Patrick releases 25 legislative priorities

$1 billion for vouchers, $5 billion for teachers?

Legislative budget writers are proposing nearly $5 billion to increase teacher pay and $1 billion to implement a school voucher program in the next biennium, the Austin American-Statesman reported.

Note to editors: This is an early bulldog edition of Capital Highlights to accommodate holiday deadlines. It will be updated on Sunday if events warrant.

Hegar releases biennial revenue forecast

The Texas Legislature begins its work creating a state budget for the next two years with slightly less revenue available than it had during the previous biennium.

 Agencies, universities seek $24.6 billion in new funding

Capital Highlights subscribers, 

Due to an editing error, the party statistics cited in this week’s Capital Highlights item about the coming legislative session were incorrect. There will be 88 Republicans and 62 Democrats in the Texas House when it convenes next week, rather than 87-63 as we reported. We apologize for our mistake.

Your TPA colleagues

Legislative session begins on Jan. 14

The 89th Texas legislative session begins on Jan. 14 with a still-unresolved race for speaker of the Texas House of Representatives.

State Reps. David Cook, R-Mansfield and Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, are considered the frontrunners for speaker, but speculation continues as to whether other candidates will throw their hats into the ring.

This is an early bulldog edition of Capital Highlights to accommodate holiday printing deadlines. If warranted, an updated version will be sent Sunday. Happy New Year, everyone!

Vehicle inspections no longer required 

This is an early bulldog edition of Capital Highlights to accommodate holiday printing deadlines. If warranted, an updated version will be sent Sunday. Merry Christmas, everyone!

Abbott unveils new border strategy

Agency seeks $300 million to bolster Medicaid

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission is seeking a $300 million transfusion of funds to bolster the state’s Medicaid application process, The Texas Tribune reported.

Phelan drops bid for speaker; no clear winner yet

House Speaker Dade Phelan withdrew last week from seeking another term leading that chamber. After three rounds of voting on Saturday, state Rep. David Cook, R-Mansfield emerged as the preference of most House Republicans. However, his opponent, state Rep. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, claims to have enough support from both Republicans and Democrats to clear the 76-vote threshold.