House Budget Plan Sets Stage for Transportation Funding Debate
Texas House budget writers put the final touches Thursday on a two-year budget that offers a different approach to boosting funding for transportation from the Senate. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/01/15/UP9A1123CMS.jpg)
-
![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.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Video: Price and Rawlings on Property Taxes
At our 3/12 conversation, Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price and Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings reacted to the possibility of the Legislature engineering a cut in property taxes. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/DFWjpeg084Price_oL0ABxr.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
Analysis: When Local Control is Remote
A big, central government wants to override laws approved by the people in the provinces. That might sound like the federal government bossing states around, but it's the Texas Legislature trying to rein in the cities and counties. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/03/12/DFWjpeg151both2.jpg)
![Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price and Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings took part in an interview with The Texas Tribune on March 12, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Competing Bills Filed Over End-of-Life Care for Pregnant Women
Lawmakers have filed two competing bills about who should have the authority to decide whether to terminate a brain-dead pregnant woman's life — a preview of what promises to be a fiery legislative battle over end-of-life medical care in Texas. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/03/12/7C2A3596.jpg)
![Erick Muñoz, widow of Marlise Muñoz, speaks at the Texas Capitol after "Marlise's Law" was introduced during a press conference on March 12, 2015. A picture of his late wife and her family sits on the table.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Video: Price and Rawlings on Local Control
At our 3/12 conversation, Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price and Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings addressed the prevailing conflict in the 84th session: liberty vs. local control. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/DFWjpegRawlings.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
Video: A Conversation With Price and Rawlings
Full video of my 3/12 conversation with Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price and Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings. Topics discussed: transportation, education, guns, same-sex marriage and liberty vs. local control. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/DFWjpeg105both_oIyK4Ew.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
Budgetline: A TribCast Series on the Texas Budget
In the first episode of Budgetline, an occasional TribCast series on the Texas budget, Ross and Aman start where state officials started — with the revenue estimate. It sounds simple, but it's a complicated stew of economics, politics and risky forecasting. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/03/10/Budgetline-podcast-lead-art-final.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
How Are Abbott's Emergency Items Doing?
Gov. Greg Abbott declared five emergency items in his State of the State speech, clearing the way for lawmakers to act quickly on them if they so choose. Here's a guide to the five items, related bills and where things stand. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/02/17/BDS_4260CMS.jpg)
![Gov. Greg Abbott announces five emergency items for Texas legislators to consider during his State of the State speech on Feb. 17, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Senators Worry State Contracting is Too Decentralized
Senators learned at a hearing Wednesday that the current state contracting system is so fragmented that no one knows the total value of the state's current contracts. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/03/11/_F5U9857Nelson1.jpg)
![Senate Finance Committee Chairwoman Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, confers with Sen. Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa, D-McAllen, during a March 11, 2015, committee hearing on state contracting issues.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
"Former Fetus" Signs Cause Stir at Capitol
Signs identifying some state lawmakers as former fetuses are generating controversy at the Capitol. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/03/11/Former_fetus_Stickland_copy.jpg)
![State Rep. Jonathan Stickland, R-Bedford.]()
-
Lawmakers Vying to Bring More Transparency to State Contracting
Texas lawmakers consider different approaches to transforming the state's unwieldy, loophole-ridden system of contract oversight into something that can be properly tracked, analyzed and, when needed, restrained. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/03/10/TT-Contract-high-Nelson-Zaffirini.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
Talk Turns to Standards as Lawmakers Weigh Pre-K Bills
As legislators considered several early education bills Tuesday afternoon, testimony was dominated by a debate over what standards school districts should meet to get additional state funding for pre-kindergarten programs. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/06/18/DISDPre-K9.jpg)
![Students in Pre-K teacher Josefina Pineda's class sing to practice their language skills at the Dallas Independent School District Cesar Chavez Learning Center in Dallas, Texas.]()
Credit: Robert W. Hart -
Analysis: Making the Worst of a Good Situation
Texas legislators have an unfamiliar problem: They have more money available to spend than their self-imposed limits will allow. And it's enough to start debates even where there is broad agreement. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/08/14/CampaignFinance-PavedWithMoney.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman / Antony Vance Clicks -
Housing Legislation Puts Local Control Debate Front and Center
A bill before a Texas Senate committee is bringing into focus the simmering debate over local control in the state. It's a charge that has been backed by Gov. Greg Abbott and state legislators who see cities overstepping their authority. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/01/10/TPPF_Abb612CMS.jpg)
![Attorney General Greg Abbott speaking at TPPF closing luncheon on Jan. 10, 2014.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Paddie's Lyft-for-Hire Bill Runs Uber Cities
With various Texas cities imposing different rules on vehicle-for-hire apps Uber and Lyft, state Rep. Chris Paddie, R-Marshall, is pushing a bill to let the state take over regulation of the services. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/06/09/Uber-Lyft-Hybrid.jpg)
![Uber and Lyft, two San Francisco-based transportation networking companies, have launched services in several Texas cities.]()
Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman -
DPS Calls Glitter Bombs "Weapon of Choice" for Gay Rights Advocates
In an email sent to legislative staffers, a DPS captain warns of "glitter bombs" being sent to lawmakers and attaches a document titled "Glitter Bombing: Weapon of Choice for Gay Rights, Pro Choice Advocates." Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/03/06/GlitterBomb.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Frankie Leon -
Roundup: Funding Roads, Debating Health Care Reform
In the Roundup: The Texas Senate passed its first legislation this week, state Republican leaders again addressed Medicaid expansion and reforms, and new bills aim to preserve the federal health subsidies in question in a U.S. Supreme Court case. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/030615_Roundup_Still.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
-
Patrick: Exempt Tax Cuts, Debt Payments From Spending Cap
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
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/01/27/UP9A9537.JPG)
![Sen. Jane Nelson R-Flower Mound, together with Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, hold a press conference on the budget on Jan. 27, 2014.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Lukewarm Reviews for Early Education Push
When Gov. Greg Abbott named improving pre-kindergarten programs as a top priority, it signaled a dramatic move in the state’s approach to early education. But so far, the change has been mostly in tone. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/06/18/DISDPre-K4.jpg)
![Pre-K teacher Josefina Pineda teaches her students the concept of "push" by having them join hands and push back and forth in her classroom at the Dallas Independent School District elementary school Cesar Chavez Learning Center in 2013.]()
Credit: Robert W. Hart -
Senators Show Interest in Ditching Margins Tax
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
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/04/02/ExpandingBudget-MoneyBagInCapitol.jpg)
![Article thumbnail]()
Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman / Paul Hudson