It is well established that the U.S. federal government is primarily responsible for defending our national borders, enforcing immigration laws, and fighting the Mexican drug cartels. Nevertheless, in 2015, the Republican-controlled Texas Legislature approved $800 million for the Texas Department of Public Safety for “border security,” thus creating what many have characterized as the militarization of the Rio Grande Valley.
Category: Lee Terry
Lawmakers: Tax exemptions to be examined in upcoming session
Lawmakers who closed a $304 million mid-year budget deficit are already looking ahead to April, when the Legislature will look for revenue sources to help remedy the state’s consistently dire financial picture. After pulling $99 million from the state’s rainy day fund and filling the remaining gap with cuts, including $40 million cut primarily from healthcare administration, the looming task is now to prevent these budget deficits from reoccurring.