(Texas Tribune)
Peggy Fikac, Houston Chronicle
AUSTIN – Gov. Rick Perry called for investing billions in water and transportation plus tax relief Tuesday, but what he left out of his State of the State speech got attention, too.
He included no mention of the hot-button issues of abortion or immigration, and he left untouched the emotional debate over gun laws.
Perry did push for tax relief of at least $1.8 billion over two years in a speech to a joint session of the Legislature in the House chamber, asking for feedback from Texans on exactly what form it should take. The relief would be paid for in part by taking money from the state rainy day fund, according to his proposed budget.
He also asked lawmakers to dip into the rainy day fund for $3.7 billion to invest in water and transportation infrastructure, calling it critical to the state’s economic development and Texans’ quality of life.
He highlighted South Texas higher education, calling for the region to get access to the Permanent University Fund that benefits other institutions in the University of Texas and Texas A&M systems.
“This area of the state is critical to our state’s future, and our investments in the children of South Texas will return to us a thousand-fold,” Perry said.
He affirmed his support for giving youngsters more choices in education apart from traditional public schools and for freezing tuition for incoming college freshmen at their first semester’s rate.
While he was critical of Washington, the GOP governor took a respectful tone toward President Barack Obama.
Saying that the president, in his second inauguration, “called on us all to work together and do our part to secure a brighter future for America,” Perry affirmed. “Mr. President, Texas stands ready to do our part,” he said.
(Read more of the story at Chron.com)
OTHER COVERAGE:
- Perry proposes returning excess taxes (KHOU 11 News)
- Perry proposes infrastructure upgrades, tax cuts (KPRC 2 News)
- Governor Proposes Tax Relief & Infrastructure Funding (KUHF Public Radio)
- Governor Joins Chorus Calling for Water Funding (State Impact Texas)
- State of the State: Perry calls for tax relief, investing in water, roads (Austin Statesman)
- More Headlines From Around the State…
LOCAL AREA HEADLINES:
- Lower grades do well on tougher state exams (Chron.com)
- Houstonians react to Obama’s immigration reform plan (KPRC 2 News)
- HPD training video will tell crash victim’s tragic story (Chron.com)
- Student first arrested in campus shooting wants name cleared (KTRK 13 News)
- Kelso Elementary School steps up security after incident last week (KHOU 11 News)
- Toddler home from hospital one week after pit bull attack (KHOU 11 News)
- Bellaire tries to go green by deconstructing home (KTRK 13 News)
- Houston Fire Department Is Looking For A Few Good … Women (KUHF Public Radio)
STATE, NATION & WORLD:
- State cancer grant recipient closes (Chron.com)
- Students show strong improvement on STAAR retake (Austin Statesman)
- State Posts Revised List of Women’s Health Providers (Texas Tribune)
- Texas reaction mixed to Obama call for immigration reform (Austin Statesman)
- Judge OKs $4B BP oil spill criminal settlement (USA Today)
- More middle-aged adults care for kids and aging parents (USA Today)
- FDA: Beware of fake flu remedy (AP)
- Arab nations, U.S. pledge hundreds of millions for Syria crisis (Washington Post)