House and Senate leaders are in the midst of intense negotiations over a budget rider that could kill a proposed $12 billion bullet train project connecting Dallas and Houston.
Jane Nelson
Posted inState Government
The Brief: May 18, 2015
With two weeks left in the legislative session, here are a couple of takes on the state of play on taxes and the budget, the only piece of legislation that must be passed.
Posted in
Contract High
Limited Contracting Fixes Moving Forward
Amid a series of scandals, most lawmakers say they want to reform the way Texas hands out billions in state contracts. Discussion has narrowed to a handful of bills that some warn are merely first steps.
Posted inState Government
The Brief: May 13, 2015
The House’s tax writing committee on Tuesday took up the Senate’s proposal to cut property taxes by raising homeowners’ residential homestead exemption. But what transpired on Tuesday was far from a kumbaya moment.
Posted inState Government
The Brief: May 7, 2015
The Legislature’s two chambers are still not on the same page when it comes to figuring out how to extend tax relief. The prognosis on whether they find room to compromise varies as well.
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State Government
Senate Announces Budget Negotiation Team
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has named the Senate lineup of budget negotiators who will meet with House counterparts and hash out a final version of the two-year state budget.
Posted inState Government
The Brief: April 16, 2015
For all the talk about undocumented immigrants qualifying for in-state tuition at Texas colleges and universities, it turns out that these students make up a very small portion of the college-going population.
Posted in
Health care
Senators Approve Partial Consolidation of Health Agencies
The Texas Senate on Wednesday tentatively approved a measure to partially consolidate the state’s massive health and human services system.
Posted in
State Government
Video: Senate Budget Debate Presents a Contrast
The Texas Senate passed out a state budget plan Tuesday that spends $211 billion over the next two years. The budget debate on the Senate floor contrasted greatly with the marathon budget debate in the House two weeks ago.
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State Government
Texas Senate Approves $211 Billion Budget
Senators on Tuesday voted 30-1 to approve the state’s two-year budget. It will now go to conference committee to be reconciled with the House version.
