Casey B.

President Obama is coming to Texas next week, and he's scheduled to make a quick stop in Austin. He'll first go to El Paso, where Mayor John Cook told the Associated Press that the president will be visiting Chamizal National Memorial, on the U.S.-Mexico border. Obama last visited El Paso... continue reading on Austinist

The White House released a long-form version of President Obama's birth certificate this morning, ripping a large hole in Donald Trump's presidential campaign in the process. But that's not enough for Rep. Leo Berman (R-Tyler), who asked why the certificate looks "brand new" (answer: it's a certified copy) and why... continue reading on Austinist

The Texas Senate Finance Committee passed a budget this morning for the next biennium that has fewer cuts than the House version and would tap up to $3.1 billion from the Rainy Day Fund to finance the extra spending, should revenue fall short. Said Sen. Juan Hinojosa (D-McAllen), the vice... continue reading on Austinist

evso/FlickrGov. 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... continue reading on Austinist

evso/FlickrThe 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... continue reading on Austinist