Hot List day 77

by

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.