Texas Politics

Houston lawmaker takes redistricting flap to U.S. Justice

chron.com, MySA.com — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 19:23:37 -0600

It didn't take long for a Texas lawmaker to complain to the U.S. Justice Department about the House redistricting map. The House approved new districts earlier this week. Rep. Garnet Coleman, D-Houston, sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Eric...

Davis Amendment Would Defund Enterprise/Emerging Tech Funds

chron.com, MySA.com — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 17:10:00 -0600

Sen. Wendy Davis, D- Fort Worth, proposed an amendment that would transfer the remaining fund balances from the Enterprise and Emerging Technology Funds to the general budgeting fund in a bid to lessen the sting public education and social services would feel from looming budget cuts.

The First Word: Dewhurst'd

chron.com, MySA.com — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 14:07:15 -0600

On this day -- what appeared to be a budget consensus in the Senate comes apart on a key test vote; the politics of an apparent Republican rebellion; new controversy about Congressional redistricting, as the House passes its redistricting bill; Perry gives $2.5 million in tech funds to a major donor; Susan Combs finally says sorry and efforts to sunset the Railroad Commission hit a roadblock in the House.

Tough times or not, tax break for yachts steams ahead

chron.com, MySA.com — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 12:00:50 -0600

As some lawmakers look high and low for money to ease cutbacks in education and human services, the House Ways and Means Committee has approved a tax break for big yachts. The committee voted 8-3 Thursday for House Bill 2187,...

Chopping block: Eliminate toll road advertising

chron.com, MySA.com — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 09:01:01 -0600

The Texas Department of Transportation is spending less every year to advertise the state's toll road system, according to data from agency spokeswoman Kelli Petras. In fiscal year 2008, from Sept. 2007 -- Aug. 2008, the agency spent $1.72 million....

Where's the budget outrage, some lawmakers wonder

chron.com, MySA.com — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 18:48:49 -0600

Where's the outrage? House Democrats on the Appropriations Committee asked Thursday. Not enough Texans understand the magnitude of billions of dollars worth of budget cuts, said Rep. Sylvester Turner, D-Houston, vice chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. State photoRep. Sylvester...

Sylvester Turner builds a case

chron.com, MySA.com — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 18:30:15 -0600

During the 16-hour redistricting marathon this week, most of the objections from beleaguered Democrats focused on the dramatic population gains among the state's Hispanic residents and how they were being ignored by the Republican super-majority -- although Rep. Burt Solomons,...

Youth Commission Sunset Passes after Rancorous Debate

chron.com, MySA.com — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 18:00:37 -0600

The Texas House passed a sunset bill for the once much maligned Texas Youth Commission by voice vote on Thursday, after a rancorous debate between Rep. Jerry Madden and Rep. Sylvester Turner on the floor.

Explainer: Comparing the House and Senate Budgets

chron.com, MySA.com — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 16:00:30 -0600

Both groups favor the passage of the House budget without any extra spending from the Rainy Day Fund. How different is Sen. Ogden's budget proposal from the budget passed by the House? The GRAPHIC EXPLAINER breaks down the differences in health care, education and total funds spending between the three budgets.

Railroad Commission Sunset Postponed by Point of Order

chron.com, MySA.com — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 15:38:39 -0600

House debate over sunsetting the Texas Railroad Commission was derailed by a point of order offered by Trey Martinez Fisher, D-San Antonio.

Ogden challenges budget critics to present an alternative

chron.com, MySA.com — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 13:42:33 -0600

Senate Finance Chairman Steve Ogden is challenging those who don't want to use rainy day fund money - or have other problems with how his panel's proposed spending plan is financed -- to come up with an alternative. "I've got...

Calendar Threatens Anti-Bullying Bills in the House

chron.com, MySA.com — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 11:59:15 -0600

Just a few months after a spate of teenage suicides linked to school bullying grabbed the nation's attention, the Texas Senate passed an anti-bullying bill on Tuesday by a vote of 30-1.

The First Word: Senate Swamp

chron.com, MySA.com — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 06:00:00 -0600

On this day -- the Senate Finance Committee's budget is stuck in the Senate; Dewhurst reverses his position on using Rainy Day Fund; the House redistricting fight goes late into the night; legislation that would make DPS travel vouchers confidential moves out of committee; and the President releases his birth certificate.

Lawmaker accuses colleague of bamboozling voters

chron.com, MySA.com — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 20:50:37 -0600

The House redistricting debate turned a tad testy this evening when lawmakers discussed new legislative boundaries for South Texas featuring an effort to save one Hispanic Republican who switched parties after the November election. One of the casualties is Rep....

Miles unhappy, really

chron.com, MySA.com — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 18:28:26 -0600

Rep. Borris Miles, D-Houston, was uphappy, as I mentioned in yesterday's blog, but not so much with the new district drawn for him by Rep. Burt Solomons, the Carrollton Republican who chairs the House Redistricting Committee and whose map is...