Weekend Insider: Texas Budget, Assistance for Migrant Students
In this edition of the Weekend Insider: The Texas state budget may not be as bad as expected, and a program to help migrant students attend college reaches a milestone. Full Story
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Which Pocket?
A one-for-one swap of sales taxes for property taxes would raise the state sales tax to 17.85 percent from 6.25 percent, or enough to add almost $3,500 to the price of an average car. Full Story
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Report: Mass Deportation Could Cost Texas Billions
A new study by the Center for American Progress says that in Texas alone, there would be a $14.5 billion annual loss in tax revenue if all illegal immigrants in the state were deported. Full Story
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The Search for a Less Unpopular School Tax
As the state and its independent school districts head to court again in October to debate school financing, it's still possible that the issue of a statewide property tax could be revisited. Full Story
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Survey: Local Juvenile Programs Underfunded
Instead of continuing to spend millions on problem-plagued secure facilities operated by the Texas Juvenile Justice Department, juvenile justice reform advocates say legislators should invest more in local probation departments. Full Story
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Inside Intelligence: About the Next Legislative Session...
For this week's nonscientific survey of government and political insiders, we asked what will dominate the next legislative session and about the odds for school vouchers, high-stakes testing and a Medicaid expansion. Full Story
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Updated Interactive: Looking at Texas' Economy by Industry
July marked a milestone in Texas employment: two straight years of continuous job growth. This updated interactive shows how employment has changed by industry since 2007, as well as current unemployment rates by county. Full Story
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State Budget Picture Not as Rosy as It May Seem
The state economy, and the state's finances, look relatively good. Tax revenue is far higher than the comptroller had predicted. But don't get too confident — there are some tough decisions ahead. Full Story
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Despite Two Years of Job Growth, Texas Unemployment Inches Up
Texas may have reached a milestone in July, reporting two straight years of job growth. But the unemployment rate inched up again last month, from 7 percent to 7.2 percent, while economic growth remained relatively consistent. Full Story
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Even in Budget Crunch, Tax-Free Weekend Lives On
Texas may miss out on the $65 million shoppers are expected to save during tax-free weekend, which starts today. But even as the state faces further budget shortfalls, the holiday, created in 1999, still draws bipartisan support. Full Story
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Property Tax Easy to Hate, Tough to Mess With
Property tax bills are big, but they have a couple of political advantages for legislators. For one thing, they don't take most of the blame over those levies. Full Story
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Additional Tax for Small Tobacco Companies Debated
The state House Ways and Means Committee heard discussion Tuesday on a possible extra tax on small tobacco companies to equalize what the big tobacco companies call a competitive advantage because of pricing. Full Story
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Guest Column: Why Democrats Should Support a Tax Cut
When it makes sense, we shouldn’t act as if we will never consider tax cuts as an economic stimulant. In fact, if Democrats really want to shed our image as the taxing party, there’s a tremendous opportunity staring us in the face. Full Story
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Texas Weekly Newsreel: Guide to Texas Races
This week on the Newsreel, check out our guide to upcoming Texas political races. And, with the runoffs out of the way, lawmakers start talking about the session ahead — and the state budget. Full Story
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State's Economic Forecast a Mixed Bag
The comptroller's office announced Friday in its latest financial update that while the state will have more money in its coffers than previously thought, uncertainty about global economic strains could hurt Texas' two main money makers: energy and exports. Full Story
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Texas Feeling Effects of National Trucker Shortage
Though unemployment remains relatively high nationally, Texas faces a dearth of qualified truckers, spurred by high training costs and what some consider overly strict government regulations. And the state's economy is feeling the strain. Full Story
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Employment Figures Reflect Little Change in Texas Economy
Texas added 12,900 nonfarming jobs last month, keeping the unemployment rate virtually the same as it was in May, according to statistics released Friday by the Texas Workforce Commission. Full Story
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Straus: Process to End Budget Diversions Starts Now
Texas House Speaker Joe Straus called on lawmakers Monday to start figuring out how to stop diverting billions of dollars in dedicated taxes and fees that are being used to balance state budgets. Full Story
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Perry's UI Bet Pays Off
In 2009, Gov. Rick Perry rejected a $555 million offer from the Feds to cover unemployment insurance, then turned around and asked the Feds for a loan. Critics jumped, but that was likely the plan all along, and for the governor, it worked out fine. Full Story
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Texas Scientists Regret Loss of Higgs Boson Quest
As European scientists reveal groundbreaking discoveries about the Higgs boson particle, Texas scientists reflect with regret about a machine that got partly built near Dallas. They say it would've accomplished the mission a decade earlier. Full Story
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