State Capital HIGHLIGHTS

State Capital HIGHLIGHTS Senate, House begin budget reconciliation process The Texas Senate unanimously approved a $308 billion two-year budget last week, the Austin American-Statesman reported. The next step is to reconcile that budget with one passed earlier by the Texas House.

Look, Up in the Sky!…

I’m sure Will Rogers was a friendly guy, even if the quote usually attributed to him has been taken out of context. During an interview, he mentioned prominent men he’d met, all of whom he liked. (Lesser guys weren’t referenced.

HIGHLIGHTS

Dueling tax proposals in the Lege The Texas House passed a bill promising $17 billion in tax relief, a measure that is at odds with the Senate’s tax break plan, according to the Austin American-Statesman. The House bill would lower by half a home’s cap on appraisal increases.

PASTOR’S CORNER

Think about how this world would be if most of the inhabitants became interested in living according to the law of God. I want to share what Psalms 19 says: “ The law of Jehovah is perfect”, that converts the soul; The testimony of Jehovah is faithful, that makes the simple wise”.

State Capital HIGHLIGHTS

The Texas Senate last week unanimously approved a $16.5 billion package to lower property taxes and inject billions of dollars into public schools. As reported by the Texas Tribune, the three separate bills require the state to send at least $5.

Higher Education in Cowtown…

Higher education gets news coverage in both mass and social media, and much, I’m sure, is true. Technology is changing it at warp speed, and the old descriptions we used to toss about no longer fit.

PASTOR’S CORNER

I was wearing my clerical, a black shirt, and clergy cross, after services at a church, while walking through a Wal-Mart in Vernon, Texas. The woman I was dating had a mischievous streak. She knows Lutherans do not call their pastors “Father.

State Capital HIGHLIGHTS

Bill would require fentanyl education The death of a Leander High School graduate from a fentanyl overdose has prompted state Rep.

Beyond the Game…

The Texas High School Coaches Association—organized by 28 coaches in 1930—now has a membership of some 24,000. It also has an education foundation that introduced the “Grant Teaff Coaching Beyond the Game Award” a decade ago.

Texas Senate Review

The Senate on Wednesday unanimously approved a bill that would lower the threshold for felony conviction of making or dealing fentanyl while increasing the penalties for those convicted.