The courts aren’t expected to finish their work on school finance until after the regular legislative session, giving lawmakers an excuse for leaving some expensive work incomplete for now.
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
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.
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Economy
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.
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Economy
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.
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Economy
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.
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Economy
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.
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Economy
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.
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Economy
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.
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Economy
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.
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Economy
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.