Politics
Texas Lawmakers Face Tough Choices Over State Budget Impacted By COVID-19
Posted on · Cuts to key programs like public education are in the works, despite Governor Greg Abbott’s promises
Tag: state budget
Houston Matters
How The New Year Might Play Out For Oil And Gas (Feb. 4, 2021)
Posted on · On Thursday's show: How 2021 might play out for oil and gas and therefore Houston’s economy, a look at how the state budget is shaping up, and answers to your questions about sleep.
Education News
Abbott Announces $420 Million In CARES Act Funding For Public Schools
Posted on · The money will reimburse schools for purchases to facilitate remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Education News
Texas’ Spending On Higher Ed Has Yet To Recover From Great Recession, Pew Report Finds
Posted on · The state is one of 40 whose spending on higher education has yet to return to pre-2008 levels.
Politics
Four Things To Watch For In The 2019 Texas Legislature
Posted on · State lawmakers must pass a budget, but they’re also under heavy pressure to reform school finance, rein in property tax growth, and fund long-awaited Harvey relief.
Texas
Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar Gives Lawmakers Cautiously Optimistic Revenue Estimate For 2019 Session
Posted on · Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar announced Monday that the state will have $119.1 billion for lawmakers to use in putting together the state's 2020-21 budget.
News
Hegar Seeks To Move More of State’s Rainy Day Fund From Cash To Stocks and Bonds
Posted on · Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar says the fund now holds nearly $12.5 billion. He wants to invest more of it as a hedge against inflation.
Houston Matters
Report: Methods Used To Balance The Texas Budget Will Lead To Bigger Challenges In 2019
Posted on · A new report from the Texas Taxpayers and Research Association says state lawmakers are digging themselves an $8 billion financial hole they’ll have to dig their way out of in the next regular session in 2019.
Texas
State Colleges Stave Off Threatened Budget Cuts, Tuition Freeze
Posted on · The Texas House of Representatives blocked Senate proposals that could have bled the finances of public universities.
Texas
Texas Legislature Passes $217 Billion Budget
Posted on · The two-year package includes extra funding for foster care and mental health, but shifts more of public school costs onto local taxpayers.
Texas
Texas House, Senate Budgets Remain Far Apart On Public Education Funding
Posted on · The House’s budget would boost state spending on K-12 education by drawing on the Rainy Day Fund. The Senate’s would force local property taxpayers to pick up more of the tab.
Texas
House of Representatives Grinds Through Debate Over State Budget
Posted on · The House is considering more than 400 amendments to general appropriations bill.
Texas
House Budget Bill Heads To Floor, Freighted With Divisive Amendments
Posted on · The riders include measures that have already passed the Senate, such as the “bathroom bill,” which Speaker Joe Straus is not inclined to bring up for votes.
Houston Matters
Political Roundup: Flynn Resigns and the NFL Weighs in on the ‘Bathroom Bill’
Posted on · On our weekly political roundup, we discuss the latest happenings at the Texas Legislature and talk about what's happening in politics on the national level that could impact Houston. Some topics we’ll address include: President Trump’s news conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu The resignation of National Security Advisor Michael Flynn Potential points of […]
News
Texas Lawmakers Could Trim Funding for Pre-K, Despite New Research
Posted on · Advocates hope to see strong support from Governor Greg Abbot soon. He made early education a top priority last session.