Items of Interest Compiled by Arnold Public Affairs
State and national headlines continue to reel over Texas’ budget politics, handling of abnormal winter storms, and political bids for office. As members of the House adjust to their recently-announced committee assignments, things will become much busier at the Legislature as more hearings are held on issues that have been tabled while debate on emergency items has taken place.
Below are some general items of interest pertaining to the latest political developments and important events:
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Calls Grow to Use Rainy Day Fund
“Despite pleas from educators, advocacy groups, the Democratic minority in the Legislature and others, Gov. Rick Perry, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and other legislative leaders have vowed not to tap into the state’s savings account, better known as the Rainy Day Fund. But a growing number of Republican lawmakers, including…”
(View full article here).
Editorial: It’s Time to Close the PayDay Lending Loophole
“For someone living paycheck to paycheck, a quick two-week loan for a few hundred dollars from a storefront lender down the block might seem the answer for an unexpected car repair or medical bill. That’s why, instead of following the lead of several other states and outlawing these high-interest, short-term loans, Texas decided a decade ago to instead regulate these firms as finance companies and cap their loan interest rates. But getting all payday leaders to play by the rules is proving as elusive as corralling a greased pig…”
(View full article here).
Texas’ Budget Challenges Could Persist Beyond 2011
“Texas’ budget problems will not go away when legislators eventually sign a balanced budget later this year, senators heard on Monday. A $10 billion budget shortfall will reappear in future legislative sessions again and again unless lawmakers better align how much money comes in and how much goes out, said John Heleman, chief revenue estimator for Comptroller Susan Combs. Some state leaders have attributed the state’s budget woes solely to the economic downturn…”
(View full article here).
House Speaker Joe Straus Names Committees
“Speaker Joe Straus appointed members to committees today, shuffling the assignments in a Texas House where one in four members is a freshman and where Republicans have a two-to-one numerical advantage.With the panels named, he can start assigning legislation to various committees for consideration, and that will get under way quickly, with the House Appropriations Committee diving into the budget this week…”
(View full article here).
GOP Loves Look of VP Field
“Forget about Mitt, Huck and Newt. From its highest levels to the grass roots, the GOP is buzzing over…Republican officeholders who have captured the party’s imagination in ways that the current 2012 presidential field hasn’t come close to doing. It’s almost as though there is more excitement over the deep pool of vice presidential prospects than over the emerging roster of presidential candidates…And if the nominee has trouble firing up conservatives, nearly all the previously mentioned names would likely do the trick, as would a prominent state leader such as Texas Gov. Rick Perry….”
(View full article here).
Advocates: Prison Health Cuts Will Prompt Lawsuits
“Health care in Texas prisons is already so abysmal it borders on being unconstitutional, according to a report released today by the Texas Civil Rights Project. The cuts lawmakers are now considering, they said, will almost certainly spark lawsuits that could cost Texas more money than it would spend to simply improve the system…. ”
(View full article here).
LiveBlog: Perry’s State of the State
“Gov. Rick Perry delivered his sixth State of the State speech today, addressing a joint session of the Texas House and Senate, and selling the state’s fiscal troubles as an opportunity to make government more efficient. Perry offered a litany of proposals, from challenging Texas colleges and universities to offer a $10,000 bachelor’s degree…to asking lawmakers to consider outcome-based financial aid — basing a portion of their funding on the number of degrees they churn out. He also recommended suspending funding for four Texas agencies, including the Texas Historical Commission and the Texas Commission on the Arts…”
(View full article here).
Hutchinson Seeks ‘New DREAM Act’
“Weeks after a hunger strike orchestrated by college students in San Antonio failed to sway her vote on the DREAM Act, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison told business leaders Tuesday that she now would work to pass a lesser version of the highly contentious bill, one that would not provide illegal immigrants a path to citizenship. Hutchison, R-Texas, told the San Antonio group that she could not support legislation that includes “amnesty” provisions of citizenship, which was included in the DREAM Act. Instead, she said, she wants a bill that would protect foreign-born students and those who serve in the military from being deported — but would not want them to receive automatic citizenship here…”
(View full article here).
Census Bureau Releasing Texas Data Next Week
“The U.S. Census Bureau announced today that it plans to release hard population totals and racial breakdowns for Texas next week, the first step in what could be a politically complicated redistricting process. Thanks to its short legislative session, Texas is among the first states to receive state-level data…”
(View full article here).
Amazon to Close Texas Distribution Center Amid Sales Tax Fight
“Online retail giant Amazon.com will close its suburban Dallas distribution center amid a dispute with the state over millions in uncollected state sales taxes, The Associated Press reported Thursday. The AP obtained an e-mail Thursday sent to Amazon employees by Dave Clark, the company’s vice president of operations. Clark wrote that the center in Irving will close April 12 because of the state’s ‘unfavorable regulatory climate…’”
(View full article here).
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