For this week’s nonscientific survey of political and government insiders, we asked about the state’s infrastructure problems, about tax incentives for a cash-rich company and about the economic effects of Texas vs. the EPA.
Economy
Get the latest on jobs, business, growth, and policy shaping the state’s economy with in-depth reporting from The Texas Tribune.
Posted in
Economy
Conservative Budget Coalition Targets 2013 Session
Looking to get an early start on shaping the budget discussions for the 2013 legislative session, the Texans for a Conservative Budget Coalition has made recommendations to lawmakers.
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Criminal Justice
Texas Gets a D+ in Public Integrity Study
Texas has scored a 68 out of 100, placing 27th in a national state integrity study. The state got high marks for auditing and for monitoring pension funds, but not as high for accountability of the governor and legislators.
Posted inEconomy, State Government
Interactive: Texas’ Economy Bounces Back
Since Texas’ lowest dip in the recession, the state has added nearly 500,000 jobs. This interactive explores how the economy has changed by industry and region.
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Economy
State Spends Big to Pay Outgoing Workers for Unused Vacation Time
State agencies have paid fired or resigning state employees more than $500 million in unused vacation time over the last decade.
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Economy
Tax Breaks for Sporting Events Raise Questions
Critics are questioning the use of state money they say is being spent to attract sporting events that originated in Texas and don’t appear to be leaving anytime soon.
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Economy
Texas Still on Track to Economic Recovery
Still on the track to recovery, Texas added 67,200 jobs in January. For the 18th consecutive month employment in the state has grown. In 2011, the state gained a total of 258,200 jobs.
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Demographics
Arturo Vargas: The TT Interview
The executive director of NALEO’s Educational Fund on what it will take to motivate Latinos to vote this year, why immigration isn’t the group’s only concern and why voter ID legislation is a bad idea.
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Economy
UH Creates Fund to Attract Science and Technology Faculty
University of Houston President Renu Khator is setting aside $30 million to bring in 60 new faculty members over the next two years, all of them in the science, technology, engineering and math fields.
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University of Texas/Texas Tribune Polls
Video: Three Takeaways From the Latest UT/TT Poll
This week, the University of Texas and The Texas Tribune released results from our latest poll measuring voter attitudes. The Tribune’s Thanh Tan talks to executive editor Ross Ramsey about the major takeaways.