Month: <span>April 2010</span>

House to look at refiners’ tax break

House Ways and Means Chairman Rene Oliveira said today that his committee will take a close look at a controversial refinery tax break proposal with large budgetary implications for some school districts and state government. Oliveira, DBrownsville, said he would draft legislation to address the problem, if necessary. Valero Energy Corp., one of the country’s […]

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Tea Party brewing trouble for educators

A couple of readers objected to my characterization last week of Tea Party supporters as “teabaggers.” This was in an item about how moderate, proeducation candidates in three Republican legislative runoffs – including longtime state Rep. Delwin Jones of Lubbock – were defeated by proTea Party opponents. I did not mean to offend anyone with […]

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Refiner proposing more budget misery for schools

For sometime now, environmentalists have been unhappy with Gov. Rick Perry’s probusinessatjustaboutanycost appointees on the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. Now, educators – even those who don’t consider themselves particularly green – also have reason to be concerned. According to a story in the Houston Chronicle, Valero Energy Corp., one of the country’s largest oil […]

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Tea Party is a big fish – in smaller ponds

Tuesday’s Republican runoffs proved once again that a political minority – in this case, the antigovernment Tea Party movement – can have a major impact in lowturnout elections. The runoffs, however, didn’t establish whether the Tea Baggers will remain a minority or have taken their first steps to emerging as a major force on the […]

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