Loving County, in far West Texas, spent about $1,100 per resident in U.S. Department of Homeland Security grant funds from 2003 to 2008. Compare that with Harris County, which spent less than $6 per resident. Contemplate the disparity — and search for individual purchases with DHS grant money — using our latest data application.
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
“Big Government Conservatism”
Sound economic policy was sacrificed on the altar of short-term political gain in the George W. Bush administration. This buying of political support with taxpayers’ money brings to mind the words of Alexis de Tocqueville in Democracy in America: “The American Republic will endure until the day Congress discovers that it can bribe the public with the public’s money.”
Posted in
Economy
George W. Bush Was No Ronald Reagan
When the George W. Bush administration turned out to be a failure, “conservatism” got the blame — even though Donald Rumsfeld and Dick Cheney (like so many others who served alongside them) had been part of the anti-Reagan wing of the Republican Party.
Posted in
Economy
TribBlog: Texas Unemployment Rises
More than 1 million Texans were unemployed in January, according to new numbers from the Texas Workforce Commission. Unemployment in the state hit 8.6 percent in January, up from 8 percent the month before and 6.8 percent in January 2009. The comparable national rate was 10.6 percent.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Sup. Ct. 9: Guzman Keeps Her Seat
Eva Guzman hung on to her recently secured spot on the Texas Supreme Court with a robust lead over Rose Vela, her challenger from the 13th Court of Appeals.
Posted in
Economy
TribBlog: Road Warriors
Introducing the House Select Committee on Transportation Funding.
Posted in
Economy
Ads Infinitum: White: “Money’s Worth”
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bill White asks Texans, “Do you think you’re getting your money’s worth out of state government?”
Posted in
Economy
The Brief: February 17, 2010
Budget crunching, the EPA offends Texans, early voting is underway, and gay couples still can’t get … a divorce.
Posted in
Demographics
The Numbers Game
More than 373,000 Texans went uncounted by the 2000 census, resulting in a loss of $1 billion in federal funds. With eight of the nation’s 50 hardest-to-count counties right here in our state, the coming 2010 census is a cause for concern — and an apparent lack of attention by elected officials is making matters worse.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
TribBlog: Budget Cuts Due [Updated]
State agencies are expected to submit their budget cuts today.