Craddick Made His Mark on Texas

Call them Speaker Tom Craddick's greatest hits - or misses. As the Midland Republican fights to hang on to the House's top job, his reign as speaker has already allowed him to sway key issues in a way that backers and detractors agree has shaped Texans' lives and the state's future. They cite 2003 cuts to meet a budget shortfall, the shape of school funding and property-tax relief, college-tuition deregulation, the design of congressional districts, abortion restrictions and even lawmakers' ability to proceed with bills that affect their local citizenry. While they differ on whether his stamp has been for good or for ill, it's clear that every Texan has a stake in whether their representatives vote to keep him in power or oust him. More

Growth Slows in Suburbs

For more than a decade, the amenities that accompanied Kyle's rapid population growth seemed to come for free. The city, which has quadrupled in size since 1998, lowered its tax rate 11 consecutive years while it simultaneously went on a $64 million building spree that included miles of new highways, a railroad overpass, a City Hall, fire station and municipal swimming pool. This year, the free ride came to an end with the halt of the development boom that had made it all possible. More

Work Faces

The Texas Association of Builders awarded the 2008 Remodeler of the Year Award to Carol Longacre of Longacre Construction. This annual award recognizes exemplary service and leadership contributions. Wall Homes, based in Arlington, has been honored in their San Antonio division by the Greater San Antonio Builders Association with a 2008 Summit Award for Best Architecture in the $160,000- $200,000 category. More

Texans Weaker, but Not Powerless, as D.C. Changes Hands

Texans have long assumed that the state would be a powerful force in the nation's capital - and for good reason. Ever since Texas powerbroker Col. Edward M. House went to Washington with President Woodrow Wilson in 1913, the Lone Star State has boasted House and Senate leaders, Cabinet officials and White House confidants, Supreme Court justices, three vice presidents and three presidents. But as Texan George W. Bush prepares to leave office and pass the reins of power to Illinois' favorite son Barack Obama — and with Texas the reddest large state in an increasingly blue country — the state is experiencing an unprecedented power outage in the capital's corridors of power. More

Election Results Unlikely to Reshape Texas' Environmental Policies

Barack Obama claimed the presidency this month by campaigning, in part, on promises to address environmental problems that have led to what he calls "a world in peril." But even as a Democrat-controlled Congress appears certain to pursue caps on carbon dioxide emissions to combat global warming, the climate in the Texas Legislature, which has historically opposed engagement on the carbon dioxide issue, is largely unchanged. The tension between federal action in Washington and public policy in Austin is likely to color the coming legislative session, which begins Jan. 13. Interviews with lawmakers and environmental and industrial interests suggest the state will largely continue to follow a wait-and-see approach on carbon dioxide rules, waiting for the federal government to cap carbon dioxide emissions. More

TRCC Still Finding Illegal Builders Working Ike

The Texas Residential Construction Commission continues to find builders and remodelers who appear to be working illegally throughout the Hurricane Ike strike zone. To date the commission has issued notices of violation to 111 storm chasers working in the region. It is crucial for homeowners to realize that qualified work completed by a registered Texas builder is under warranty. The commission strongly advises consumers to thoroughly review a builder or remodeler’s record with the commission and check references before they sign any work contract or agreement. More

Scott Norman Takes Reins at TAB

The Texas Association of Builders has a new executive director, Scott Norman, Jr. Norman has served as interim director of the association for the past nine months. In his new role he will manage the association and lead its government relations and political activities. More

Legislative Agenda Moves to Austin

In what has become a biannual tradition, Fort Bend County’s elected leaders have been invited to a resort in Austin to talk about the upcoming Texas legislative session and to address concerns that could be resolved by the Legislature. The Texas Legislature meets every two years, and the two-day conference will be held Monday and Tuesday to address the 81st Legislative session, which starts Jan. 13. The event has been organized by the Greater Fort Bend Economic Development Council, with funding deriving from sponsor companies. EDC President Jeff Wiley said leaders of groups ranging from cities in Fort Bend County to the county government and school districts have all been invited to participate in the event. "What the session is intended to do is understand the priorities at each public sector levels and the issues they’re each confronting and what’s important to them. Each of the groups will have time to state their issues and the following day we get together and we’ll prioritize them. And then, we get about ensuring that our state representatives understand the issues that are important to us," he said. More

Race for House Speaker On

A late legislative win for Republicans seems to have secured the GOP majority in the state House, if only by a razor-thin, two-seat margin. The good news for Republicans is it likely means a Republican will remain as Speaker of the House. The question remains who? State Rep. Jim Keffer, R-Eastland, whose 60th district includes Palo Pinto County, easily won re-election on Nov. 4 over Democratic challenger David Shupp and he has been campaigning for the Speaker’s seat since the end of the last legislative session. More

Combs Says Texas is the Right Place to be Economically

The Your 401(k) may be in the toilet, but take heart: At least you’re in Texas. That’s the message from Texas Comptroller Susan Combs, who is convinced that this is the place to be economically, hurricanes and plunging energy prices notwithstanding. "The news about Texas does not get out very often," the self-described "vertically enabled" comptroller said at the Northeast Tarrant County Chamber of Commerce’s monthly lunch Thursday. "Texas is better off than virtually any other place. More

Residents Miffed at Builder's Plans

Residents of a new suburban community are fuming over their builder’s decision to add smaller, lower-priced homes to their neighborhood now that the economy has taken a turn for the worse. Homeowners in KB Home’s Sundance Trails and Sundance Ridge communities, located off Potranco Road outside Loop 1604, say the cheaper homes will bring down their property values and ruin the aesthetics of the neighborhood. More

Saving Money: Real Estate in Lubbock

Realtors, bankers, buyers and sellers...the real estate market here in Lubbock is as strong as it's ever been, despite the economic crisis across the country. Royce Lewis with Capital Mortgage Services says there have been a few effects trickle down to Lubbock from the big financial failures. We're seeing fees tacked on to every mortgage, despite your credit score to recover some of their losses. The once loose restrictions on lending have tightened up, requiring higher credit scores and better income stability. More

Business Briefs: Hurst Firm Wins Green Building Award

The Texas Association of Builders named a home by Hurst-based Elite Custom Homes the Green Building Project of the Year-Single Family at its recent awards ceremony. The group noted that the home had earned a silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council and exceeded the standards of several other energy-efficiency groups. More