Daily Archives: March 15, 2011

The itty bitty budget deal

Posted on March 15, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

It’s not nothing, but not by much. Gov. Rick Perry and House leaders struck a deal Tuesday to spend $3.2 billion from the state’s rainy day fund to fix one piece of the state’s budget shortfall. […] Perry said at … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Get your economic projection brackets ready

Posted on March 15, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

The Final Four will be played in Houston this year, and you know what that means. The NCAA’s estimate for economic activity in Houston puts the total to be spent during the Final Four at $60 million, while the Greater … Continue reading →

Posted in Other sports | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Comptroller finds a few more bucks

Posted on March 15, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Better than a sharp stick in the eye. Comptroller Susan Combs has revised the state’s 2011 revenue estimate by $300 million because of stronger-than-expected sales tax collections. That change would reduce the deficit in the current budget to $4 billion … Continue reading →

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Lowe has confirmation issues, too

Posted on March 15, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

John Bradley isn’t the only Rick Perry appointee who is having trouble getting confirmed by the Senate. State Sen. Bob Deuell, R-Greenville, who chairs the Senate Nominations committee, says Gail Lowe has not been scheduled for a hearing as chairwoman … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

By the way, we have no money for roads

Posted on March 15, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Just another issue we won’t be dealing with this session. During the next 20 years, the Texas Department of Transportation will need $315 billion to spend on the state’s roads and freeways for maintenance and construction just to keep traffic … Continue reading →

Posted in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment