Analysis: Cutting the Texas budget, even with money on hand
If Texas legislators cut the state budget this year, it won't be because they didn't have the money. It'll be because they didn't want to spend the money they have. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman / Paul Hudson -
House leaders push for withdrawing $1 billion more from state savings account
The proposal from state Rep. John Zerwas would withdraw about $2.4 billion from the Rainy Day Fund. Full Story
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![State Rep. John Zerwas, chair of House Appropriations, at the Austin Club before speaking with Evan Smith Feb. 23, 2017]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Texas House proposes using $1.4 billion from state savings account for health and human services
The proposal from state Rep. John Zerwas, R-Richmond, would pay down bills coming due for several of the state's health and human services programs. Full Story
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![State Rep. John Zerwas, R-Richmond, answers questions regarding a lean Texas budget with an appearance at a Texas Tribune event on Feb. 23, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
With money tight, will Texas leaders use the state’s savings account?
Facing a shortage of cash, will Texas lawmakers tap the $10 billion piggybank known as the Rainy Day Fund? Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
Texas House's chief budget writer: State shouldn't cut border security funding
The Texas’ House’s chief budget writer said that President Trump’s emergence in Washington shouldn’t give state lawmakers license to slice hefty appropriations for border security — at least not yet. Full Story
![State Rep. John Zerwas, R-Richmond, answers questions regarding a lean Texas budget with an appearance at a Texas Tribune event on Feb. 23, 2017.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
UT/TT Poll: How Texas voters rank the state Legislature’s priorities
Most Texans don't know the state faces a tight budget, but asked what they'd do in a pinch, many of them say they'd dip into the state's savings account, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll. Full Story
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Rainy Day Fund takes center stage at first House budget hearing
Budget writers in the Texas House are considering tapping the state's savings account because they have a lot less money at their discretion this session. Full Story
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![Longtime state Rep. John Zerwas, R-Katy, in the House Chamber on Feb. 9, 2017. Zerwas was named chair of the powerful House Appropriations Committee by Speaker Joe Straus.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
In State of State, Abbott imposes hiring freeze, declares 4 issues "emergencies"
Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday asked lawmakers to immediately take on so-called "sanctuary cities," the state's broken child welfare system and a convention of states to amend the U.S. Constitution. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott prepares to deliver his State of the State address, flanked by (l.-r.) Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, state Rep. Senfronia Thompson, D-Houston, state Sens. Donna Campbell, R-San Antonio, and Kel Seliger, R-Amarillo, and House Speaker Joe Straus.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Hegar gives lawmakers dour revenue estimate for 2017 session
Facing sluggish economic forecasts, Comptroller Glenn Hegar announced Monday that lawmakers will have $104.87 billion in state funds at their disposal in crafting the next two-year budget, a 2.7 percent decrease from the last session two years ago. Full Story
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![Ahead of the start of the 85th Legislature, state Comptroller Glenn Hegar offers lawmakers the revenue estimate for the biennial budget.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Hegar: Stalling Oil Boom Cutting into State Revenues
In his first certified revenue estimate, Comptroller Glenn Hegar lowered his estimate for how much revenue the state will take in by more than $2 billion, pointing to reduced activity in oil and gas drilling as the main culprit. Full Story
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![Comptroller candidate Sen. Glenn Hegar, R-Katy, after TribLive on May 29, 2014.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Rainy Day Fund Could Be Invested More Aggressively
The Texas Senate on Tuesday passed a measure granting Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar more flexibility to invest a portion of the $8 billion in the state’s Rainy Day Fund, sending the bill to the governor's desk. Full Story
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Hegar Suggests Shift in Rainy Day Fund Strategy
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
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![State Comptroller Glenn Hegar releases the revenue estimate on Jan. 12, 2015 to reporters and state officials the day before the legislative session.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Extra Cash Should Go to Paying Debt, Otto Says
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
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![State Rep. John Otto (right) proposes a constitutional amendment to use Rainy Day Fund money to pay off state debt during a news conference on Jan. 15, 2015. At left is state Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock, R-Killeen.]()
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Hegar: Revenue Estimate "Based on Expectations of Moderate Expansion"
Announcing a two-year revenue estimate that reflects "uncertainties in oil prices and the possibilities of a slowing global economy," Comptroller Glenn Hegar said Monday that lawmakers will have $113 billion to divvy up in the next two-year budget. Full Story
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![Comptroller Glenn Hegar announced the state's biennial revenue estimate on Jan. 12, 2015.]()
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Lawmakers Set $7 Billion "Floor" for State Savings Account
Lawmakers on Thursday chose $7 billion as an appropriate minimum balance for the Rainy Day Fund in a meeting that took just a few minutes but will have far-reaching consequences. Full Story
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Business Group: Legislature Should Stop Gas Tax Diversions
The Texas Association of Business' 2015 agenda calls for the Legislature to end diversions of state gas taxes from road funding and to dedicate half of motor vehicle sales taxes to road construction and maintenance. Full Story
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![Bill Hammond is the CEO of the Texas Association of Business.]()
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As Campaigns Conclude, It's Up to the Voters Now
It's Election Day, and Texans will turn over every statewide executive office, settle some locally important legislative and congressional races, and decide on issues like transportation funding. Full Story
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![Early voting at the Acres Home Multiservice Center in Houston on Oct. 26, 2014.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
UT/TT Poll: Green Light for Transportation Plan
Using oil and gas tax money for transportation — instead of sending all of that money to the state's Rainy Day Fund — appears to be just fine with the state's voters, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll. Full Story
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Perry Wins Special Election for Senate Seat
State Rep. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock, has won Tuesday's special election for Senate District 28, avoiding a runoff in the six-candidate race. He will take the seat vacated by Robert Duncan, who is now the chancellor of the Texas Tech University System. Full Story
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Tax Relief or Targeted Spending Hikes? Surplus Projections Fuel Debate
With expectations that state lawmakers will have a budget surplus of several billion dollars, lawmakers, activists and business groups are already discussing what to do with the money. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman / Stuart Seeger