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"... Higher water rates, little recourse for consumers"
Sunday, December 18, 2011
by Jeremy Schwartz and Eric Dexheimer
Austin American-Statesman
PFLUGERVILLE — When Robert White opened his water bill last month, his jaw dropped: $250 for a month's worth of water and sewer service. The 63-year-old construction contractor, who shares…
Texas Senator Kirk Watson to receive Texas Access to Justice Legislative Hero Award
Friday, December 16, 2011
by Teri Rodriguez
Texas Bar Blog
Senator Kirk Watson Named “Legislative Hero” for Improving Access to Justice to the More Than Six Million Texans Who Qualify for Legal Aid
AUSTIN, Texas – The Texas…
Elgin holds indoor groundbreaking for new ACC campus
Saturday, November 26, 2011
by Charles Wood
Elgin Courier
In a change of plans that few people minded, the Austin Community College groundbreaking ceremony was held at the SPJST Hall on SH 95 on Tuesday, rather than at the…
Proposition can help Texas meet its water needs
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
by Kirk Watson
Houston Chronicle
If there's a lesson from this terrible drought, it's that nothing is more important to Texas than a clean, reliable water supply. And on Nov. 8, you'll have the chance…
Disaster Aid Available for Workers in Bastrop County
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Texas Workforce
AUSTIN –The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) is accepting applications for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) as a result of the Presidential Disaster Declaration (FEMA 4029-DR) for workers who lost their jobs…
Free Legal Advice Clinics for Evacuees at FEMA Disaster Relief Center
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Austin Bar Association
Austin, TX – The Austin Bar Association in partnership with the Bastrop County Bar Association has opened a free legal clinic in the Disaster Relief Center (1602 Hill St., Bastrop…
HUD Secretary Announces Disaster Assistance For Texas Wildfire Victims
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Foreclosure protection offered to displaced families in Bastrop County
WASHINGTON – U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today announced HUD will speed federal disaster assistance to the…
Editorial: Lawmakers cover up financial woes with slick budget trick
Saturday, July 09, 2011
by Editorial Board
Dallas Morning News
Good magicians never reveal their tricks. So it stands to reason that most state lawmakers have little to say about the financial abracadabra they orchestrated during this year’s legislative session.
…LBJ students: Texas making strides in open government
Thursday, July 07, 2011
by LBJ School of Public Affairs students, Local Contributors
Austin American-Statesman
Editor's Note: For the past year, students at the LBJ School of Public Affairs researched and analyzed how the Texas government could be more transparent. Passage of the transparency bill…
Texas lawmakers ease budget cuts by holding back more dedicated taxes
Monday, July 04, 2011
by Robert T. Garrett
The Dallas Morning News
Texas lawmakers, who will do almost anything to avoid raising broad-based taxes, balanced the budget this year with one of their favorite flavors of money: dedicated funds.
Budget writers set…
Watson to lead Senate Democrats
Sunday, July 03, 2011
by Mike Ward
Austin American-Statesman
Austin state Sen. Kirk Watson was elected this afternoon as the new chairman of the Senate Democratic Caucus, a post that will give him increased visibility and additional clout in…
Kirk Watson elected chair of Senate Democratic Caucus
Sunday, July 03, 2011
by Terrence Stutz
The Dallas Morning News
Senate Democrats have elected Kirk Watson of Austin as the new chairman of their caucus. Watson replaces Leticia Van de Putte of San Antonio, who has led the caucus since…
Watson budget transparency measures in must-pass bill
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
by Kate Alexander
Austin American-Statesman
Several of the budget transparency provisions pushed by state Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, made it into the final version of a key budget-related bill that won final Senate approval today.
…What Texas' new television recycling law means for consumers
Friday, June 24, 2011
by Teresa McUsic
Ft. Worth Star-Telegram
Texas has a new law requiring television manufacturers to take back and recycle old sets in an effort to keep toxic materials including lead and mercury out of landfills and…
TV Recycling Bill Has Better Chance This Session
Friday, June 24, 2011
by Eileen Pace
Texas Public Radio News
Showing me around Corona Visions recycling off I-35 near BAMC, Vandell Norwood said his crew carefully takes apart every piece of every computer monitor, hard drive, mouse, telephone, and television…
