
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Perry Confident Romney Can Win Hispanic Vote, Defends Endorsement
Gov. Rick Perry on Wednesday discussed his support for Mitt Romney, his confidence that minorities will support Republicans and the state's economic development. Full Story
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North Dakota Property Tax Debate Echoes in Texas
North Dakotans on Tuesday rejected a controversial measure that would have made their state the first in the nation to abolish property taxes. As Andy Uhler of KUT News reports, while some conservatives in Texas have suggested similar measures, officials have warned the state to proceed with caution. Full Story
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Interactive: Food Insecurity and the Impact of Food Stamps in Texas
Use these interactive maps to compare the level of food insecurity across Texas to the number of Texans who receive federal food stamps and the estimated economic impact of the food assistance funding. Full Story
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State Agencies Ordered to Propose Budget Cuts
The Legislative Budget Board — headed by House Speaker Joe Straus and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst — is asking state agencies to assume they'll have 10 percent less to spend in the next budget than they have now. Full Story
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State Grappling With Panama Canal Expansion
A massive expansion of the Panama Canal will double the capacity of its trade route by 2014. As Andy Uhler of KUT News reports, it will likely mean a significant increase in freight traffic for Texas, which is looking at how to accommodate the extra boats, trucks and trains set to travel through the state. Full Story
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Interactive: Public Agencies With Access to Employment Data
Nearly 100 local government entities in Texas have online access to a database with Texans’ employment information. This interactive shows which entities access the database — and how often. Full Story
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Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman / Becca Aaronson
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