Perry's Call for Tax Relief is Subject of Confusion
The $1.8 billion in tax relief that Gov. Rick Perry called for this week was short on details, but the few that are out there are already sparking questions. Full Story
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TribLive: Williams and Pitts on the Rainy Day Fund
At Thursday morning's TribLive conversation, state Sen. Tommy Williams, R-The Woodlands, and state Rep. Jim Pitts, R-Waxahachie, talked about the possibility of withdrawals from the Rainy Day Fund. Full Story
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Report: Employee Misclassification Costs State Millions
A study on conditions in the construction industry says that more than 40 percent of construction workers in Texas — about 300,000 — are either misclassified or paid under the table. Full Story
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Guest Column: Are Students Prepared for Change?
The challenge for Texas leaders is: How do we ensure that our children can compete and thrive in this ever-changing economy? Full Story
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Interactive: Jobs Numbers by County, 2000-2012
Texas finished 2012 with an unemployment rate of 6.1 percent, a significant improvement from two years ago, but still a long way away from the 4.6 percent unemployment in 2000. Explore the numbers all the way back to 2000 with this interactive. Full Story
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Lawmakers Considering Fees on Electric Cars
In search of new revenue for road construction and maintenance, Texas lawmakers are weighing whether to raise fees on electric cars, a move that is gaining ground in some other states. Full Story
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For Fourth Month in a Row, Texas Unemployment Rate Drops
The state's unemployment rate fell for the fourth month in a row in December, capping off a drop of more than 1 percentage point in the rate since December 2011, the Texas Workforce Commission announced Friday. Full Story
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Budget Plans Target Incentives and Testing
The budget proposals released by lawmakers this week show an interest in revamping school testing and the state's economic incentive programs. Full Story
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Dire Budget Estimate Fit With Prevailing Politics
The two-year-old revenue forecast used to justify massive cuts in the current state budget was wrong — and not by a little bit. But the conservative Legislature elected in 2010 wasn't complaining. Full Story
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Combs Says Texas Lawmakers Will Have $101.4 Billion for Budget
A day before the start of the 2013 legislative session, Texas Comptroller Susan Combs delivered much-improved budget news compared with two years ago. Lawmakers will have $101.4 billion for their next two-year budget. Full Story
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School Finance Trial Will Influence Session, With or Without a Final Decision
A final decision in the school finance trial against the state involving more than two-thirds of its districts and charter schools likely won’t happen until after the lights go out in the 83rd Legislature. But that doesn’t mean what’s happening inside of the courtroom now won’t have an impact on policy under the pink dome. Full Story
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Spending-Limits Bill Serves as a Great Excuse
Some state lawmakers don't trust themselves not to spend more money than they really think they should spend. They want a law that would tie their own hands. Full Story
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School Finance Lawsuits Give Lawmakers an Out
The courts aren't expected to finish their work on school finance until after the regular legislative session, giving lawmakers an excuse for leaving some expensive work incomplete for now. Full Story
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Gains in Texas Budget a Source of Hot Debate
Does Texas need a constitutional cap on spending growth to protect it from the whims of future lawmakers or save it from the current ones? Supporters of the proposal are at odds. Full Story
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Tax Incentives Could Prove Divisive For GOP
Republican leaders like to say government should just get out of the way and let the private sector do work its unfettered magic. But during the session, they may have a hard time squaring their stated philosophy with their support for tax giveaways to private industry. Full Story
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What if Government Officials Were Scrutinized Like Football Coaches?
Imagine a government as accountable to voters for its performance as football coaches are to the ire of fans and boosters. Full Story
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TribLive: Seliger on the Cost of a College Education
At this morning's TribLive conversation, state Sen. Kel Seliger, R-Amarillo, the chairman of the Senate Higher Education Committee, discussed the prospect of tuition reregulation and whether the state is adequately funding higher ed. Full Story
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Two Years After Big Cuts, Battle Over Budget Caps Looms
After the Legislature cut billions of dollars from the state budget in 2011, some hoped to see at least some of the funding restored in 2013. But with the next legislative session quickly approaching, others are pushing to limit that spending. Full Story
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State Leaders Adopt Spending Cap for 2014-15 Budget
State leaders including Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and House Speaker Joe Straus on Thursday voted to cap the state’s spending growth rate at 10.71 percent for the next-two year budget. Full Story
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College Funding Turns on Definition of "Provide"
The state of Texas used to cover half of the costs of higher education at state colleges and universities. Now it's around 13 percent at the University of Texas at Austin and 22 percent at Texas A&M University in College Station. Full Story
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Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman
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