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Watson: When it comes to redistricting in Texas, put local interests firs
Thursday, March 31, 2011
by Sen. Kirk Watson
Austin American-Statesman
Call in the kids, pull the blinds and lock the doors the 2010 census figures are in and redistricting is underway. That means the Legislature will change the boundaries of…
Water Stewardship Plan Won't Cost State
Monday, March 07, 2011
by Kelley Shannon
San Angelo Standard-Times
Deal would give farmers a tax break
AUSTIN, Texas — If you're getting an agricultural property tax valuation for your land, you soon may have another way to achieve it…
Texas electricity system unprepared for cold, senators told
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
by Laylan Copelin
Austin American-Statesman
State regulators tried to assure Texas senators Tuesday that they have the necessary authority to fix the problems that led to the Feb. 2 rolling blackouts, but some lawmakers remained…
Plan to fix Texas budget hole taking shape
Saturday, February 12, 2011
by Jay Root
Associated Press
Texas lawmakers who make fiscal austerity their calling card have come face-to-face in recent weeks with the specter of staggering cuts to public education and health care, and they appear…
First Reading
Wednesday, February 09, 2011
by Jason Embry
Austin American-Statesman
In his Watson Wire column on Tuesday, Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, warns that state leaders may avoid long-term fixes to the state’s structural deficit and other budget problems…
[Watson Bill Would Clarify Sexting Laws]
Monday, February 07, 2011
by Becca Aaronson
Texas Tribune
Attorney General Greg Abbott and Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, want "sexting" — sending or receiving pornographic images via cell phones — to be a criminal offense for teenagers. Watson filed…
Texas lags in high-speed rail
Sunday, February 06, 2011
by Nolan Hicks
Houston Chronicle
Texas Gov. Rick Perry never misses an opportunity to tweak California.
Its massive budget deficit, often dysfunctional state government and high unemployment make the Golden State an easy target…
Budget cuts threaten UT's 'first class' status, officials say
Wednesday, February 02, 2011
by Ralph K.M. Haurwitz
Austin American-Statesman
House, Senate bills would reduce funding by double-digit percentages.
Voters made it part of the Texas Constitution in 1876: The Legislature shall establish and maintain the University of Texas as…
Schools: Students may volunteer to work as pages in state Senate
Wednesday, February 02, 2011
Austin American-Statesman
State Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, will announce today a program that will allow Austin school district students in sixth through eighth grades to serve as pages in the Senate for…
Bill Aids Landowners Protecting Texas’ Water Supply
Monday, January 31, 2011
A bipartisan group of legislators, representing both rural and urban parts of the state, is supporting a bill that would create an innovative incentive for landowners to protect water resources,…
Republicans allow modifications to voter ID bill
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
by Martin Bartlett
KVUE News
AUSTIN – The Texas Senate continues debate on a controversial bill which would require you to bring a state issued photo ID with you to the ballot box.
On a…
Senate retains 2/3 rule
Saturday, January 22, 2011
by Charles Kuffner
Off the Kuff
The Senate will mostly Read More…
State workers on edge over possible layoffs, benefit cuts
Saturday, January 22, 2011
by Kate Alexander and Ben Wermund
Austin American-Statesman
It's a tough time to be working for Texas.
Many state employees are on edge because their jobs might be among the 9,600 that could be eliminated as part of…
All eyes on shrinking Texas budget
Thursday, January 20, 2011
by Steve Habel
Austin Business Journal
State lawmakers got their first glimpse of the budget late Wednesday and saw the deep cuts that were expected.
Texas’s next budget, as it’s written now, will carve about $13.7…
Legislature Convenes, Agenda Tight
Friday, January 14, 2011
by Andrea Leptinsky and Nicole Smith
Community Impact
The 82nd Legislature convened Jan. 11, with the tasks of reconciling a budget gap estimated at $4.3 billion for the remainder of 2011 and making legislative districts reflect the 21…
