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Entries tagged with 'Texas Legislature'Transparency for NTTARe: "Oversight for NTTA -- Tollway agency would benefit from state analysis," Thursday Editorials. Oversight from the state auditor and the Texas Sunset Commission for the North Texas Tollway Authority would be a wise move. But it is in taxpayers'... Get ready. Texas has a budget shortfall heading its way.Texas Comptroller Susan Combs announced this week that the state's down about a billion in tax collections. Perhaps no surprise there given that the economy remains in the dumps. But those numbers should get our attention. Over on The Education... Teel Bivins: The late GOP senator led with skill and graceThere was a period in the middle 1990s when the Texas Legislature really hummed. And while top figures like then-Gov. George W. Bush, Lt. Gov. Bob Bullock and Speaker Pete Laney helped make that happen, there was a cohort of... Voter ID: Keep it out of the special sessionWe've been discussing what the governor should include in his call for a special session. I'm in the camp of thinking that he should limit the call to germane issues because special sessions can get sidetracked on tangents. For example,... Austin's not AlbanyGail Collins has a column today in the NYT taking her New York Legislature to task for being a bunch of scoundrels. She also cites examples from Pennsylvania, Louisiania and Illinois, where state government has had its share of problems.... Come check out The Education Front in its new locationOur new blog devoted to education issues is up and running, too. Come on over to The Education Front for a review of the Legislature's just-finished school accountability bill. This week, the blog also is going to get into the... Should Carona filibuster? (topic of the day)Depending upon how events proceed today, GOP State Sen. John Carona could launch a filibuster down in Austin. If he goes ahead with it, he will try to talk to death the rewrite of the law governing the state's transportation... Texas's Budget: Vote yes, but barely yesRodger and I were talking last week about how boring the state budget can sound to readers, but let's face it: The state's spending over the next two years matters immensely to classrooms, universities, roads, students, the environment and pretty... If stalling's okay in Austin, it's okay in Washington, tooDemocrats were playing fair and square in dragging out Texas House business over the weekend so the House wouldn't have to vote on the controversial voter ID legislation. In fact, you have to hand it to the Democrats for finding... College issues unattendedWith three kids in high school, I'm interested in what the Legislature and governor will do to address the needs of higher education in this state. Are they going to amend the top 10 percent rule so that, for example,... The Education Front: Rob Eissler responds on social promotionRodger had a great line while we were down in Austin on Tuesday. I asked him why he was waiting for a legislator he had taken to task in an editorial. He said his father, a Cleveland sportswriter, believed in... Drop out, tune in and watch Austin's theatrics this weekendI trust all of us have plenty of plans for Memorial Day, but this is shaping up to be a dramatic weekend down in Austin. If you have time on your hands, tune in here. (Trust me, Rodger and I... The Education Front: Dewhurst names strong conferees for school battleDavid Dewhurst has appointed some Senate stalwarts to the conference committee to reconcile House/Senate differences on the school accountability bill. The lieutenant governor named Steve Ogden, Dan Patrick, Leticia van de Putte and Tommy Williams to serve along with Senate... Perry, Lege earn F on educationRe: "Lawmakers trim Perry's pet projects -- Dewhurst's requests also getting chopped," Wednesday news story. When I started teaching in 1972, Texas was ranked 37th in teacher pay. Now, 37 years later, Texas is ranked 35th in teacher pay --... Why doesn't the House want to fund Texas' water plan?Regions around Texas have ideas galore about securing enough water for the next 50 years, from taking the salt out of seawater to conserving existing resources to building new lakes. But those ideas mean nothing -- zilch -- unless the... Even if voter ID comes up, it may not pass the HouseThe voter ID bill still appears headed to the House floor, but that doesn't mean it will pass. By numerous accounts, Republican Reps. Delwin Jones and Tommy Merritt oppose their party's effort to require more forms of identification at the... On Texas bills targeting teens: Curfew a sad commentRe: "Council OKs daytime curfew -- Supporters say limits on youth will help reduce crime, but opponents fear racial profiling," Thursday news story. This is my 42nd year in public education as a teacher/counselor. I have noticed a marked decline... Laws must be enforced to workRe: "Bills may make you buckle up, hang up -- Back-seat belt, cellphone measures seek to keep passengers, kids safe," Friday news story. I am a huge proponent of child safety in and out of vehicles, but these laws do... Students and guns: poor mixersWith regard to proposed legislation allowing college students to carry concealed handguns on campus: Have the sponsors of this legislation been drinking? In a nationwide survey by the Harvard School of Public Health, nearly 43 percent of college students admit... On bills targeting teenagers: One teen who supports bills ...Re: "Teens may feel picked on by lawmakers -- Bills target curfews, rodeo helmets, tanning," Monday news story. As a senior at Ovilla Christian School, I think it is very dangerous for anyone to be texting or talking on the... |