Gov. Rick Perry calls it "another step toward achieving fiscal responsibility"; the Center for Public Policy Priorities has criticized its "cuts-only approach" and called the refusal to use the Rainy Day Fund "unconscionable". The House has passed its own version of the 2012-2013 budget, and now it's up to the Texas Senate to decide. The Finance Committee there is expected to increase spending in the bill, but it's anybody's guess where they'll find the money. more ›

The Criminal Justice Committee of the Texas Senate will hold a public hearing today on the bill that would allow handguns on some Texas college campuses. Students for Gun-Free Schools in Texas is calling the hearing, in room E1.016 of the Capitol from 1:30 to 6:30 pm, the "one final chance" for students, parents, faculty and staff to have an impact on this legislation. The Texas House held its own hearing during Spring Break. more ›

Texas Congressman Allan Ritter (D-Nederland) announced Saturday that he will be crossing the aisle to join the Republicans in the Texas House of Representatives. Ritter's shift moves the GOP one seat away from a supermajority—and another Democrat is already considering his options. more ›

The week's news on arts, books, film and music. more ›

From the NYTimes: Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, the hard-driving and super-confident Pentagon boss who came to symbolize President Bush’s controversial Iraq policy, is resigning, President Bush announced today. Mr. Bush, appearing at the White House the day after the Republican Party suffered sweeping defeats in Tuesday’s midterm elections, said he and Mr. Rumsfeld had had “a series of thoughtful conversations” and agreed that “the time is right for new leadership at the Pentagon.” Rumsfeld... more ›

According to the Dallas Voice (by way of Burnt Orange), Austinite Edward Mokrzy - a gay Republican formerly living in Dallas - was promised support by the Republican Party in the upcoming primaries for the House of Representatives. Oddly enough, the National Republican Congressional Committee reneged on its pledge to cover his filing costs after Mokrzy announced his intention to run as an openly gay candidate and on a "government reform" platform. more ›