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Day 78 of the 82nd Texas Legislature

LINE OF THE DAY
“This is the largest undeveloped casino market in the United States.”
-Jack Pratt, head of the Texas Gaming Association on Texas’ potential revenue from legalized gambling

FLOOR PLAY BY ABBY RAPOPORT
You’d think that with a $27 billion budget shortfall and now cuts that would catastrophically affect hundreds of thousands of Texans, our state leaders would get a jolt back to reality. But as Abby Rapoport writes in her latest print column, they are still living in a “land of ideological purity,” and not even a report projecting that the budget will result in 300,000 job losses can bring them back down to earth. 

OBSERVED
Lawmakers have yet to sincerely broach the idea of repealing big-business tax exemptions to help raise revenue this session, but the Senate Finance Committee at least started talking about it. As Ari Phillips writes, state Sen. Rodney Ellis laid out a bill yesterday calling for a “periodic review of state and local tax ‘preferences,’ i.e. favorable tax policies for corporations.” 

BEST OF THE REST
The Austin American Statesman looks at a host of environmental bills, ranging from “recycling TVs to disclosing chemicals used in natural gas drilling” that enviro groups and legislators think have a good chance at passing all because of one common thread — in this tight-budget session, they come at no cost to the state. 

WHAT WE’RE WATCHING
The House Licensing and Administrative Procedures Committee will hear several gambling-related bills this morning, while anti-bullying legislation is back up in the House Public Education Committee this afternoon. 

Day 77 of the 82nd Texas Legislature

LINE OF THE DAY
‘If we don’t have an educated workforce, the jobs will leave.”
President of the Texas Association of Business Bill Hammond speaks out against proposed cuts to education.

OBSERVED
The House budget bill—scheduled to hit the floor this Friday—cuts a whopping $22 billion in state funding. Just what do such drastic cuts look like? Our reporters combed through the numbers to bring you an in depth look at just how those cuts will impact our schools, health and human services, and the environment. It ain’t pretty. 

BEST OF THE REST
A little known tax exemption for high price oil and gas production made permanent in 2003 is now haunting the Texas Legislature. According to new Houston Chronicle columnist (and former Texas Monthly correspondent) Patricia Kilday Hart without the exemption, the state could collect an extra $1.2 billion a year in additional taxes. 

WHAT WE’RE WATCHING

The Texas Department of Transportation has long been a source of controversy and frustration among lawmakers. Today, the Senate Transportation Committee will consider a number of bills concerning the agency’s future.

Day 74 of the 82nd Texas Legislature

LINE OF THE DAY
“Small business should not be used as leverage to get their pet projects done.”
-Will Will Newton, executive director of the National Federation of Independent Businesses, on a pending bill that would make a small-business tax exemption permanent

FLOOR PLAY BY ABBY RAPOPORT
In her latest post, Abby Rapoport examines one of the only surprises that came out of this week’s voter ID debate and inevitable passage – an amendment that, if this version of the bill passes, will negatively affect senior voters. 

OBSERVED
Yesterday morning, a Senate Finance subcommittee voted to restore $4.5 billion to the health and human service portion of the budget, which currently calls for $16.1 billion in cuts. While that may seem like a great feat in this budget crisis, as Alexa Garcia-Ditta reports, some programs are still left unfunded—and some senators aren’t close to satisfied. 

BEST OF THE REST
According to an analysis released by the Legislative Budget Board, the House version of the budget will result in hundreds of thousands of job losses should it pass as is. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s Dave Montgomery reports on how the LBB arrived at their numbers and lawmakers’ reactions.  

WHAT WE’RE WATCHING
The House Redistricting committee will spend this morning hearing public and invited testimony on how they should use the 2010 Census data to redraw the lines in House seats. While we haven’t heard too much about redistricting yet, there will likely be tough fights over which members will get to keep their seats and which ones will have to run in uncharted territory.

Day 73 of the 82nd Texas Legislature

LINE OF THE DAY
“Don’t try to make it more difficult for my people to be able to have the ability to vote.”
State Rep. Dawna Dukes, D-Austin, arguing against the voter ID bill during yesterday’s marathon debate. The measure ultimately passed in a party-line vote.

FLOOR PLAY BY ABBY RAPOPORT
There are several bills giving school districts “local control” by exempting them from certain state requirements. But as Abby Rapoport writes, telling school districts they have choices while drastically cutting their budgets is “like telling somebody they can choose to go out anywhere for dinner—as long as the restaurant is entirely vegan.” 

OBSERVED
In his latest blog post, Dave Mann looks at a bill by state Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston, that would increase access to DNA testing for inmates who say they’ve been wrongfully convicted. Inmates could seek testing if they’re never been tested or “if new, more modern testing techniques have since been developed.” 

BEST OF THE REST
The House Appropriations Committee approved a House version of the budget early yesterday morning. House Bill 1 cuts $23 billion from current spending levels, drastically reducing some crucial programs. The San Antonio Express-News reports that while the House likely has the votes to pass such a draconian budget, the Senate may be a a different story. 

WHAT WE’RE WATCHING
While the House has sent its budget to the printers, members of the Senate Finance committee will continue working today of its version. Subcommittees on public education and Medicaid, as well as the full committee, are scheduled to meet this morning. 

Day 72 of the 82nd Texas Legislature

LINE OF THE DAY
“You’re not giving nothing but rhetoric and double talk!”
Sen. Mario Gallegos lambasts Houston ISD Superintendent Terry Grier during yesterday’s Senate Education hearing.

FLOOR PLAY BY ABBY RAPOPORT
An ongoing feud between Sen. Mario Gallegos and Houston ISD’s Terry Grier sparked some heated exchanges during yesterday Senate Education Committee hearing. Abby Rapoport has the details on the soap-opera-worthy drama that unfolded.  

OBSERVED
“When you’ve got Tom Craddick, consumer groups, the Midland County District Attorney and Bible-quoting Baptists arrayed against you, most likely you’re facing a serious come-to-Jesus moment.” Forrest Wilder describes the strange coalition that came forward to support legislation aimed at reining in Texas’ predatory payday lending industry.  

BEST OF THE REST
Legislators looking to cut costs wherever they can are eyeing a little-known program that provides inmates a chance to earn their college degrees while serving time, reports the Austin American-Statesman. Supporters of the program argue it gives criminals a second chance.  

WHAT WE’RE WATCHING
Voter ID is back on the House floor today. Democrats stalled the bill on Monday on a technicality, but they better have more tricks up their coat sleeves if they want to stop the Republican supermajority from passing the bill this time around.