Aman Batheja

Aman Batheja was a political reporter and editor for the Tribune from 2012 to 2019. Previously he worked for eight years at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, most of that time covering state and local politics. A native of Cedarhurst, New York, he has an undergraduate degree in journalism and psychology from New York University and a master's in economics from the University of Texas at Arlington.

Past Contributions

Budget Deal May Not Come Until Thursday

By Becca Aaronson and Aman Batheja May 15, 2013

UPDATED: Budget negotiations stretched late into the evening on Wednesday, but lawmakers said privately they didn’t expect to announce a deal until Thursday. Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman
Hope Remains for Partial Victory on Road Cash

By Aman Batheja May 15, 2013

With less than two weeks before the end of the 83rd legislative session, efforts to find more funding for the Texas Department of Transportation are sputtering. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman / Corey Leopold
Pitts: Budget Leaders Close on School and Water Financing

By Aman Batheja May 14, 2013

State lawmakers would spend $3.2 billion for public education and $2 billion for water funding under plans being worked out by budget leaders, House Appropriations Chairman Jim Pitts said Tuesday. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
Interactive: Tracking Franchise Tax Bills

By Ryan Murphy, Aman Batheja and Noah Seger May 14, 2013

Tax relief has become a key issue in the final weeks of the legislative session, and nearly all of the relief efforts are focused on the franchise tax paid by businesses. Use our interactive to track the status of those bills. Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman
Leaders Find Agreement on Budget's Finer Points

By Aman Batheja May 13, 2013

State budget leaders adopted unified proposals for several areas of the budget on Monday morning but said they are still working on the two largest pieces: education and health and human services. Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Tamir Kalifa
On Austin Visit, Obama Sings City's Praises

By Aman Batheja and Alana Rocha May 9, 2013

President Obama said Thursday that Austin was the perfect spot to kick off his “Middle Class Jobs and Opportunity” tour because the city was doing so many things right economically. Obama stopped by Manor New Tech High School and also visited a pair of Austin companies, Applied Materials and Capital Factory. Full Story

Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera
Obama's Austin Visit to Start With Perry Meeting

By Aman Batheja May 9, 2013

President Obama will begin his swing through Austin on Thursday with a brief meeting with Gov. Rick Perry on the tarmac at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. Full Story

Credit: Gage Skidmore / Talk Radio News Service
As Clock Ticks, Medicaid Expansion Dwindles

By Becca Aaronson and Aman Batheja May 8, 2013

UPDATED: With the prospect of Medicaid expansion on life support, protesters gathered at the Capitol on Wednesday to urge state leadership to expand coverage to poor adults, and state Democrats announced that they’re still searching for a legislative vehicle to expand coverage. Full Story

Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera
Legislature Honors World War II Vets, Including Perry's Father

By Julián Aguilar and Aman Batheja May 8, 2013

The House and Senate took time on Wednesday to honor the state's living World War II veterans, including Gov. Rick Perry's 88-year-old father, Ray Perry. Full Story

Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera
House Gives Early OK to Franchise Tax Measure

By Emily Ramshaw and Aman Batheja May 7, 2013

UPDATED: The House’s most sweeping attempt at tax reform this year passed on a preliminary vote on Tuesday after hours of at times acrimonious debate. House Bill 500 which would spend an estimated $667 million over the next biennium. Full Story