The Energy track at The 2015 Texas Tribune Festival featured panel discussions on the state’s drilling industry and the state of the electric grid. We also featured a one-on-one interview with Railroad Commissioner Christi Craddick.
Drew Darby
Posted in
31 Days, 31 Ways (2015)
Lawmakers Ditch $200 Fee for Lawyers, Doctors, Brokers
Fourteen years after lawmakers first tacked on a $200 annual licensing fee for some occupations, the so-called professionals tax will be repealed Sept. 1. This story is part of our 31 Days, 31 Ways series.
Posted in
Energy
Curbing Local Control, Abbott Signs “Denton Fracking Bill”
Saying Texas needs to avoid a “patchwork of local regulations” that threaten oil and gas production, Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday signed legislation that would pre-empt local efforts to regulate a wide variety of drilling-related activities.
Posted inState Government
The Brief: April 27, 2015
There was more fallout late last week from the Southern Methodist University-led research study that linked wastewater injection wells to a swarm of earthquakes near Reno and Azle in late 2013 and early 2014.
Posted in
Energy
Video: The Future of Energy
On 4/24, I talked about the future of energy policy in Texas with SMU’s Bruce Bullock; state Rep. Drew Darby, R-San Angelo; former U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Antonio Garza; and state Rep. Morgan Meyer, R-Dallas.
Posted in
Energy
Texas House Approves “Denton Fracking Bill”
UPDATED: The Texas House on Friday approved House Bill 40, which would pre-empt local efforts to regulate a wide variety of oil and gas activities.
Posted inState Government
The Brief: March 24, 2015
So what’s next for Ted Cruz after his splashy announcement Monday that he’s an official candidate for the White House in 2016? The answer is pretty straightforward: It’s now nose-to-the-grindstone time.
Posted in
Economy
Video: The Battle over the Budget in the 84th Session
Here’s video of our 84th Legislature preview session on the budget debate. Panelists included state Sens. Judith Zaffirini and Kel Seliger and state Reps. Drew Darby and Donna Howard.
Posted in
Health care
The Evening Brief: Nov. 22, 2013
Your evening reading: Texas postpones closure of high-risk health insurance pool; SBOE blocks entry of Arizona-based charter school into state; railroad commissioner candidate rails against proposed textbook
Posted in
Demographics
The Brief: Nov. 21, 2013
Houston Mayor Annise Parker will move to extend health and life insurance benefits to same-sex legal spouses of city employees, despite a 2001 city charter amendment that was put to the voters specifically to prohibit the practice.