The latest economy news from The Texas Tribune.
After it became clear that Houston’s non-discrimination ordinance would be trounced at the polls, Houston Mayor Annise Parker said she feared a “direct, economic backlash” for the city. So far, there's no visible evidence of one. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/11/11/6F6A8399.jpg)
Add Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick to the growing list of those concerned about Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller’s effort to hike fees for a wide range of licenses, registrations and services the Texas Department of Agriculture provides. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/11/05/Miller216CMS.jpg)
Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller says he's prepared to "put on my rawhide underwear and take all the chewings" as the agriculture community protests a wide range of rate hikes at his agency. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/02/27/XMillerSid_BDB3882.jpg)
The head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency suggested that Texas leaders should play along with her agency’s sweeping Clean Power Plan, if only to avoid a more rigid carbon-cutting plan imposed by the federal government. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/11/09/22028870222_14ba2a820b_o.jpg)
As Energy Future Holdings continues what it hopes will be the final leg of messy bankruptcy proceedings, a recent dispute with the federal government highlights just how far a mammoth corporate reorganization can reach. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/Powerlines-Texas.jpg)
House Speaker Joe Straus announced Thursday that a new House Committee on Federal Environmental Regulation will examine a litany of new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency efforts that have roiled Texas leaders and industry. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/05/05/Coal-and-EPA-2.jpg)
Voters overwhelmingly favored seven changes to the Texas constitution, including measures that will cut property taxes, boost funding for road projects beginning in 2017 and let state officeholders live outside of Austin. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/I-VotedSticker.jpg)
More than a dozen companies responded to a recent request from Comptroller Glenn Hegar for input on how Texas should set up a planned gold bullion depository. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/07/02/Texas-Gold-2.jpg)
The Transportation track at the 2015 Texas Tribune Festival included panel discussions on high-speed rail, transportation planning, urban mobility and the Legislature. Listen to audio from each session. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/10/29/transportation.png)
As Texas' transportation needs multiply, voters in the rapidly growing state will be asked Nov. 3 to consider a way to pay for those needs. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/10/23/TexasTraffic_UGYxiis.jpg)
The state comptroller's original forecast on state revenue for 2016-17 was wrong, but the misestimate was inconsequential — at least in the short term. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/10/17/22224667816_791a96cd14_o_LyL9vYt.jpg)
Here's full video of my conversation Friday with Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick at The Texas Tribune Festival. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/videos/Patrick_Keynote.jpg)
Far more money is extracted from Texans in the form of state and local sales taxes, but property taxes are the source of more complaints. School taxes lead the list but account for a smaller share of the overall tax bill than 10 years ago. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/02/24/PropertyTax-DollarSigns.jpg)
The private firm trying to build a bullet train between Dallas and Houston has released a study claiming it would pump more than $30 billion into the state economy over the next 25 years. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/08/15/train-hispeed-upload.jpg)
Following a legislative session in which lawmakers debated whether to cut property taxes, business taxes, sales taxes or a combination of the three, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick signaled an interest Wednesday in continuing the conversation. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/02/01/Money-Capitol-3d-Budget.jpg)
A federal appeals court has blocked a major Obama administration clean water rule, handing a victory to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and other states trying to drown it in court. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/03/31/EPA-Water.jpg)
A Texas A&M University study reveals just how closely petroleum activity appears to be linked to collisions on crowded, crumbling roads in rural South and West Texas. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2014/10/29/TT-Shale-Accidents-002.jpg)
Texas voters will probably give themselves a small dose of property tax relief when they vote on Proposition 1 in November. But if it passes, the state will be on the hook for $600 million a year to help school districts make up the lost revenue. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/PropertyTax.jpg)
A $40 million state incentive package was one of many reasons Toyota agreed to move its headquarters to Plano, company CEO Jim Lentz said Thursday. Yet absent the subsidy, picking Texas would have been a "real tough sell." Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2015/10/01/Lentz-Toyota.jpg)
Safety advocates staged a “thirst strike” on the steps of Dallas City Hall Tuesday, calling on city leaders to guarantee periodic rest breaks for construction workers who toil for hours in the city’s sweltering summers. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/images/2013/05/15/Worker-2.jpg)