#Texas

Why a Texas Bullet Train From Dallas to Houston Might Actually Happen

Nestled at the bottom of the continental United States, Texas is a state that is expansive, beautiful, and if you listen to those born and bred under the Lone Star, objectively better than any other place in the world. Don’t take it personally, folks, we really love our state here, is all. But despite living in self-prescribed paradise, life isn’t perfect down in the Republic. You see, the place is big. Really big. It’s a single state that amounts geographically to the size o

Bullet-train battle moves toward special session

AUSTIN — They’re still working on the railroad, but while advocates of the high-speed train linking Dallas and Houston remain bullish about getting off the drawing board and on track, new barriers could loom. “We’re going to do everything we can to get ourselves inserted into the special (legislative) session” scheduled to begin July 18, Kyle Workman, president of Texans Against High-Speed Rail, said in a Wednesday telephone interview. Chris Lippincott, executive director of

A closer look at the final Texas 2018-19 budget

Clashes between the Texas House and Senate dominated the 2017 legislative session, and the state budget process was no exception. After weeks of negotiations over how much to spend on public schools, border security, health insurance for the poor and disabled, and other services, the two chambers approved a $217 billion budget in late May. If Gov. Greg Abbott signs it, the new budget will go into effect on Sept. 1. Here’s a look at how the two dueling budget proposals compare

Texas Legislature passes no new laws to stop high-speed rail

A proposed high-speed rail line connecting Dallas to Houston appears to be on track for development after the Texas Legislature adjourned this week without passing any new laws that would stop the project. But, while supporters of the project are celebrating, opponents say the proposed 200 mph-plus bullet train is still far from being a done deal. “As the Texas Legislature completes its regular session, work on the bullet train remains at high speed,” Holly Reed, spokeswoman

Here’s How Much Trump Wants to Spend Annually on His Proposed Infrastructure Program

WASHINGTON — There are annual spending figures for President Trump’s promised $1 trillion infrastructure plan in the budget proposal the White House will issue on Tuesday. Documents the Trump administration released Monday to reporters show the White House wants $5 billion of spending on the program in the upcoming 2018 fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1. That amount would rise in the following years, cresting at $50 billion in 2021, before gradually sinking back to $5 billion

Massive tanker's arrival in South Texas makes history

INGLESIDE — A massive crude carrier called the Anne docked at the Port of Corpus Christi on Friday without a drop of oil in its cargo hold. Nonetheless, its visit made history. At nearly 1,100 feet long and 200 feet wide, the French vessel was easily be the largest oil tanker to ever call on a port in the Gulf of Mexico. Officials for Occidental Petroleum successfully navigated the super tanker through the port and safely docked it at the Oxy Ingleside Energy Center export te

Dan Patrick's $20,000 tax savings claim proves incorrect, ridiculous

Texas Lt. Gov . Dan Patrick made such a dramatic claim about "must-pass" tax-rate legislation--$20,000 in savings for the average homeowner every year!--we launched a fact check. Patrick, during 17 minutes of remarks to Capitol reporters May 17, 2017, named Senate Bill 2, authored by Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, as one of two measures--along with the Senate-backed proposal barring local governments and school districts from letting transgender residents use bathrooms of

Surprise: Senate tacks 'bathroom bill,' property-tax reform onto House measure

AUSTIN — In a surprise move, the Texas Senate early Wednesday tacked its controversial version of the 'bathroom bill" and property-tax reform measures into a catch-all House bill. But it was a trap, the House author of the so-called "Christmas tree" bill confirmed, and the measures added to it are now dead. Among the 48 amendments the Senate tacked onto House Bill 4180 were the Senate-passed versions of Senate Bill 6 and Senate Bill 2, two measures the House had watered-down

Gov. Abbott gets $100 million more for budget priorities to avert special session

AUSTIN -- Gov. Greg Abbott obtained an additional $100 million for his office's economic-development programs early Sunday by threatening to veto the state budget and force a special session, according to two people familiar with the late-hour intervention. House and Senate budget negotiators relented, but the House's price was some extra education money it had been pressing for, the officials said. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who has insisted savings not be used for any ongoing ex

White House tells Congress it will renegotiate NAFTA

U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer notified Congress on Thursday that President Trump intends to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Lighthizer said the United States will rework the 23-year-old trade agreement to support higher-paying jobs here and grow the U.S. economy by improving trading opportunities with Canada and Mexico. “USTR will now continue consultations with Congress and American stakeholders to create an agreement that advances

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