State Leaders Reach Tax Cut Deal
UPDATED: Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Joe Straus announced late Thursday the terms of a $3.8 billion tax relief package — a move that followed weeks of testy negotiations. Full Story
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![From left: Texas House Speaker Joe Straus, Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick are shown on May 21, 2015.]()
Credit: Office of the Governor -
Video: Davis, Leach and Nevárez on Tax Cuts
At our 5/21 conversation, state Reps. Sarah Davis, R-West University Place; Jeff Leach, R-Plano; and Poncho Nevárez, D-Eagle Pass talked about the prospect of a deal on tax cuts. Full Story
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Video: Davis, Leach and Nevárez on the Budget
At our 5/21 conversation, state Reps. Sarah Davis, R-West University Place; Jeff Leach, R-Plano; and Poncho Nevárez, D-Eagle Pass talked about the coming budget deal between the House and the Senate. Full Story
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Budget Writers Settle School Funding, Border Security
The House and Senate stepped closer to a final deal on a two-year budget Wednesday evening, settling dozens of differences between the two chambers including funding for public education and border security. Full Story
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![State Rep. John Otto, R-Dayton, and Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, are shown at a joint budget hearing on May 20, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Senate Wants Property Tax Cut This Year; House Wants to Delay It
The House and Senate negotiations over a tax cut deal have narrowed to a single sticking point: when a proposed property tax cut should go into effect. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
Budgetline: Numbers Aren't Everything
In this episode of Budgetline, Aman and Ross explore riders — descriptive items in the state budget meant to direct agencies how to spend state money. Often, they're a place where budget writers sneak policy and legislative instructions into state law. Full Story
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Inside Texas Politics: Unfinished Business
On this week's edition of WFAA-TV's Inside Texas Politics, talk turns to the final two weeks of the 84th Texas Legislature: Will lawmakers be able to get together, or will they be back for a special session? Full Story
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![(L-R) Jason Whitely, Tribune Executive Editor Ross Ramsey and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram's Bud Kennedy on WFAA"s on Inside Texas Politics on May 17, 2015.]()
Credit: WFAA -
Video: Bonnen on Property Tax "Cuts"
At our 5/13 conversation, state Rep. Dennis Bonnen, the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, took issue with the Senate's stated intent to cut property taxes. Full Story
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Video: A Conversation With Dennis Bonnen
Full video of my 5/13 conversation with state Rep. Dennis Bonnen, the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. Full Story
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Analysis: Making a Deal on Tax Cuts That Voters Might Not Care About
As they try to agree on tax cuts that are the major obstacle to a state budget, lawmakers could find themselves wishing the cuts they deliver are as big as they sounded to the public. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
Court Ruling Could Undermine Major Taxes
A tax case started by a chain of movie theaters could cut billions from the state's franchise tax, and could affect the sales tax, too, state Comptroller Glenn Hegar said Wednesday. The 3rd Court of Appeals ruled against the state late last week. Full Story
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![Republican Comptroller candidate Glenn Hegar speaks with Evan Smith at TribLive on May 29, 2014.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: For Legislators, an Extra Incentive to Finish State Budget
If state budget writers can't get a deal on the budget during the regular session, they'll have to come back to finish. And with the state economy slowing down, going into overtime could mean less money for tax breaks and state programs. Full Story
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![Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
The Playlist: Conspiracy Theory
Some folks in a small town in Central Texas had a strong reaction to a large-scale military exercise on U.S. soil called “Jade Helm 15,” so we start this week’s playlist of the news with Steve Earle‘s “Conspiracy Theory.” Full Story
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Credit: Graphic by John Jordan -
Video: Turner on the Budget
At our 4/30 conversation, state Rep. Sylvester Turner, D-Houston, vice chairman of the House Appropriations Committee and a candidate for Houston mayor, talked about the work of the budget conference committee. Full Story
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Video: A Conversation With Sylvester Turner
Full video of my 4/30 conversation with state Rep. Sylvester Turner, D-Houston, vice chairman of the House Appropriations Committee and a candidate for Houston mayor. Full Story
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Analysis: How Private Opinions Can Diverge From Public Votes
Tax cuts and politics ethics legislation have this in common: When lawmakers have to vote in public view, they're often forced to set aside their private opinions. Full Story
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Budget Panel Breakdown: Democrats Short on Slots, Long on Experience
The budget conference committee will hash out a compromise of the chamber’s respective 2016-17 budget plans. Committee members include two Democrats who rank as the most experienced budget negotiators on the panel. Full Story
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![Sens. Lois Kolkhorst, Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa, Jane Nelson, Charles Schwertner, Joan Huffman and Reps. Larry Gonzales, Sarah Davis, Sylvester Turner, John Otto and Trent Ashby make up the 2015 budget conference committee.]()
Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman -
Budgetline: Jane Nelson, From Renegade to Ringleader
In this episode of Budgetline, Aman and Ross sit down with Senate Finance Chairwoman Jane Nelson, who voted against her first state budget in 1993 as a freshman senator and is now in charge of writing that most essential piece of legislation. Full Story
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House Passes $4.9B Tax Cut Plan That Includes Sales Tax Cut
The Texas House tentatively approved a $4.9 billion tax relief plan Tuesday that includes a cut to the state’s sales tax, marking a clear line in the sand against the Senate, which favors property tax cuts. Full Story
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![State Rep. Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton, celebrates passage of his tax cut measures during the House session April 28, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Texas House GOP Caucus Endorses Sales Tax Cuts
With the Texas House set to vote on tax cuts, almost all of the Republicans in that chamber — 90 of 98 — signed a letter released Saturday endorsing sales tax cuts over the property tax cuts favored by the Texas Senate. Full Story
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![State Rep. Dennis Bonnen, R-Angleton, discusses his border security bill.]()
Credit: Julian Aguilar