The latest state government news from The Texas Tribune.
Gov. Rick Perry on Friday said he likes the idea of dedicating a portion of future car sales taxes to road projects and also said he's open to spending up to $6 billion of the Rainy Day Fund on infrastructure projects. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/02/12/Perry-1.jpg)
Here's the full video of Gov. Rick Perry's keynote address on transportation at The Texas Lyceum's public conference. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/ART_perrykeynote2.jpg)
Full video of my 4/11 TribLive conversation with state Sens. Sylvia Garcia, D-Houston; Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio; and Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/TribLive_VandePutteGarciaZaffirini_004.JPG)
Texas could trim the size of its court fights over redistricting by endorsing maps drawn by federal judges, but legislative leaders fear the harmony of the current session would evaporate in the process. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/RedistrictCourt4.jpg)
At Thursday's TribLive conversation, state Sens. Sylvia Garcia, D-Houston; Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio; and Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, weighed in on outreach to Latino voters. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/TribLive.JPG)
At Thursday's TribLive conversation, state Sens. Sylvia Garcia, D-Houston; Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio; and Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, talked about the sudden outbreak of peace and comity in the 83rd legislative session. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/TribLive_VandePutteGarciaZaffirini_018.JPG)
Under a bill by Sen. Tommy Williams, R-The Woodlands, applicants for unemployment benefits could be subject to drug testing if their responses to a questionnaire raise red flags. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/04/08/DrugTest001.JPG)
The CEO of Tesla Motors on his efforts to sell cars directly to Texans, the state's business-friendly reputation and SpaceX's plans to build an orbital launch facility near Brownsville. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/ceab865db1dc4c715811d22b9b0654c2/BD%20INC%20Elon%20Musk%20573%202013)
The House debate on the budget flushed out a new coalition in a Legislature split between traditional and populist Republicans, and Democrats. The losers? The populist Republicans, many of them freshmen. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/04/04/0404House464KolkCMS.jpg)
Your evening reading: state Senate OKs drug testing for welfare applicants; after deal reached, Cruz still threatening to filibuster gun bill; "anti-groping" bill back in state House Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/e9b76673bf5debcd2b3031766b29a305/BD%20INC%20Nelson%20SB7%205190%202013)
The effort to open casinos in Texas got a hearing from a Texas Senate committee Wednesday, but opposition remains strong and charitable groups that benefit from other games of chance have some concerns, too. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Texas-Ace-Card-Gambling_1.jpg)
UPDATED: The Texas Senate voted unanimously Wednesday to pass Senate Bill 11, which would require applicants to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program to pass a drug test to receive benefits. Full Story
Lawmakers haven't ignored transportation this session, but big plans for infrastructure funding may have stalled. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/TXDOT.jpg)
UPDATED: The Texas Senate voted unanimously Wednesday to pass Senate Bill 11, which would require applicants to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program to pass a drug test to receive benefits. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/DrugTest001.JPG)
Texas Catholics rallied at the capitol Tuesday for Catholic Faith in Action Advocacy Day, calling on legislators to tighten abortion restrictions and improve access to health care, among a wide variety of issues. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/961123504e0f8935fbf2a97006fe1a1e/BD%20INC%20Catholic%20Bishops%20647%202013)
Your evening reading: Senate panel hears impassioned debate over school choice bill; Perry urges Obama to press Mexico to release water to Texas; Cornyn, McCaul file border security measure Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/a103107312425019b765069944b13636/BD%20INC%20Senate%20Edu%20312%202013)
In a letter to President Obama on Tuesday, Gov. Rick Perry urged the federal government to press Mexico to release more water to Texas under the terms of a 1944 treaty. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/RioGrande.jpg)
A fight over what defense lawyers could do with information about their clients in criminal cases after prosecutors turn it over to them is threatening to stymie the “Michael Morton Act.” Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d724c56fe775b80e01d80176a244c012/DO%20NOT%20USE%20Morton%20Huffman%2002%202013)
With the budget fight largely over, attention in the Capitol has moved back to other contentious issues, like school choice and gambling. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/TxTrib-83rd008.jpg)
Amid mounting tensions between the University of Texas System and the Legislature, Senate Higher Education Chairman Kel Seliger, R-Amarillo, is calling for Gov. Rick Perry to step in and calm the waters. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b6505533dad79c54d06c9c5a7114df9d/TT%20EVENT%20Seliger%202012)