If history is any guide, the Legislature will turn to accounting illusions to mask large portions of a budget shortfall of at least $11 billion. Trouble is, such trickery is a bet on the economy roaring back to life — and that’s no sure thing.
Austin
Posted inState Government
Changes Coming to the Big 12?
The Big 10 college sports conference is expected to add at least one new school sometime this year. Those in the know say Big 12 Conference member Missouri is the most popular choice. Losing one school isn’t likely to hurt the Big 12 — but what if the Big 10 adds 3 or 4 schools? What would that mean for the Big 12? Specifically, what would that mean for the Texas Longhorns? Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune filed this report.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
The Case of the Missing Prosecutors
Texas has more unfilled U.S. attorney positions than any other state — and that isn’t going to change soon. Currently, none of the four Texas districts have “presidentially confirmed” federal prosecutors, who are responsible for enforcing federal laws. Last week, John B. Stevens, a state district judge in Beaumont who was Barack Obama’s only nominee in Texas, withdrew his name from consideration, citing the protracted confirmation process. And that means we risk being left out of the administration’s inner circle on criminal and civil justice issues.
Posted in
Demographics
TribBlog: ATX to Ariz: No Thanks!
In the wake of Arizona’s immigration legislation, the City of Austin will formally consider limiting travel and business with the state.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
TribBlog: Case Against DeLay Aides Will Proceed
Today the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals upheld criminal charges against John Colyandro and Jim Ellis, meaning the case against them related to their work for former U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay’s political action committee will proceed at the trial court level.
Posted inState Government
TribBlog: Life Imitates @RickPerryFacts
Anyone surprised by the Associated Press story about Gov. Rick Perry killing a coyote during his morning jog clearly doesn’t follow @rickperryfacts on Twitter.
Posted in
Health care
Wealth Care Reform
The anticipated rush on primary care physicians — the likely result of health care reform’s insurance expansion — could drive rich Texans into private medical clubs.
Posted in
State Government
TribBlog: Perry Packs While Jogging
Hey, Governor, you couldn’t have served up that bit of Texas color in your Newsweek interview?
Posted in
Criminal Justice
TribWeek: In Case You Missed It
E. Smith interviews Gov. Rick Perry for the Trib and Newsweek, Philpott dissects the state’s budget mess in a weeklong series, Hamilton looks at whether Bill White is or was a trial lawyer, M. Smith finds experts all over the state anxiously watching a court case over who owns the water under our feet, Aguilar reports on the battle between Fort Stockton and Clayton Williams Jr. over water in West Texas, Ramshaw finds a population too disabled to get on by itself but not disabled enough to get state help and Miller spends a day with a young man and his mother coping with that situation, Ramsey peeks in on software that lets the government know whether its e-mail messages are getting read and who’s reading what, a highway commissioner reveals just how big a hole Texas has in its road budget, Grissom does the math on the state’s border cameras and learns they cost Texans about $153,800 per arrest, and E. Smith interviews Karen Hughes on the difference between corporate and political P.R. — and whether there’s such a thing as “Obama Derangement Syndrome.” The best of our best from April 19 to April 23, 2010.
Posted in
T-Squared
T-Squared: Why We Publish Government Employee Salaries
Because they’re already public. Because we’re about transparency, open government, and greater access to information. Because you have a right to know how your tax dollars are being spent. Etc.