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Citing Perry inaction, lawmakers move to get Texas' share of stimulus
Saturday, January 31, 2009
by Kate Alexander
Austin American-Statesman
State legislators took steps this week to ensure that Gov. Rick Perry's snubbing of the federal economic stimulus package does not keep Texas from getting its share.
Texas could…
Perry seeks to hold the line this session
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
by Jason Embry
Austin American-Statesman
Coming off a rocky session two years ago and with a serious re-election challenge looming, Gov. Rick Perry signaled with his state of the state speech Tuesday that his No.…
Watson: Senate fight will "leave scars"
Sunday, January 18, 2009
by Elise Hu
KVUE News
Hard feelings still linger after Wednesday's partisan meltdown in the Texas Senate. Republicans successfully voted to abandon a longstanding tradition in order to clear the way for…
Texas Senate adopts rules change to allow Voter ID vote
Thursday, January 15, 2009
by Mike Ward
Austin American-Statesman
After a dramatic display of partisan bloodletting, the Texas Senate on Wednesday adopted a change in its rules that will benefit Republicans by allowing a vote on a voter ID…
One Senate rule clearly in effect
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
by Patricia Kilday Hart
Texas Monthly
That would be the “Pottery Barn” rule as invoked by Secretary of State Colin Powell to warn against the then-proposed invasion of Iraq. “You break it, you own it,” he…
State energy industry got break in 2008
Wednesday, January 07, 2009
by Peggy Fikac and Janet Elliott
San Antonio Express-News
At a time when the oil and gas industry was enjoying record profits, producers got a break under Texas' new business tax, according to a draft report from a tax…
Texas must think big again
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
by Texas Senator Kirk Watson (D-Austin)
Austin American-Statesman
One fundamental question faces the 81st Legislature: Are we going to embrace the future, or are we going to fight it?
The response to this question has defined our state's…
Watson: Start planning for possible congressional money now
Thursday, December 11, 2008
by Ben Wear
Austin American-Statesman
If Congress favors Texas with a healthy chunk of transportation dollars early next year, it would be a good thing for state officials to have an intelligent way to select…
State officials submit $6.2 billion list of road projects
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
by Peggy Fikac and Patrick Driscoll
Houston Chronicle
Texas transportation officials have sent the state's congressional delegation a $6.2 billion list of ready-to-go road projects on the chance a stimulus package is approved, including nearly $677 million for…
Red-light cameras cut wrecks by 30%, A&M study finds
Wednesday, December 03, 2008
by Matt Stiles
Houston Chronicle
Red-light cameras have sprouted quickly across Texas in recent years, sparking heated debates about whether they reduce crashes or simply bring easy revenue for the cities that install them.
New…
Lawmakers to revisit child booster seat law
Tuesday, December 02, 2008
by Terri Langford
Houston Chronicle
Texas lawmakers are ready to take another stab at passing a booster seat law for children over age 3.
Last week, Texas was singled out by the National Transportation Safety…
EDITORIAL: It's time for Texas to face transportation woes
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
by Senators John Carona (R-Dallas) and Kirk Watson (D-Austin)
Texas highways were once the pride of the state - and justifiably so. Our extensive infrastructure allowed farmers and ranchers to feed the state and the world, and it turned…
Business tax shortfall may erase surplus
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
by Peggy Fikac
Houston Chronicle
Texas' new business tax is $1.2 billion short of what it was expected to bring into state coffers its first year, even after adding extension payments made so far, the…
Perry says emission rules would cripple Texas economy
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
by Asher Price
Austin American-Statesman
Federal caps on greenhouse gas carbon dioxide emissions would suffocate Texas' economy, Gov. Rick Perry said Tuesday as the state tries to fend off such limits.
The caps are a…
With more state senators, Democrats have high hopes
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
by Dave Montgomery
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
With incoming freshman Wendy Davis of Fort Worth expanding their roster by one, Democrats in the state Senate are feeling energized and assertive as they head toward the 81st Legislative…
