At our 4/29 symposium on the Texas economy, I talked with Comptroller of Public Accounts Glenn Hegar about the price of oil, economic incentives, taxes, spending, Texas vs. D.C., and more.
Economy
Get the latest on jobs, business, growth, and policy shaping the state’s economy with in-depth reporting from The Texas Tribune.
Video: A Conversation about the Business Climate
At our 4/29 symposium on the Texas economy, I talked about the state’s business climate with state Sen. Konni Burton, R-Colleyville, Bill Hammond of the Texas Association of Business, Greg LeRoy of Good Jobs First, and state Rep. Jason Villalba, R-Dallas.
Video: A Conversation about Taxes
At our 4/29 symposium on the Texas economy, the Houston Chronicle’s Chris Tomlinson talked about taxes with state Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, 2014 Democratic candidate for comptroller Mike Collier, state Rep. Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton, and Dale Craymer of the Texas Taxpayers and Research Association.
Video: A Conversation about the State Budget
At our 4/29 symposium on the Texas economy, Ross Ramsey talked about the state budget and spending with state Sens. Larry Taylor, R-Friendswood, and Sylvia Garcia, D-Houston, and state Reps. John Otto, R-Dayton, and Donna Howard, D-Austin.
Texas Lawmaker Warns of Outer Space Death Pulse
A Texas state senator is redefining scorched-earth politics, trying to make sure Americans — and Texans — are prepared for electromagnetic pulses from space that could spell the end of civilization.
Dallas Business Leaders Back Hunt In Oncor Bid
A smorgasbord of big-name Dallasites — including a Hall-of-Fame Dallas Cowboy quarterback — is supporting a Ray L. Hunt-led investment group’s request that Texas regulators reopen proceedings in its bid to buy the state’s largest electric utility.
State Workers Want Pensions to Catch Up
Thousands of retired Texas state workers are essentially stuck in 2001. Though health care, food and pretty much everything else keep getting more expensive, their monthly pension checks haven’t budged.
Hunt Group Asks For Re-hearing on Oncor Bid
Nearly one month after Texas regulators approved — with major stipulations — Ray L. Hunt’s plan to buy Oncor and reshape it into a real estate investment trust, the Dallas oilman and his investors want a do-over.
Years Later, Benefits from State Subsidy to Chevron Hard to Find
Texas announced in 2013 it was giving Chevron millions of dollars toward building a new office tower and creating 1,752 jobs. More than two years later, the site of the building remains a grassy lot and Chevron has laid off hundreds of workers.
In Texas Drilling Country, Oil Plunge Means Too Many Rooms at the Inn
Cotulla, population 4,000, built 20 hotels during a yearslong oil boom, calling itself the “Hotel Capital” of the Eagle Ford Shale. A plunge in oil prices has prompted questions about whether that was a good idea.



