Senate OKs Amendment to Point Funds Toward Road, Rail Projects
from The Fort Worth Star-Telegram
The State Senate tentatively approved a proposed state constitutional amendment that would allow money from gasoline taxes and auto registrations to be used for road and rail projects such as those envisioned for the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. More

Napolitano Introduces Border Czar in Texas Stop
from The Associated Press via The Brownsville Herald
Former U.S. Attorney Alan Bersin is the new border czar.' Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano introduced Bersin during a news conference at a bridge that links El Paso and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. More

Texas Senate Passes Proposed Amendment on Gas Tax
from The Fort Worth Star-Telegram
The state Senate tentatively approved a proposed constitutional amendment Wednesday that would allow money from gasoline taxes and auto registrations to be used for road and rail projects such as those envisioned for North Texas. The amendment - which would require approval by Texas voters in the Nov. 3 election - is a companion to a Senate-passed bill allowing countywide elections to finance local transportation projects. More

Kinky’s Back
from The Austin American-Statesman
Riling Democratic activists, Kinky Friedman launched a committee Tuesday for a possible bid for governor next year as a Democrat. Friedman, 64, the cigar-waving Hill Country humorist, finished fourth as an independent in the 2006 governor's race. He states online at texansforkinky.com: "I was serious when I ran for governor in 2006 and I'm serious now." More

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Summer Gas Prices to Remain Low
from The Corpus Christi Caller-Times
Gasoline prices are expected to be relatively low this summer, so motorists might want to take to the road despite the dismal economy if the federal government projections hold. Much lower crude oil prices, which are projected to averaged $53 a barrel this year after soaring as high as $147 a barrel last summer, are the primary reason for the lower prices at the pump. More

Texas House Starts to Spend Some Money
from The Austin American-Statesman Political Blog
The House has its biggest vote to yet today, though that’s not saying much: A supplemental appropriations bill worth more than $3 billion. Much of the controversy surrounding this one was sapped away when House leaders, responding to pressure from Republicans, opted not to try to use rainy-day funds to pay for costs related to hurricane recovery. More

Texas Ranks Low for Pork Barrel Spending
from The Austin Business Journal
Texas' per capita spending on what CAGW defines as pork is actually well below the national average. Texas ranks 40th among the states on the group’s "Pork per Capita" list with $19.30 being spent per resident. The national average is $29.60. The most wasteful state according to the group is Alaska, which had $221.2 million in such projects with per capita spending of $322.34. More

Rick Perry Fires Up Tea Party Rallies
from The Dallas Morning News
For perhaps the only time Wednesday evening, the masses assembled outside Dallas City Hall grew quiet as the man who drew them there, Phillip Dennis, hunched over a wooden lectern, his eyes narrowing. "We will be called haters, and we are. We are haters of big-spending politicians. We will be called racists, and we are – we are members of the human race," Dennis, a McKinney resident, said as silence turned to roars. More

Houston Green Expo to be Held at Reliant Park
from The Houston Business Journal
The City of Houston and Gulf Coast Green will host the second Houston Green Expo: Sustainable Energy and Green Building consumer event this weekend at Reliant Park. The free event will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Hall B on April 18 and April 19. Areas at the event will include green building, energy efficiency, renewable energy, alternative transportation and iGreen Youth Zone. More

Get the latest Texas Association of Builders news as well as information affecting the building industry by visiting www.TexasBuilders.org. For information about Education, Exhibits and Special Events happening at the 2009 Sunbelt Builders Show™, visit www.SunbeltBuildersShow.com.