Local governments are anticipating a new program aimed at reducing wait times at the nation’s ports. Under the plan, local governments will request extra staffing at border crossings and reimburse the federal government for the services.
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
At Border Conference, Speakers Talk Trade, Infrastructure
During a conference on border-related issues Wednesday, U.S. and Mexican officials lauded the growing trade relationship between the two countries. But they added that out-of-touch lawmakers are hindering the economic relationship.
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Criminal Justice
Video: Texas Closes Two Privately Run Jails
For only the second time in the state’s history, Texas lawmakers are closing inmate facilities to reduce bed capacity as the state’s prison population continues to drop.
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Economy
Agenda Texas: Discussing Budget Priorities
On the latest Agenda Texas, from KUT News and the Tribune: State Rep. Van Taylor, R-Plano, who spent much of the session pushing for tighter budget constraints and tax cuts, discusses his budget philosophy this session.
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Economy
Transportation Funding on Track to Becoming Major Issue in 2015
While abortion legislation is drawing all the attention in this second special session, lawmakers are also trying for the third time this year to find some extra money for the Texas Department of Transportation.
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Economy
Texas Hopes to Compete for Data Center Business
Texas hopes to jump back into contention in the data center industry with the passage of House Bill 1223, a set of tax incentives for facilities that invest $200 million or more in the state.
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University of Texas/Texas Tribune Polls
UT/TT Poll: Rising Concerns Over Political Corruption, Leadership
Most Texans still see the nation as being on the wrong track, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll. And the issue of political corruption and leadership is rising on Texans’ list of top problems facing the country.
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Demographics
Video: In Ad, Staples Says He’ll Fight for Texas’ Future
In a new video, Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples, a declared candidate for lieutenant governor in 2014, vows that he will fight back against progressives who want to turn tomorrow’s Texas into the California or Washington, D.C., of today.
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Economy
Perry Issues More Than Two Dozen Vetoes
Gov. Rick Perry issued more than two dozen vetoes Friday, including a line-item veto that wipes out funding for the Travis County prosecutors who investigate government fraud and public corruption. He also vetoed a bill that would have had Texas law mirror gender wage protections in the federal Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009.
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Economy
Roads Funding Plan Draws Debate on State’s Piggy Bank
Two days after Gov. Rick Perry added transportation funding to the special session agenda, the Senate Finance Committee debated a bill that would increase road dollars by slowing the flow of money into the state’s Rainy Day Fund.
