Uncategorized Archives - Texas Citizen Action Network

Will There Be A Special Session? Senate Leadership Thinks So, Gov. Perry Disagrees

May 19, 2011

The end of Texas’ 82nd Legislative session is May 30 – that’s just over ten days – and the Legislature continues to delay important budget measures. Finance measures that are critical to balancing the budget were delayed in the House on May 18 as lawmakers struggled to reach an agreement. “We’re one day closer to a special session,” Senate Finance Chairman Steve Ogden, R-Bryan, said after House Appropriations Chairman, Jim Pitts, R-Waxahachie, postponed the House’s consideration of revenue and education bills.

Budget Update: Senate Finally Passes Its Budget After Week Delay

May 6, 2011

The Texas Senate has finally passed its budget for the next biennium after Senate Finance Committee Chairman, Steve Ogden, has been trying to gather a two-thirds majority for days. Senate leaders decided to use a procedural maneuver to avoid the seemingly impossible two-thirds agreement in the chamber. Republicans bypassed Democratic opposition by using a special Senate rule that allows House bills to be considered on Wednesday and Thursdays only with a majority approval, and the Senate budget proposal originated in the House. Senators voted along party lines on Wednesday, May 4 with a 19-12 vote to approve the budget plan.

House Passes Redistricting Maps And The Senate Continues Budget Debate

April 29, 2011

After much deliberation that lasted into the early morning, the House passed its redistricting map around 3:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 28 with a 92-52 vote. In the other Texas chamber, the Senate Finance Committee is struggling to gain the necessary votes it needs to debate its budget plan on the Senate floor.

Senate Crafts Their Budget Proposal, Promising Not To Increase Taxes

April 20, 2011

Over the past few weeks, the Texas Legislature has been occupied with constructing a budget for 2012-2013 that will alleviate the current budget shortfalls and not cause problems in the future. The House passed their $164.5 billion budget on April 3, and meanwhile, the Senate has been diligently working to craft their less intense budget plan while upholding their promise not to raise taxes. The Senate budget is alleged to be close to $16 billion more than the House plan.

Tea Party Groups Speak Out On Expanding Gambling

April 7, 2011April 7, 2011

Earlier this week, Texas Insider wrote an article following the first House Licensing Committee hearing this year. The hearing prompted an immediate response from an organized faction of five Tea Party groups who wrote a letter to Lieutenant Governor Dewhurst strongly opposing the expansion of gambling in Texas. The Tea Party groups wrote in support…

Texas Gaming

March 22, 2011April 4, 2011

Texas Insider writes “If you’re dumping money into gambling or slot machines, you’re not spending money on cars, refrigerators, computers, education. The lost consumer spending is enormous. The lost sales tax revenue – enormous. And when you start losing the economy, you want to go back to basics, you don’t want to keep going down the wrong path,” said professor John Warren Kindt. (3/23/11)