The lead budget writers from the House and Senate answered questions about the budget they’ve agreed upon, admitting they don’t have all of the details yet and saying they could vote on the final plan this coming weekend.
Economy
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Economy
Budget Negotiators Agree on Education Funding
House and Senate negotiators agreed on spending on education, state salaries and benefits this morning and hope to have the final vote on the 2012-13 budget sometime this weekend.
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University of Texas/Texas Tribune Polls
No Clear Signals on Budget, UT/TT Poll Finds
Voters still want lawmakers to cut the budget, but they still oppose the major cuts in education and health and human services that cutting the budget requires, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll.
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Economy
Anxious High School Seniors Await Word on College Grants
Thousands of Texas students have been forced to put their college plans on hold as the Legislature, working on the state budget, determines what level of funding there will be for TEXAS Grants, the state’s principal financial aid program for financially needy college students.
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Economy
The Budget: Where Everything Stands
Where did the time go? Texas legislators are a mere nine days away from the end of the session and still have to finish work on several bills to finish up their budget for the two-year period that starts September 1.
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Economy
Budget Update: House Passes Key Fiscal Matters Bill
After days of debate, the House finally passed a key fiscal matters bill — Senate Bill 1811 — that raises necessary funds to balance the proposed budget.
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Economy
Budget Stalls Over Education, Questions About Funding Sources
After a chaotic day of stops and starts and private meetings, Texas lawmakers don’t have a budget deal yet. Unless key pieces of legislation are passed soon, lawmakers are almost guaranteed to be back this summer for a special session.
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Economy
Video: Ogden- Special Session Likely
Senate Finance Chair Steve Ogden, R-Bryan, says there is still no consensus on education funding or SB 1811, a revenue bill that would balance the state budget. Meanwhile, GOP members of the House left a caucus meeting without divulging details of what they discussed and then the House postponed consideration of two fiscal bills critical to the budget until tomorrow. “So, we’re stuck,” Ogden said.
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Economy
Liveblog: Will House Take Up “Christmas Tree” Fiscal Bills?
State reps will try to hang a grab bag of amendments onto Senate Bills 1811 and 1581 — two critical pieces of legislation the House takes up today that could determine whether a budget is passed and a special session averted. Click here for our liveblog of the action.
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Economy
Budget Update: Ogden Says They’re Stuck; Straus Says They’re Close
As of Wednesday afternoon, two powerful budget figures differed on the status of the budget process.