The Texas House’s chief budget writer filed legislation Friday that would pave the way for lawmakers to claw back billions of dollars that voters approved for state highways, freeing them up for other budget needs.
Economy
Get the latest on jobs, business, growth, and policy shaping the state’s economy with in-depth reporting from The Texas Tribune.
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Economy
GOP lawmaker wants Texas law to catch up to driverless cars
State Rep. Charlie Geren filed a bill this week that aims to overcome the car industry opposition that crushed an autonomous vehicle bill two years ago. But he says there’s lots of work left to do on it.
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Criminal Justice
In border meeting, Sid Miller suggests distance with Trump on border wall, immigration
Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller on Thursday left the tough talk on immigration in Austin while he held a historic press conference on one of the country’s busiest international bridges to Mexico.
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Criminal Justice
Texas House’s chief budget writer: State shouldn’t cut border security funding
The Texas’ House’s chief budget writer said that President Trump’s emergence in Washington shouldn’t give state lawmakers license to slice hefty appropriations for border security — at least not yet.
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Economy
How to pay for a $12 billion bullet train without asking Texas for money
Texas Central Partners says global interest in American infrastructure will fund and finance a high-speed rail line from Dallas to Houston. Experts and critics are more skeptical.
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Economy
Texas’ rural roots and urban future are on a high-speed collision course
A private firm’s proposed Houston-Dallas bullet train would connect two of America’s biggest metropolitan areas. But the 240-mile line would require a lot of country land that many Texans don’t want to give up.
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Economy
“Come and take it”: Eminent domain dispute at heart of bullet train battles
In both courthouses and at the Capitol, opponents of a private company’s plans to build a Dallas-Houston bullet train have zeroed on in the firm’s claim that it has the authority to take land by condemnation if necessary.
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University of Texas/Texas Tribune Polls
UT/TT Poll: A change in party control prompts a change in Texans’ moods
Texas voters’ feelings about the direction of the country and the national economy flipped when Donald Trump’s new administration came in — with a notable partisan difference of opinion.
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Criminal Justice
Travis County sheriff announces new “sanctuary” policy
A Friday announcement by newly-elected Travis County Sheriff Sally Hernandez that her office would reduce cooperation with federal immigration authorities will set up a showdown with Texas Republican leaders, especially Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.
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Economy
With no Trump-style incentives, Tyler lost its Carrier plant to Mexico
When news of President-elect Donald Trump’s deal with Carrier’s Indiana plant reached Tyler, Texas, it felt personal. The East Texas city lost hundreds of jobs when its local Carrier plant shut its doors in 2013.