Tagged: gun control

Texas Matters: State revenue numbers look good for this session of the legislature; there is even a surplus. Gov. Rick Perry suggests that the extra money be used to cut taxes, while others want to restore funding to education and health programs that took cuts in the last legislative session. Gun owners in Texas stand their ground as the federal government comes up with its next move to cut down on gun violence.

Lawmakers are back under the dome of the Texas Capitol for a new session for a new age in politics, with the reminder of what happened two years ago in the back of their minds.

Two years ago, education funding was slashed by $5.4 billion, the use of the state’s emergency "rainy day" fund was frowned upon, and a controversial Voter ID bill got through both chambers but was found unconstitutional against minority voters by the court system.

Texas Matters: After reviewing school district safety audits, the attorney general's office found that 78 Texas school districts were not compliant with the law. The Newtown tragedy is also having an effect in San Antonio school districts, where two students who were making jokes about bomb threats and shootings on their own campuses were arrested. Texas Monthly crowns its 2012 Bum Steer of the Year: Lance Armstrong.

San Antonio’s political power twins Julián and Joaquín Castro continue to attract the spotlight of the national media. Yesterday the brothers were guests on the PBS Charlie Rose program. 

Joaquín is just days away from being sworn in as a congressman and Julián is moving forward with implementing the recently passed Pre-K for SA program.

The two sat down with PBS interviewer Rose, who quizzed the two with questions about their lives, ambitions and policy views - particularly about gun control.