http://www.kirkwatson.com/newsroom Kirk Watson Newsroom en celinda.provost@gmail.com Copyright 2008 2008-11-12T10:56:28-06:00 http://www.kirkwatson.com/watson-wire/panel-should-help-determine-flagship-university-status-in-texas/ http://www.kirkwatson.com/watson-wire/panel-should-help-determine-flagship-university-status-in-texas/#When:09:56:28Z While just about everyone agrees that more top-tier universities would be a tremendous boon to Texas, taking the next steps to accomplish that goal has been quite difficult. The problem,… 2008-11-12T09:56:28-06:00 http://www.kirkwatson.com/watson-wire/watson-proposes-panel-to-designate-top-tier-universities/ http://www.kirkwatson.com/watson-wire/watson-proposes-panel-to-designate-top-tier-universities/#When:09:54:02Z A blue-ribbon panel would be established to help navigate the politically dicey question of which Texas universities should be elevated to top-tier status, under legislation introduced Monday by state Sen.… 2008-11-11T09:54:02-06:00 http://www.kirkwatson.com/watson-wire/watson-sets-out-priorities-for-upcoming-81st-legislature/ http://www.kirkwatson.com/watson-wire/watson-sets-out-priorities-for-upcoming-81st-legislature/#When:05:49:58Z Two issues near and dear to Sen. Kirk Watson two years ago – climate change and creating a process to launch a third public flagship university – will be at… 2008-11-11T05:49:58-06:00 http://www.kirkwatson.com/watson-wire/watson-wants-budget-transparency/ http://www.kirkwatson.com/watson-wire/watson-wants-budget-transparency/#When:09:48:46Z With January’s legislation fast approaching and an expected state budget pinch expected to be Topic A, Austin state Sen. Kirk Watson says he intends to push for more “transparency” in… 2008-11-10T09:48:46-06:00 http://www.kirkwatson.com/watson-wire/in-speech-watson-ruminates-on-shape-of-session-to-come/ http://www.kirkwatson.com/watson-wire/in-speech-watson-ruminates-on-shape-of-session-to-come/#When:09:45:19Z On the day that unofficially kicks off the session – the first day to file bills – Sen. Kirk Watson speculated the current economy and last week’s Democratic wins… 2008-11-10T09:45:19-06:00 http://www.kirkwatson.com/watson-wire/texas-lawmakers-set-agenda-for-2009-legislative-session/ http://www.kirkwatson.com/watson-wire/texas-lawmakers-set-agenda-for-2009-legislative-session/#When:06:53:39Z The 81st Texas legislative session begins in just two months. Starting Monday, lawmakers began filing hundreds of bills. They only have 140 days starting on January 13th to… 2008-11-10T06:53:39-06:00 http://www.kirkwatson.com/watson-wire/watson-intervened-to-end-impasse-between-union-cap-metro-management/ http://www.kirkwatson.com/watson-wire/watson-intervened-to-end-impasse-between-union-cap-metro-management/#When:05:59:40Z A three-day old strike by union bus drivers and mechanics against Capital Metro came to an abrupt end Friday night, as members of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1091 and… 2008-11-10T05:59:40-06:00 http://www.kirkwatson.com/watson-wire/watson-to-file-bill-designating-texas-71-as-scenic/ http://www.kirkwatson.com/watson-wire/watson-to-file-bill-designating-texas-71-as-scenic/#When:05:50:37Z State Senator Kirk Watson attempted to pass a measure through the legislature last year that would classify Texas 71 as a scenic highway, thereby banning future billboards along the road. … 2008-11-10T05:50:37-06:00 http://www.kirkwatson.com/watson-wire/clean-air-strategy-quietly-drifts-off/ http://www.kirkwatson.com/watson-wire/clean-air-strategy-quietly-drifts-off/#When:12:45:31Z A Texas Senate committee this week quietly withdrew recommendations that would require the state's environmental agency to adopt stringent new limits on hazardous air pollutants. The reversal came four weeks… 2008-10-31T12:45:31-06:00 http://www.kirkwatson.com/watson-wire/budget-leaders-dont-look-for-costly-changes-to-state-business-tax/ http://www.kirkwatson.com/watson-wire/budget-leaders-dont-look-for-costly-changes-to-state-business-tax/#When:12:43:07Z AUSTIN – Small businesses are unrelenting in pushing for changes to a new state tax that many say has left them gasping, but budget leaders today suggested any revamp can’t… 2008-10-30T12:43:07-06:00