Ogden: House to take up non-tax revenue bill, then budget talks 'will resume'

Chief Senate budget negotiator Sen. Steve Ogden said Friday afternoon that the House, in an apparent concession, will start debate of a "non-tax revenue" bill Friday night.

Garrett: http://dallasne.ws/lJR7wM

Rainy-day maneuver on stopgap funding bill considered by Senate

 Senate budget writers are discussing the possibility of trying to "over fund" public schools by Aug. 31 with $3 billion of rainy-day money, so that schools can cover the cost of rapid growth in student enrollment in the next two-year cycle.

Garrett: http://dallasne.ws/m2oWDw

Senators flustered as they try to raise 'non-tax revenue'

After about 90 minutes of debating how to balance its budget with "non-tax revenue," the Texas Senate appears to be melting down.
Despite Sen. Steve Ogden's insistence Friday morning that "we've got to do [Senate Bill] 1811 today," the Senate became embroiled in discussions, first, of a speed-up of business tax collections, and then of two Democrats' efforts to piggyback their measures on budget transparency and criminal defense of indigents.

Garrett: http://dallasne.ws/jtcLxH

Senators balk at raising some fees, irking Ogden

 Senators defeated the first of Sen. Steve Ogden's "fiscal matters" bills Thursday, rejecting a proposed tripling of fees paid by foster-care contractors and child-care providers, as well as an increase of up to 12 percent in fees charged by state laboratories.
The vote was 20-11.

Garrett: http://dallasne.ws/kCMDAy

Ogden's only hope: nudging more fellow Rs to bless a rainy-day dip

Sen. Steve Ogden's stuck. The Senate's chief budget writer can't whip all 19 Senate Republicans into line behind spending $3 billion of rainy-day money to avoid House-style cuts to schools and social programs.
Topping most lists of Republicans who are suspected to be the holdouts in the Senate GOP caucus are Sens. Dan Patrick of Houston and Brian Birdwell of Granbury.

Garrett: http://dallasne.ws/mIAqXT

Texas state senators huddle, struggle to win broad support for budget

AUSTIN — Senate GOP leaders, trying to stitch together a needed supermajority for their version of the budget, said Wednesday that they’re fighting on two fronts, assuaging individual senators’ worries while fighting critics outside “the club.”

Garrett: http://dallasne.ws/kAHccn

Ogden says rainy-day-money critics are an obstacle as he faces sales test

 The Senate's chief budget writer says recent criticism of a rainy-day money "backstop" in the Senate budget is an impediment, but won't deter his effort to persuade colleagues to embrace his committee's two-year, $176.5 billion budget in a private huddle on Wednesday afternoon.

Garrett: http://dallasne.ws/m2vN16

Texas Senate committee OKs budget that would ease cuts to schools, social services

AUSTIN — A Senate panel approved a two-year budget Thursday that would sidestep the House’s deep cuts to schools and social services, while not raising taxes.
“This bill keeps Texas government functioning and essential services available to Texans without doing harm to the private sector,” said Sen. Steve Ogden , R-Bryan, head of the Senate Finance Committee.

Garrett: http://dallasne.ws/ehB120

Texas Senate leader wants bigger rainy day dip, risking budget blow-up

AUSTIN — The Senate’s chief budget writer wants to use $3 billion more of the state’s savings, mainly for schools, in addition to a like sum the House has already voted to use to pay the state’s bills through August.

Garrett: http://dallasne.ws/eJ85fd

Texas Senate GOP leaders dig in for budget fight with House

AUSTIN — The fight’s on. Senate and House GOP leaders accused one another Monday of ignoring the fiscal catastrophe that looms.
They just disagreed over exactly how soon it will arrive.
Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and Sen. Steve Ogden, the Senate’s chief budget writer, cast the budget fight as a struggle between senators who want to rescue schools and nursing homes and House members who want to wish away the state’s obligations.

Garrett: http://dallasne.ws/gW58p3

Senate budget chief puts Medicaid, schools on chopping block

AUSTIN — Texas must overhaul current laws on Medicaid and public schools to slash spending on health and education and avoid broad tax increases, the Senate’s chief budget writer said Wednesday. The state also must cut certain medical services now enjoyed by poor adults and hope for help from Washington to eliminate a $6 billion funding gap in Medicaid, the state-federal health care program for the poor, said Sen. Steve Ogden, R-Bryan.
Garrett interviews Sen. Ogden, R-Bryan: http://dallasne.ws/i2fTdE

Sen. Ogden calls for major changes in school funding, Medicaid

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Steve Ogden, the new Senate president pro tempore, used his election to that post Tuesday to lay out to fellow senators some of their primary tasks in tackling a massive revenue shortfall that is expected to dominate this year's legislative session. Ogden said a solution to the bleak budget picture is within reach, but will require tough decisions in such areas as education and health care.

Stutz: http://dallasne.ws/hVFcDA