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With less than six weeks until the Texas legislature convenes, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst says that he wants to improve the state’s education system -- and that there may be additional money for public education. Dewhurst outlined his priorities before the Dallas Regional Chamber Thursday, applauding the state’s record of cutting taxes, limiting spending and maintaining a light regulatory touch. And after a 2011 session that slashed more than $5 billion from public education, he said this about restoring the money: “I am well aware that some 400 of the 1,000 independent school districts are suing the state of Texas. So at the end of the day I would not be surprised if we have to put more resources in for this biennium, but at least I want to see us cover our enrollment growth and do what we can on inflation.” Dewhurst also wants to make it easier to shut down a school that’s not up to snuff. “Currently under Texas law, it takes six years to close down a failing school. That’s nuts! I’m going to move for legislation to make it two years,” he said. The lieutenant governor didn’t specifically address publicly funded private school vouchers. That’s a topic that’s expected to be polarizing this session. But he did speak about giving parents more options. “I’m for more charters, I’m for shutting down bad charters, I want to give parents more choice,” Dewhurst said. He also discussed the possibility of taking money from the state’s “rainy day” fund for new investments in roads and drinking water. With Texas population expected to double in the next 30 years, he said adding pavement and reservoirs is absolutely necessary. The 83 rd legislature will convene at noon on Jan. 8.
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Texas lawmakers met today to discuss possible changes to the Public Information Act due to advances in technology. With the confluence of available data…
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Texas Governor Rick Perry has given his support to a bill that would have recipients of unemployment benefits submit to drug tests. Those failing a test…
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Gov. Rick Perry and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst are holding a joint press conference this morning about possible changes to welfare and unemployment…
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Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst is making some big leadership changes ahead of the 2013 legislative session.On Thursday morning, his office announced that he was…
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Dull as it sounds, appointing the committees in the state Senate is a big deal. The lieutenant governor is dishing out power, giving more to this senator…
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WESLEY CHAPEL, Fla. — Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, throwing some red meat to conservatives after his bruising defeat at the hands of Tea Party darling Ted…
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Despite a recent defeat in the Republican Senate primary, Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst has announced he’ll run for re-election.Dewhurst has served…
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This might be kind of awkward.Usually, when candidates with seemingly every advantage blow their political races, they retreat into the holes they crawled…
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The Associated Press has called the U.S. Senate Republican runoff for former Texas Solicitor General Ted Cruz over Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst.Cruz…