In its quest for school choice legislation, the Senate is backing away from traditional vouchers and heading toward a plan that would use donations to fund scholarships for low-income students trying to get out of weak schools.
84th Legislative Session
Posted in
State Government
Roundup: Tax Cuts, Pre-K and College Tuition
In the Roundup: The Legislature took steps on key issues this week, including tax cuts, improving the quality of pre-kindergarten programs and repealing in-state college tuition rates for some undocumented immigrants.
Posted in
State Government
Analysis: Lawmakers Contradict Themselves on Debt and Domain
Lawmakers try to do what voters want, but nobody promised consistency. That’s why you can get the same legislators to reduce debt and increase it on the same day, or to argue for and against eminent domain in the same hearing.
Posted in
Economy
Senate OKs Bill That Would Tighten Spending Cap
The Senate passed a bill Thursday that would tighten the state’s constitutional spending cap and make it tougher for future legislatures to break it. Senate Bill 9, by Sen. Kelly Hancock, passed with a vote of 19-12.
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Economy
Sponsor Softens Divisive Bill on Property Tax Rates
State Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, wants to make cities and counties ask voters for permission to enact tax rates that allow overall property tax revenue from existing homes and businesses to rise more than 6 percent.
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State Government
Analysis: Something More Conservative Than Cutting Taxes?
As the House and Senate engage in what state Sen. Kevin Eltife calls “a bidding war” over cuts to sales and property taxes, the Tyler Republican is sticking to his guns: He thinks lawmakers should look at neglected projects before they cut taxes.
Posted in
Politics
Video: Eltife on Whether He’s Running Again
At our 4/9 conversation, state Sen. Kevin Eltife, R-Tyler, the chairman of the Senate Business and Commerce Committee, talked about whether he plans to run again in 2016.
Posted in
Higher Education
Video: Eltife on In-State Tuition
At our 4/9 conversation, state Sen. Kevin Eltife, R-Tyler, the chairman of the Senate Business and Commerce Committee, explained why he supports allowing undocumented students to pay in-state tuition rates at public universities.
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State Government
Video: A Conversation With Kevin Eltife
Full video of my 4/9 conversation with state Sen. Kevin Eltife, R-Tyler, the chairman of the Senate Business and Commerce Committee.
Posted in
State Government
Senate Bill Targeting Bullet Train Project Advances
On a 5-4 vote, the Senate Transportation Committee approved a bill Wednesday that would hobble a private company’s plan to build a $12 billion high-speed rail line from Dallas to Houston.