By Ed Sterling

House Speaker Joe Straus on May 14 said the Texas House of Representatives would propose a budget next year that uses all of the money in the state highway fund for transportation instead of sending chunks of it to other state agencies.

Taxes and fees such as the gas tax and fees on drivers’ licenses go into the state highway fund to pay for transportation, but for almost 80 years, Straus explained, some of that money has helped fund agencies that are not directly related to transportation.

Using the state highway fund exclusively for transportation would increase funding for roads by about $1.3 billion over two years, Straus, R-San Antonio, added.

“This approach will make the state budget even more straightforward, just as taxpayers expect. It will also provide needed transportation revenue — without a tax increase — as Texas continues to grow twice as fast as the rest of the country,” Straus said.

Panel votes to impeach

The Texas House Select Committee on Transparency on May 12 met in closed session and voted 7-1 to impeach University of Texas Board of Regents member Wallace L. Hall Jr. of Dallas.

A report cited during the committee’s open session alleges Hall, who was appointed by Gov. Rick Perry in February 2011, “abused the powers of his office and may have broken the law in his campaign to force the UT Regents to vote to fire UT President Bill Powers.”

May 21 and May 22 meetings are scheduled for the committee to further consider and possibly take action on the issue.

Ed Sterling works for the Texas Press Association and follows the Legislature for the organization.

edsterling@texaspress.com