budget

Analysis: Fear of Spending Even Extends to Tax Cuts

By Ross Ramsey March 5, 2015

Lawmakers want to send voters a tax cut but fear spending the money the cut requires without asking voters for permission. Full Story

Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera
Patrick: Exempt Tax Cuts, Debt Payments From Spending Cap

By Aman Batheja March 4, 2015

Senate leaders joined Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick to announce a plan to allow lawmakers to cut property taxes and pay down the state's debt without busting the state’s politically charged spending cap. Full Story

Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera
Senators Show Interest in Ditching Margins Tax

By Aman Batheja March 3, 2015

As a key Senate committee prepares to hear public testimony on tax cut proposals Wednesday, senators expressed strong interest in repealing the state's unpopular margins tax on businesses, which has raised $4.7 billion annually. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman / Paul Hudson
Analysis: A Desire for Tax Cuts and a Call for Restraint

By Ross Ramsey March 3, 2015

As state officials rush to announce tax cuts, a former mayor now in the Senate is pleading for a little restraint and a return to pay-as-you-go government. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
Nichols' Car Sales Tax Plan Moves to Senate Floor

By Aman Batheja Feb. 25, 2015

The Senate Transportation Committee on Wednesday voted 8-1 in favor of a proposal to dedicate some of the sales tax collected on automobile sales to improving roads — but not before several lawmakers expressed reservations. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
Hegar Suggests Shift in Rainy Day Fund Strategy

By Aman Batheja Feb. 13, 2015

Comptroller Glenn Hegar is urging lawmakers to consider allowing his office to invest a portion of the Rainy Day Fund more aggressively, arguing that a greater return is worth the greater risk with the savings account. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
Video: Otto on Tax Relief

By Evan Smith Feb. 12, 2015

At our 2/12 conversation, state Rep. John Otto, R-Dayton, the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, talked about the prospect of property and business tax relief. Full Story
Video: Otto on Border Security Funding

By Evan Smith Feb. 12, 2015

At our 2/12 conversation, state Rep. John Otto, R-Dayton, the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, explained why the House's lower proposed allocation for border security funding is more conservative than the Senate's. Full Story
Video: A Conversation With John Otto

By Evan Smith Feb. 12, 2015

Full video of my 2/12 conversation with state Rep. John Otto, R-Dayton, the newly appointed chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. Full Story
Patrick, Nichols: Put Car Sales Tax Toward Roads

By Aman Batheja Feb. 4, 2015

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Senate Transportation Chairman Robert Nichols, R-Jacksonville, unveiled a plan Wednesday to boost transportation funding by dedicating some of the sales tax already collected on car sales to road work. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
Senators Grill Agency Head Over Contracting Scandal

By Aman Batheja Feb. 3, 2015

Senate budget writers on Tuesday described the state's growing contracting scandal as "embarrassing" and "out of control" while the head of an agency at the center of the scandal defended its procurement policies. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
Abbott Aide: Maintain Film Incentive Program Funding

By Aman Batheja Feb. 3, 2015

While state lawmakers have expressed interest in a widespread curtailing of the state’s economic incentive program, Gov. Greg Abbott is requesting $95 million for the state's film incentive program in the next budget. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
Nelson Emphasizes Property Tax Relief in Senate Base Budget

By Aman Batheja Jan. 27, 2015

Nearly two weeks after the House's base budget was released, Senate Finance Chairwoman Jane Nelson presented the Senate's plan, which she said sets aside $3 billion for "meaningful" property tax relief for Texas homeowners. Full Story

Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera
Video: Patrick on Tax Relief

By Evan Smith Jan. 27, 2015

At our 1/27 conversation, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick talked about the possibility of tax relief as a component of the budget that will be passed by the 84th Legislature. Full Story
Straus: $202 Billion Budget Plan Reflects Fiscal Discipline

By Aman Batheja Jan. 15, 2015

House Speaker Joe Straus said the House's base budget plan, released Thursday, holds "spending in check while addressing some very important challenges related to our rapid growth." The Senate's base budget is expected to come out next week. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
Extra Cash Should Go to Paying Debt, Otto Says

By Bobby Blanchard Jan. 15, 2015

State Rep. John Otto wants a constitutional amendment requiring that excess cash in the state's Rainy Day Fund be used to pay off state debt early. Full Story

Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera
Video: New House Members on the Budget

By Evan Smith Jan. 14, 2015

At our 1/14 conversation, new state Reps. Celia Israel, D-Austin, Linda Koop, R-Dallas, and Matt Rinaldi, R-Irving, talked about the comptroller's revenue estimate and how they'll approach the task of passing a budget. Full Story
Video: Hegar Releases Biennial Revenue Estimate

By Justin Dehn Jan. 12, 2015

Here's video of Comptroller Glenn Hegar speaking Monday about the Biennial Revenue Estimate, the amount of revenue available for the Legislature to spend in the 2016-17 state budget. Full Story
Inside Texas Politics: Budget, Quakes and Local Control

By John Jordan Jan. 11, 2015

On this week's edition of WFAA-TV's Inside Texas Politics, host Jason Whitely, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram's Bud Kennedy and Tribune Executive Editor Ross Ramsey focus on the 84th Texas Legislature, which starts Tuesday. Full Story

Credit: WFAA
The Playlist: The Best is Yet to Come

By John Jordan Jan. 3, 2015

For this week's playlist of the news, we’re using our reporters' own predictions for 2015. Kicking things off: “The Best Is Yet To Come,” by Ol’ Blue Eyes himself, Frank Sinatra, backed up by the Count Basie Orchestra. Full Story

Credit: Graphic by John Jordan