CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="en" class="no-js"> <head><script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/bundle-playback.js?v=HxkREWBo" charset="utf-8"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/wombat.js?v=txqj7nKC" charset="utf-8"></script> <script>window.RufflePlayer=window.RufflePlayer||{};window.RufflePlayer.config={"autoplay":"on","unmuteOverlay":"hidden"};</script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/ruffle/ruffle.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> __wm.init("https://web.archive.org/web"); __wm.wombat("https://www2.texastribune.org/2021/11/22/texas-election-budget-surplus/","20211130174534","https://web.archive.org/","web","/_static/", "1638294334"); </script> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/_static/css/banner-styles.css?v=S1zqJCYt" /> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/_static/css/iconochive.css?v=3PDvdIFv" />  <title>Analysis: A swelling Texas treasury gives 2022 hopefuls room for big ideas | The Texas Tribune</title> <meta charset="utf-8"><script type="text/javascript">(window.NREUM||(NREUM={})).init={ajax:{deny_list:["bam-cell.nr-data.net"]}};(window.NREUM||(NREUM={})).loader_config={xpid:"UgMGVFZADAYCUVBR",licenseKey:"8636ab2091",applicationID:"452513"};window.NREUM||(NREUM={}),__nr_require=function(t,e,n){function r(n){if(!e[n]){var i=e[n]={exports:{}};t[n][0].call(i.exports,function(e){var i=t[n][1][e];return r(i||e)},i,i.exports)}return e[n].exports}if("function"==typeof __nr_require)return __nr_require;for(var i=0;i<n.length;i++)r(n[i]);return r}({1:[function(t,e,n){function r(t){try{s.console&&console.log(t)}catch(e){}}var i,o=t("ee"),a=t(28),s={};try{i=localStorage.getItem("__nr_flags").split(","),console&&"function"==typeof console.log&&(s.console=!0,i.indexOf("dev")!==-1&&(s.dev=!0),i.indexOf("nr_dev")!==-1&&(s.nrDev=!0))}catch(c){}s.nrDev&&o.on("internal-error",function(t){r(t.stack)}),s.dev&&o.on("fn-err",function(t,e,n){r(n.stack)}),s.dev&&(r("NR AGENT IN DEVELOPMENT MODE"),r("flags: "+a(s,function(t,e){return t}).join(", ")))},{}],2:[function(t,e,n){function r(t,e,n,r,s){try{p?p-=1:i(s||new UncaughtException(t,e,n),!0)}catch(f){try{o("ierr",[f,c.now(),!0])}catch(d){}}return"function"==typeof u&&u.apply(this,a(arguments))}function UncaughtException(t,e,n){this.message=t||"Uncaught error with no additional information",this.sourceURL=e,this.line=n}function i(t,e){var n=e?null:c.now();o("err",[t,n])}var o=t("handle"),a=t(29),s=t("ee"),c=t("loader"),f=t("gos"),u=window.onerror,d=!1,l="nr@seenError";if(!c.disabled){var p=0;c.features.err=!0,t(1),window.onerror=r;try{throw new Error}catch(h){"stack"in h&&(t(10),t(9),"addEventListener"in window&&t(6),c.xhrWrappable&&t(11),d=!0)}s.on("fn-start",function(t,e,n){d&&(p+=1)}),s.on("fn-err",function(t,e,n){d&&!n[l]&&(f(n,l,function(){return!0}),this.thrown=!0,i(n))}),s.on("fn-end",function(){d&&!this.thrown&&p>0&&(p-=1)}),s.on("internal-error",function(t){o("ierr",[t,c.now(),!0])})}},{}],3:[function(t,e,n){var r=t("loader");r.disabled||(r.features.ins=!0)},{}],4:[function(t,e,n){function r(){var t=new PerformanceObserver(function(t,e){var n=t.getEntries();s(v,[n])});try{t.observe({entryTypes:["resource"]})}catch(e){}}function i(t){if(s(v,[window.performance.getEntriesByType(w)]),window.performance["c"+l])try{window.performance[h](m,i,!1)}catch(t){}else try{window.performance[h]("webkit"+m,i,!1)}catch(t){}}function o(t){}if(window.performance&&window.performance.timing&&window.performance.getEntriesByType){var a=t("ee"),s=t("handle"),c=t(10),f=t(9),u=t(5),d=t(19),l="learResourceTimings",p="addEventListener",h="removeEventListener",m="resourcetimingbufferfull",v="bstResource",w="resource",g="-start",y="-end",x="fn"+g,b="fn"+y,E="bstTimer",R="pushState",S=t("loader");if(!S.disabled){S.features.stn=!0,t(8),"addEventListener"in window&&t(6);var O=NREUM.o.EV;a.on(x,function(t,e){var n=t[0];n instanceof O&&(this.bstStart=S.now())}),a.on(b,function(t,e){var n=t[0];n instanceof O&&s("bst",[n,e,this.bstStart,S.now()])}),c.on(x,function(t,e,n){this.bstStart=S.now(),this.bstType=n}),c.on(b,function(t,e){s(E,[e,this.bstStart,S.now(),this.bstType])}),f.on(x,function(){this.bstStart=S.now()}),f.on(b,function(t,e){s(E,[e,this.bstStart,S.now(),"requestAnimationFrame"])}),a.on(R+g,function(t){this.time=S.now(),this.startPath=location.pathname+location.hash}),a.on(R+y,function(t){s("bstHist",[location.pathname+location.hash,this.startPath,this.time])}),u()?(s(v,[window.performance.getEntriesByType("resource")]),r()):p in window.performance&&(window.performance["c"+l]?window.performance[p](m,i,d(!1)):window.performance[p]("webkit"+m,i,d(!1))),document[p]("scroll",o,d(!1)),document[p]("keypress",o,d(!1)),document[p]("click",o,d(!1))}}},{}],5:[function(t,e,n){e.exports=function(){return"PerformanceObserver"in window&&"function"==typeof window.PerformanceObserver}},{}],6:[function(t,e,n){function r(t){for(var e=t;e&&!e.hasOwnProperty(u);)e=Object.getPrototypeOf(e);e&&i(e)}function i(t){s.inPlace(t,[u,d],"-",o)}function o(t,e){return t[1]}var a=t("ee").get("events"),s=t("wrap-function")(a,!0),c=t("gos"),f=XMLHttpRequest,u="addEventListener",d="removeEventListener";e.exports=a,"getPrototypeOf"in Object?(r(document),r(window),r(f.prototype)):f.prototype.hasOwnProperty(u)&&(i(window),i(f.prototype)),a.on(u+"-start",function(t,e){var n=t[1];if(null!==n&&("function"==typeof n||"object"==typeof n)){var r=c(n,"nr@wrapped",function(){function t(){if("function"==typeof n.handleEvent)return n.handleEvent.apply(n,arguments)}var e={object:t,"function":n}[typeof n];return e?s(e,"fn-",null,e.name||"anonymous"):n});this.wrapped=t[1]=r}}),a.on(d+"-start",function(t){t[1]=this.wrapped||t[1]})},{}],7:[function(t,e,n){function r(t,e,n){var r=t[e];"function"==typeof r&&(t[e]=function(){var t=o(arguments),e={};i.emit(n+"before-start",[t],e);var a;e[m]&&e[m].dt&&(a=e[m].dt);var s=r.apply(this,t);return i.emit(n+"start",[t,a],s),s.then(function(t){return i.emit(n+"end",[null,t],s),t},function(t){throw i.emit(n+"end",[t],s),t})})}var i=t("ee").get("fetch"),o=t(29),a=t(28);e.exports=i;var s=window,c="fetch-",f=c+"body-",u=["arrayBuffer","blob","json","text","formData"],d=s.Request,l=s.Response,p=s.fetch,h="prototype",m="nr@context";d&&l&&p&&(a(u,function(t,e){r(d[h],e,f),r(l[h],e,f)}),r(s,"fetch",c),i.on(c+"end",function(t,e){var n=this;if(e){var r=e.headers.get("content-length");null!==r&&(n.rxSize=r),i.emit(c+"done",[null,e],n)}else i.emit(c+"done",[t],n)}))},{}],8:[function(t,e,n){var r=t("ee").get("history"),i=t("wrap-function")(r);e.exports=r;var o=window.history&&window.history.constructor&&window.history.constructor.prototype,a=window.history;o&&o.pushState&&o.replaceState&&(a=o),i.inPlace(a,["pushState","replaceState"],"-")},{}],9:[function(t,e,n){var r=t("ee").get("raf"),i=t("wrap-function")(r),o="equestAnimationFrame";e.exports=r,i.inPlace(window,["r"+o,"mozR"+o,"webkitR"+o,"msR"+o],"raf-"),r.on("raf-start",function(t){t[0]=i(t[0],"fn-")})},{}],10:[function(t,e,n){function r(t,e,n){t[0]=a(t[0],"fn-",null,n)}function i(t,e,n){this.method=n,this.timerDuration=isNaN(t[1])?0:+t[1],t[0]=a(t[0],"fn-",this,n)}var o=t("ee").get("timer"),a=t("wrap-function")(o),s="setTimeout",c="setInterval",f="clearTimeout",u="-start",d="-";e.exports=o,a.inPlace(window,[s,"setImmediate"],s+d),a.inPlace(window,[c],c+d),a.inPlace(window,[f,"clearImmediate"],f+d),o.on(c+u,r),o.on(s+u,i)},{}],11:[function(t,e,n){function r(t,e){d.inPlace(e,["onreadystatechange"],"fn-",s)}function i(){var t=this,e=u.context(t);t.readyState>3&&!e.resolved&&(e.resolved=!0,u.emit("xhr-resolved",[],t)),d.inPlace(t,y,"fn-",s)}function o(t){x.push(t),m&&(E?E.then(a):w?w(a):(R=-R,S.data=R))}function a(){for(var t=0;t<x.length;t++)r([],x[t]);x.length&&(x=[])}function s(t,e){return e}function c(t,e){for(var n in t)e[n]=t[n];return e}t(6);var f=t("ee"),u=f.get("xhr"),d=t("wrap-function")(u),l=t(19),p=NREUM.o,h=p.XHR,m=p.MO,v=p.PR,w=p.SI,g="readystatechange",y=["onload","onerror","onabort","onloadstart","onloadend","onprogress","ontimeout"],x=[];e.exports=u;var b=window.XMLHttpRequest=function(t){var e=new h(t);try{u.emit("new-xhr",[e],e),e.addEventListener(g,i,l(!1))}catch(n){try{u.emit("internal-error",[n])}catch(r){}}return e};if(c(h,b),b.prototype=h.prototype,d.inPlace(b.prototype,["open","send"],"-xhr-",s),u.on("send-xhr-start",function(t,e){r(t,e),o(e)}),u.on("open-xhr-start",r),m){var E=v&&v.resolve();if(!w&&!v){var R=1,S=document.createTextNode(R);new m(a).observe(S,{characterData:!0})}}else f.on("fn-end",function(t){t[0]&&t[0].type===g||a()})},{}],12:[function(t,e,n){function r(t){if(!s(t))return null;var e=window.NREUM;if(!e.loader_config)return null;var n=(e.loader_config.accountID||"").toString()||null,r=(e.loader_config.agentID||"").toString()||null,f=(e.loader_config.trustKey||"").toString()||null;if(!n||!r)return null;var h=p.generateSpanId(),m=p.generateTraceId(),v=Date.now(),w={spanId:h,traceId:m,timestamp:v};return(t.sameOrigin||c(t)&&l())&&(w.traceContextParentHeader=i(h,m),w.traceContextStateHeader=o(h,v,n,r,f)),(t.sameOrigin&&!u()||!t.sameOrigin&&c(t)&&d())&&(w.newrelicHeader=a(h,m,v,n,r,f)),w}function i(t,e){return"00-"+e+"-"+t+"-01"}function o(t,e,n,r,i){var o=0,a="",s=1,c="",f="";return i+"@nr="+o+"-"+s+"-"+n+"-"+r+"-"+t+"-"+a+"-"+c+"-"+f+"-"+e}function a(t,e,n,r,i,o){var a="btoa"in window&&"function"==typeof window.btoa;if(!a)return null;var s={v:[0,1],d:{ty:"Browser",ac:r,ap:i,id:t,tr:e,ti:n}};return o&&r!==o&&(s.d.tk=o),btoa(JSON.stringify(s))}function s(t){return f()&&c(t)}function c(t){var e=!1,n={};if("init"in NREUM&&"distributed_tracing"in NREUM.init&&(n=NREUM.init.distributed_tracing),t.sameOrigin)e=!0;else if(n.allowed_origins instanceof Array)for(var r=0;r<n.allowed_origins.length;r++){var i=h(n.allowed_origins[r]);if(t.hostname===i.hostname&&t.protocol===i.protocol&&t.port===i.port){e=!0;break}}return e}function f(){return"init"in NREUM&&"distributed_tracing"in NREUM.init&&!!NREUM.init.distributed_tracing.enabled}function u(){return"init"in NREUM&&"distributed_tracing"in NREUM.init&&!!NREUM.init.distributed_tracing.exclude_newrelic_header}function d(){return"init"in NREUM&&"distributed_tracing"in NREUM.init&&NREUM.init.distributed_tracing.cors_use_newrelic_header!==!1}function l(){return"init"in NREUM&&"distributed_tracing"in NREUM.init&&!!NREUM.init.distributed_tracing.cors_use_tracecontext_headers}var p=t(25),h=t(14);e.exports={generateTracePayload:r,shouldGenerateTrace:s}},{}],13:[function(t,e,n){function r(t){var e=this.params,n=this.metrics;if(!this.ended){this.ended=!0;for(var r=0;r<l;r++)t.removeEventListener(d[r],this.listener,!1);e.aborted||(n.duration=a.now()-this.startTime,this.loadCaptureCalled||4!==t.readyState?null==e.status&&(e.status=0):o(this,t),n.cbTime=this.cbTime,s("xhr",[e,n,this.startTime,this.endTime,"xhr"],this))}}function i(t,e){var n=c(e),r=t.params;r.hostname=n.hostname,r.port=n.port,r.protocol=n.protocol,r.host=n.hostname+":"+n.port,r.pathname=n.pathname,t.parsedOrigin=n,t.sameOrigin=n.sameOrigin}function o(t,e){t.params.status=e.status;var n=v(e,t.lastSize);if(n&&(t.metrics.rxSize=n),t.sameOrigin){var r=e.getResponseHeader("X-NewRelic-App-Data");r&&(t.params.cat=r.split(", ").pop())}t.loadCaptureCalled=!0}var a=t("loader");if(a.xhrWrappable&&!a.disabled){var s=t("handle"),c=t(14),f=t(12).generateTracePayload,u=t("ee"),d=["load","error","abort","timeout"],l=d.length,p=t("id"),h=t(20),m=t(18),v=t(15),w=t(19),g=NREUM.o.REQ,y=window.XMLHttpRequest;a.features.xhr=!0,t(11),t(7),u.on("new-xhr",function(t){var e=this;e.totalCbs=0,e.called=0,e.cbTime=0,e.end=r,e.ended=!1,e.xhrGuids={},e.lastSize=null,e.loadCaptureCalled=!1,e.params=this.params||{},e.metrics=this.metrics||{},t.addEventListener("load",function(n){o(e,t)},w(!1)),h&&(h>34||h<10)||t.addEventListener("progress",function(t){e.lastSize=t.loaded},w(!1))}),u.on("open-xhr-start",function(t){this.params={method:t[0]},i(this,t[1]),this.metrics={}}),u.on("open-xhr-end",function(t,e){"loader_config"in NREUM&&"xpid"in NREUM.loader_config&&this.sameOrigin&&e.setRequestHeader("X-NewRelic-ID",NREUM.loader_config.xpid);var n=f(this.parsedOrigin);if(n){var r=!1;n.newrelicHeader&&(e.setRequestHeader("newrelic",n.newrelicHeader),r=!0),n.traceContextParentHeader&&(e.setRequestHeader("traceparent",n.traceContextParentHeader),n.traceContextStateHeader&&e.setRequestHeader("tracestate",n.traceContextStateHeader),r=!0),r&&(this.dt=n)}}),u.on("send-xhr-start",function(t,e){var n=this.metrics,r=t[0],i=this;if(n&&r){var o=m(r);o&&(n.txSize=o)}this.startTime=a.now(),this.listener=function(t){try{"abort"!==t.type||i.loadCaptureCalled||(i.params.aborted=!0),("load"!==t.type||i.called===i.totalCbs&&(i.onloadCalled||"function"!=typeof e.onload))&&i.end(e)}catch(n){try{u.emit("internal-error",[n])}catch(r){}}};for(var s=0;s<l;s++)e.addEventListener(d[s],this.listener,w(!1))}),u.on("xhr-cb-time",function(t,e,n){this.cbTime+=t,e?this.onloadCalled=!0:this.called+=1,this.called!==this.totalCbs||!this.onloadCalled&&"function"==typeof n.onload||this.end(n)}),u.on("xhr-load-added",function(t,e){var n=""+p(t)+!!e;this.xhrGuids&&!this.xhrGuids[n]&&(this.xhrGuids[n]=!0,this.totalCbs+=1)}),u.on("xhr-load-removed",function(t,e){var n=""+p(t)+!!e;this.xhrGuids&&this.xhrGuids[n]&&(delete this.xhrGuids[n],this.totalCbs-=1)}),u.on("xhr-resolved",function(){this.endTime=a.now()}),u.on("addEventListener-end",function(t,e){e instanceof y&&"load"===t[0]&&u.emit("xhr-load-added",[t[1],t[2]],e)}),u.on("removeEventListener-end",function(t,e){e instanceof y&&"load"===t[0]&&u.emit("xhr-load-removed",[t[1],t[2]],e)}),u.on("fn-start",function(t,e,n){e instanceof y&&("onload"===n&&(this.onload=!0),("load"===(t[0]&&t[0].type)||this.onload)&&(this.xhrCbStart=a.now()))}),u.on("fn-end",function(t,e){this.xhrCbStart&&u.emit("xhr-cb-time",[a.now()-this.xhrCbStart,this.onload,e],e)}),u.on("fetch-before-start",function(t){function e(t,e){var n=!1;return e.newrelicHeader&&(t.set("newrelic",e.newrelicHeader),n=!0),e.traceContextParentHeader&&(t.set("traceparent",e.traceContextParentHeader),e.traceContextStateHeader&&t.set("tracestate",e.traceContextStateHeader),n=!0),n}var n,r=t[1]||{};"string"==typeof t[0]?n=t[0]:t[0]&&t[0].url?n=t[0].url:window.URL&&t[0]&&t[0]instanceof URL&&(n=t[0].href),n&&(this.parsedOrigin=c(n),this.sameOrigin=this.parsedOrigin.sameOrigin);var i=f(this.parsedOrigin);if(i&&(i.newrelicHeader||i.traceContextParentHeader))if("string"==typeof t[0]||window.URL&&t[0]&&t[0]instanceof URL){var o={};for(var a in r)o[a]=r[a];o.headers=new Headers(r.headers||{}),e(o.headers,i)&&(this.dt=i),t.length>1?t[1]=o:t.push(o)}else t[0]&&t[0].headers&&e(t[0].headers,i)&&(this.dt=i)}),u.on("fetch-start",function(t,e){this.params={},this.metrics={},this.startTime=a.now(),this.dt=e,t.length>=1&&(this.target=t[0]),t.length>=2&&(this.opts=t[1]);var n,r=this.opts||{},o=this.target;"string"==typeof o?n=o:"object"==typeof o&&o instanceof g?n=o.url:window.URL&&"object"==typeof o&&o instanceof URL&&(n=o.href),i(this,n);var s=(""+(o&&o instanceof g&&o.method||r.method||"GET")).toUpperCase();this.params.method=s,this.txSize=m(r.body)||0}),u.on("fetch-done",function(t,e){this.endTime=a.now(),this.params||(this.params={}),this.params.status=e?e.status:0;var n;"string"==typeof this.rxSize&&this.rxSize.length>0&&(n=+this.rxSize);var r={txSize:this.txSize,rxSize:n,duration:a.now()-this.startTime};s("xhr",[this.params,r,this.startTime,this.endTime,"fetch"],this)})}},{}],14:[function(t,e,n){var r={};e.exports=function(t){if(t in r)return r[t];var e=document.createElement("a"),n=window.location,i={};e.href=t,i.port=e.port;var o=e.href.split("://");!i.port&&o[1]&&(i.port=o[1].split("/")[0].split("@").pop().split(":")[1]),i.port&&"0"!==i.port||(i.port="https"===o[0]?"443":"80"),i.hostname=e.hostname||n.hostname,i.pathname=e.pathname,i.protocol=o[0],"/"!==i.pathname.charAt(0)&&(i.pathname="/"+i.pathname);var a=!e.protocol||":"===e.protocol||e.protocol===n.protocol,s=e.hostname===document.domain&&e.port===n.port;return i.sameOrigin=a&&(!e.hostname||s),"/"===i.pathname&&(r[t]=i),i}},{}],15:[function(t,e,n){function r(t,e){var n=t.responseType;return"json"===n&&null!==e?e:"arraybuffer"===n||"blob"===n||"json"===n?i(t.response):"text"===n||""===n||void 0===n?i(t.responseText):void 0}var i=t(18);e.exports=r},{}],16:[function(t,e,n){function r(){}function i(t,e,n,r){return function(){return u.recordSupportability("API/"+e+"/called"),o(t+e,[f.now()].concat(s(arguments)),n?null:this,r),n?void 0:this}}var o=t("handle"),a=t(28),s=t(29),c=t("ee").get("tracer"),f=t("loader"),u=t(21),d=NREUM;"undefined"==typeof window.newrelic&&(newrelic=d);var l=["setPageViewName","setCustomAttribute","setErrorHandler","finished","addToTrace","inlineHit","addRelease"],p="api-",h=p+"ixn-";a(l,function(t,e){d[e]=i(p,e,!0,"api")}),d.addPageAction=i(p,"addPageAction",!0),d.setCurrentRouteName=i(p,"routeName",!0),e.exports=newrelic,d.interaction=function(){return(new r).get()};var m=r.prototype={createTracer:function(t,e){var n={},r=this,i="function"==typeof e;return o(h+"tracer",[f.now(),t,n],r),function(){if(c.emit((i?"":"no-")+"fn-start",[f.now(),r,i],n),i)try{return e.apply(this,arguments)}catch(t){throw c.emit("fn-err",[arguments,this,t],n),t}finally{c.emit("fn-end",[f.now()],n)}}}};a("actionText,setName,setAttribute,save,ignore,onEnd,getContext,end,get".split(","),function(t,e){m[e]=i(h,e)}),newrelic.noticeError=function(t,e){"string"==typeof t&&(t=new Error(t)),u.recordSupportability("API/noticeError/called"),o("err",[t,f.now(),!1,e])}},{}],17:[function(t,e,n){function r(t){if(NREUM.init){for(var e=NREUM.init,n=t.split("."),r=0;r<n.length-1;r++)if(e=e[n[r]],"object"!=typeof e)return;return e=e[n[n.length-1]]}}e.exports={getConfiguration:r}},{}],18:[function(t,e,n){e.exports=function(t){if("string"==typeof t&&t.length)return t.length;if("object"==typeof t){if("undefined"!=typeof ArrayBuffer&&t instanceof ArrayBuffer&&t.byteLength)return t.byteLength;if("undefined"!=typeof Blob&&t instanceof Blob&&t.size)return t.size;if(!("undefined"!=typeof FormData&&t instanceof FormData))try{return JSON.stringify(t).length}catch(e){return}}}},{}],19:[function(t,e,n){var r=!1;try{var i=Object.defineProperty({},"passive",{get:function(){r=!0}});window.addEventListener("testPassive",null,i),window.removeEventListener("testPassive",null,i)}catch(o){}e.exports=function(t){return r?{passive:!0,capture:!!t}:!!t}},{}],20:[function(t,e,n){var r=0,i=navigator.userAgent.match(/Firefox[\/\s](\d+\.\d+)/);i&&(r=+i[1]),e.exports=r},{}],21:[function(t,e,n){function r(t,e){var n=[a,t,{name:t},e];return o("storeMetric",n,null,"api"),n}function i(t,e){var n=[s,t,{name:t},e];return o("storeEventMetrics",n,null,"api"),n}var o=t("handle"),a="sm",s="cm";e.exports={constants:{SUPPORTABILITY_METRIC:a,CUSTOM_METRIC:s},recordSupportability:r,recordCustom:i}},{}],22:[function(t,e,n){function r(){return s.exists&&performance.now?Math.round(performance.now()):(o=Math.max((new Date).getTime(),o))-a}function i(){return o}var o=(new Date).getTime(),a=o,s=t(30);e.exports=r,e.exports.offset=a,e.exports.getLastTimestamp=i},{}],23:[function(t,e,n){function r(t){return!(!t||!t.protocol||"file:"===t.protocol)}e.exports=r},{}],24:[function(t,e,n){function r(t,e){var n=t.getEntries();n.forEach(function(t){"first-paint"===t.name?l("timing",["fp",Math.floor(t.startTime)]):"first-contentful-paint"===t.name&&l("timing",["fcp",Math.floor(t.startTime)])})}function i(t,e){var n=t.getEntries();if(n.length>0){var r=n[n.length-1];if(c&&c<r.startTime)return;l("lcp",[r])}}function o(t){t.getEntries().forEach(function(t){t.hadRecentInput||l("cls",[t])})}function a(t){if(t instanceof v&&!g){var e=Math.round(t.timeStamp),n={type:t.type};e<=p.now()?n.fid=p.now()-e:e>p.offset&&e<=Date.now()?(e-=p.offset,n.fid=p.now()-e):e=p.now(),g=!0,l("timing",["fi",e,n])}}function s(t){"hidden"===t&&(c=p.now(),l("pageHide",[c]))}if(!("init"in NREUM&&"page_view_timing"in NREUM.init&&"enabled"in NREUM.init.page_view_timing&&NREUM.init.page_view_timing.enabled===!1)){var c,f,u,d,l=t("handle"),p=t("loader"),h=t(27),m=t(19),v=NREUM.o.EV;if("PerformanceObserver"in window&&"function"==typeof window.PerformanceObserver){f=new PerformanceObserver(r);try{f.observe({entryTypes:["paint"]})}catch(w){}u=new PerformanceObserver(i);try{u.observe({entryTypes:["largest-contentful-paint"]})}catch(w){}d=new PerformanceObserver(o);try{d.observe({type:"layout-shift",buffered:!0})}catch(w){}}if("addEventListener"in document){var g=!1,y=["click","keydown","mousedown","pointerdown","touchstart"];y.forEach(function(t){document.addEventListener(t,a,m(!1))})}h(s)}},{}],25:[function(t,e,n){function r(){function t(){return e?15&e[n++]:16*Math.random()|0}var e=null,n=0,r=window.crypto||window.msCrypto;r&&r.getRandomValues&&(e=r.getRandomValues(new Uint8Array(31)));for(var i,o="xxxxxxxx-xxxx-4xxx-yxxx-xxxxxxxxxxxx",a="",s=0;s<o.length;s++)i=o[s],"x"===i?a+=t().toString(16):"y"===i?(i=3&t()|8,a+=i.toString(16)):a+=i;return a}function i(){return a(16)}function o(){return a(32)}function a(t){function e(){return n?15&n[r++]:16*Math.random()|0}var n=null,r=0,i=window.crypto||window.msCrypto;i&&i.getRandomValues&&Uint8Array&&(n=i.getRandomValues(new Uint8Array(31)));for(var o=[],a=0;a<t;a++)o.push(e().toString(16));return o.join("")}e.exports={generateUuid:r,generateSpanId:i,generateTraceId:o}},{}],26:[function(t,e,n){function r(t,e){if(!i)return!1;if(t!==i)return!1;if(!e)return!0;if(!o)return!1;for(var n=o.split("."),r=e.split("."),a=0;a<r.length;a++)if(r[a]!==n[a])return!1;return!0}var i=null,o=null,a=/Version\/(\S+)\s+Safari/;if(navigator.userAgent){var s=navigator.userAgent,c=s.match(a);c&&s.indexOf("Chrome")===-1&&s.indexOf("Chromium")===-1&&(i="Safari",o=c[1])}e.exports={agent:i,version:o,match:r}},{}],27:[function(t,e,n){function r(t){function e(){t(s&&document[s]?document[s]:document[o]?"hidden":"visible")}"addEventListener"in document&&a&&document.addEventListener(a,e,i(!1))}var i=t(19);e.exports=r;var o,a,s;"undefined"!=typeof document.hidden?(o="hidden",a="visibilitychange",s="visibilityState"):"undefined"!=typeof document.msHidden?(o="msHidden",a="msvisibilitychange"):"undefined"!=typeof document.webkitHidden&&(o="webkitHidden",a="webkitvisibilitychange",s="webkitVisibilityState")},{}],28:[function(t,e,n){function r(t,e){var n=[],r="",o=0;for(r in t)i.call(t,r)&&(n[o]=e(r,t[r]),o+=1);return n}var i=Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty;e.exports=r},{}],29:[function(t,e,n){function r(t,e,n){e||(e=0),"undefined"==typeof n&&(n=t?t.length:0);for(var r=-1,i=n-e||0,o=Array(i<0?0:i);++r<i;)o[r]=t[e+r];return o}e.exports=r},{}],30:[function(t,e,n){e.exports={exists:"undefined"!=typeof window.performance&&window.performance.timing&&"undefined"!=typeof window.performance.timing.navigationStart}},{}],ee:[function(t,e,n){function r(){}function i(t){function e(t){return t&&t instanceof r?t:t?f(t,c,a):a()}function n(n,r,i,o,a){if(a!==!1&&(a=!0),!p.aborted||o){t&&a&&t(n,r,i);for(var s=e(i),c=m(n),f=c.length,u=0;u<f;u++)c[u].apply(s,r);var l=d[y[n]];return l&&l.push([x,n,r,s]),s}}function o(t,e){g[t]=m(t).concat(e)}function h(t,e){var n=g[t];if(n)for(var r=0;r<n.length;r++)n[r]===e&&n.splice(r,1)}function m(t){return g[t]||[]}function v(t){return l[t]=l[t]||i(n)}function w(t,e){p.aborted||u(t,function(t,n){e=e||"feature",y[n]=e,e in d||(d[e]=[])})}var g={},y={},x={on:o,addEventListener:o,removeEventListener:h,emit:n,get:v,listeners:m,context:e,buffer:w,abort:s,aborted:!1};return x}function o(t){return f(t,c,a)}function a(){return new r}function s(){(d.api||d.feature)&&(p.aborted=!0,d=p.backlog={})}var c="nr@context",f=t("gos"),u=t(28),d={},l={},p=e.exports=i();e.exports.getOrSetContext=o,p.backlog=d},{}],gos:[function(t,e,n){function r(t,e,n){if(i.call(t,e))return t[e];var r=n();if(Object.defineProperty&&Object.keys)try{return Object.defineProperty(t,e,{value:r,writable:!0,enumerable:!1}),r}catch(o){}return t[e]=r,r}var i=Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty;e.exports=r},{}],handle:[function(t,e,n){function r(t,e,n,r){i.buffer([t],r),i.emit(t,e,n)}var i=t("ee").get("handle");e.exports=r,r.ee=i},{}],id:[function(t,e,n){function r(t){var e=typeof t;return!t||"object"!==e&&"function"!==e?-1:t===window?0:a(t,o,function(){return i++})}var i=1,o="nr@id",a=t("gos");e.exports=r},{}],loader:[function(t,e,n){function r(){if(!T++){var t=O.info=NREUM.info,e=v.getElementsByTagName("script")[0];if(setTimeout(f.abort,3e4),!(t&&t.licenseKey&&t.applicationID&&e))return f.abort();c(R,function(e,n){t[e]||(t[e]=n)});var n=a();s("mark",["onload",n+O.offset],null,"api"),s("timing",["load",n]);var r=v.createElement("script");0===t.agent.indexOf("http://")||0===t.agent.indexOf("https://")?r.src=t.agent:r.src=h+"://"+t.agent,e.parentNode.insertBefore(r,e)}}function i(){"complete"===v.readyState&&o()}function o(){s("mark",["domContent",a()+O.offset],null,"api")}var a=t(22),s=t("handle"),c=t(28),f=t("ee"),u=t(26),d=t(23),l=t(17),p=t(19),h=l.getConfiguration("ssl")===!1?"http":"https",m=window,v=m.document,w="addEventListener",g="attachEvent",y=m.XMLHttpRequest,x=y&&y.prototype,b=!d(m.location);NREUM.o={ST:setTimeout,SI:m.setImmediate,CT:clearTimeout,XHR:y,REQ:m.Request,EV:m.Event,PR:m.Promise,MO:m.MutationObserver};var E=""+location,R={beacon:"bam.nr-data.net",errorBeacon:"bam.nr-data.net",agent:"js-agent.newrelic.com/nr-1212.min.js"},S=y&&x&&x[w]&&!/CriOS/.test(navigator.userAgent),O=e.exports={offset:a.getLastTimestamp(),now:a,origin:E,features:{},xhrWrappable:S,userAgent:u,disabled:b};if(!b){t(16),t(24),v[w]?(v[w]("DOMContentLoaded",o,p(!1)),m[w]("load",r,p(!1))):(v[g]("onreadystatechange",i),m[g]("onload",r)),s("mark",["firstbyte",a.getLastTimestamp()],null,"api");var T=0}},{}],"wrap-function":[function(t,e,n){function r(t,e){function n(e,n,r,c,f){function nrWrapper(){var o,a,u,l;try{a=this,o=d(arguments),u="function"==typeof r?r(o,a):r||{}}catch(p){i([p,"",[o,a,c],u],t)}s(n+"start",[o,a,c],u,f);try{return l=e.apply(a,o)}catch(h){throw s(n+"err",[o,a,h],u,f),h}finally{s(n+"end",[o,a,l],u,f)}}return a(e)?e:(n||(n=""),nrWrapper[l]=e,o(e,nrWrapper,t),nrWrapper)}function r(t,e,r,i,o){r||(r="");var s,c,f,u="-"===r.charAt(0);for(f=0;f<e.length;f++)c=e[f],s=t[c],a(s)||(t[c]=n(s,u?c+r:r,i,c,o))}function s(n,r,o,a){if(!h||e){var s=h;h=!0;try{t.emit(n,r,o,e,a)}catch(c){i([c,n,r,o],t)}h=s}}return t||(t=u),n.inPlace=r,n.flag=l,n}function i(t,e){e||(e=u);try{e.emit("internal-error",t)}catch(n){}}function o(t,e,n){if(Object.defineProperty&&Object.keys)try{var r=Object.keys(t);return r.forEach(function(n){Object.defineProperty(e,n,{get:function(){return t[n]},set:function(e){return t[n]=e,e}})}),e}catch(o){i([o],n)}for(var a in t)p.call(t,a)&&(e[a]=t[a]);return e}function a(t){return!(t&&t instanceof Function&&t.apply&&!t[l])}function s(t,e){var n=e(t);return n[l]=t,o(t,n,u),n}function c(t,e,n){var r=t[e];t[e]=s(r,n)}function f(){for(var t=arguments.length,e=new Array(t),n=0;n<t;++n)e[n]=arguments[n];return e}var u=t("ee"),d=t(29),l="nr@original",p=Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty,h=!1;e.exports=r,e.exports.wrapFunction=s,e.exports.wrapInPlace=c,e.exports.argsToArray=f},{}]},{},["loader",2,13,4,3]);</script><script type="text/javascript">window.NREUM||(NREUM={});NREUM.info={"beacon":"bam-cell.nr-data.net","errorBeacon":"bam-cell.nr-data.net","licenseKey":"8636ab2091","applicationID":"452513","transactionName":"ZwZWZ0NWD0VRAE1YCV5MckZfVBVfXw0WUgleF1FdRWgMV14CXlQLVQ1AHVBFFV9TD1xCSEYKUURCDTFXVwZ9VBJRClgdVlIV","queueTime":1,"applicationTime":221,"agent":""}</script> <link href="//web.archive.org/web/20211130174534/https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/" rel="dns-prefetch"> <link href="//web.archive.org/web/20211130174534/https://cdn.texastribune.org/" rel="dns-prefetch"> <link href="//web.archive.org/web/20211130174534/https://static.texastribune.org/" rel="dns-prefetch"> <link href="//web.archive.org/web/20211130174534/https://www.googletagmanager.com/" rel="dns-prefetch"> <link href="//web.archive.org/web/20211130174534/https://www.googletagservices.com/" rel="dns-prefetch"> <link href="//web.archive.org/web/20211130174534/https://ajax.googleapis.com/" rel="dns-prefetch"> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="48x48" href="/web/20211130174534im_/https://www2.texastribune.org/static/images/favicon-48x48.7388fd83b75b.png"> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="32x32" href="/web/20211130174534im_/https://www2.texastribune.org/static/images/favicon-32x32.ebd14081da36.png"> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" sizes="16x16" href="/web/20211130174534im_/https://www2.texastribune.org/static/images/favicon-16x16.d0e640fbf205.png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="180x180" href="/web/20211130174534im_/https://www2.texastribune.org/static/images/apple-touch-icon.358661eab2b3.png"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0"> <link rel="canonical" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534/https://www.texastribune.org/2021/11/22/texas-election-budget-surplus/"> <script type="application/ld+json"> {"@context": "https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534/https://schema.org/", "@id": "https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534/https://www.texastribune.org/2021/11/22/texas-election-budget-surplus/", "url": "https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534/https://www.texastribune.org/2021/11/22/texas-election-budget-surplus/", "mainEntityOfPage": "https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534/https://www.texastribune.org/2021/11/22/texas-election-budget-surplus/", "@type": "NewsArticle", "inLanguage": "en_US", "isAccessibleForFree": true, "headline": "Analysis: A swelling Texas treasury gives 2022 hopefuls room for big ideas", "alternativeHeadline": "Analysis: A swelling Texas treasury gives 2022 hopefuls room for big ideas", "description": "As the political season starts, the contestants got an unexpected bit of good news: The state comptroller says the next Legislature will start with almost $25 billion in the state treasury. Expensive campaign promises just got a lot easier to m...", "datePublished": "2021-11-22T11:00:00+00:00", "dateModified": "2021-11-23T01:30:32.183080+00:00", "author": [{"@type": "Person", "name": "Ross Ramsey", "jobTitle": "Executive Editor", "description": "Ross Ramsey is executive editor and co-founder of The Texas Tribune, the only member-supported, digital-first, nonpa...", "url": "https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534/https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/ross-ramsey/", "affiliation": {"@type": "NewsMediaOrganization", "name": "The Texas Tribune"}}], "articleSection": ["Texas 2022 Elections"], "image": {"@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534/https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/rEPcpo5odlbj20NaieMq5nNobg8=/450x300/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b617331ea8d2dfd7d93e307607e190c8/Opening%20Day%20House%20Floor%20SP%20TT%20213.jpg", "width": 450, "height": 300, "caption": "Legislators on the opening day of the special session at the Texas Capitol on July 8, 2021."}, "keywords": ["economy", "health care", "law enforcement", "politics", "public education", "state government", "transportation"], "publisher": {"@type": "NewsMediaOrganization", "name": "The Texas Tribune", "publishingPrinciples": "https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534/https://www.texastribune.org/about/", "logo": {"@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534/https://www.texastribune.org/static/images/logo.png"}}, "thumbnailUrl": "https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534/https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/rEPcpo5odlbj20NaieMq5nNobg8=/450x300/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b617331ea8d2dfd7d93e307607e190c8/Opening%20Day%20House%20Floor%20SP%20TT%20213.jpg", "creator": [{"@type": "Person", "name": "Ross Ramsey", "jobTitle": "Executive Editor", "description": "Ross Ramsey is executive editor and co-founder of The Texas Tribune, the only member-supported, digital-first, nonpa...", "url": "https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534/https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/ross-ramsey/", "affiliation": {"@type": "NewsMediaOrganization", "name": "The Texas Tribune"}}]} </script> <link rel="amphtml" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534/https://www.texastribune.org/2021/11/22/texas-election-budget-surplus/amp/"> <meta name="copyright" content="© The Texas Tribune"/> <meta name="publisher" content="The Texas Tribune"/> <meta name="robots" content="index,follow"/> <meta name="siteinfo" content="http://www.texastribune.org/robots.txt"/> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="/web/20211130174534im_/https://www2.texastribune.org/static/images/apple-touch-icon.358661eab2b3.png"/> <meta name="google-site-verification" content="3EMut9KLnb_7fohrI_bDaR4py76QIWAt4uPidjagbzI"/> <meta name="y_key" content="36169ff9ee60f3ab"/> <meta name="msvalidate.01" content="DB22C31255557D1E219990CA92192CBB"/> <meta name="pocket-site-verification" content="a03da537417a06100ceed0ab61a3d2"/> <meta property="fb:app_id" content="154122474650943"> <meta property="og:site_name" content="The Texas Tribune"/> <meta property="fb:pages" content="124434790836"> <meta name="twitter:site" content="@TexasTribune"> <meta name="twitter:dnt" content="on"> <meta property="og:url" content="https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534/https://www.texastribune.org/2021/11/22/texas-election-budget-surplus/"> <meta name="description" content="As the political season starts, the contestants got an unexpected bit of good news: The state comptroller says the next Legislature will start with almost $25 billion in the state treasury. Expensive campaign promises just got a lot easier to make."> <meta name="keywords" content="texas news, texas politics, texas policy, texas government, economy, health care, law enforcement, politics, public education, state government, transportation"> <meta name="author" content="Ross Ramsey"> <meta property="og:title" content="Analysis: A swelling Texas treasury gives 2022 hopefuls room for big ideas"> <meta property="og:description" content="As the political season starts, the contestants got an unexpected bit of good news: The state comptroller says the next Legislature will start with almost $25 billion in the state treasury. Expensive campaign promises just got a lot easier to make."> <meta property="og:type" content="article"> <meta property="og:image" content="https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534im_/https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/70i80xBlj7I2oSNChfN5z7lK3Mk=/1200x630/filters:quality(95)/static.texastribune.org/media/files/b617331ea8d2dfd7d93e307607e190c8/Opening%20Day%20House%20Floor%20SP%20TT%20213.jpg"> <meta property="og:image:alt" content="Legislators on the opening day of the special session at the Texas Capitol on July 8, 2021."> <meta property="article:publisher" content="https://www.facebook.com/texastribune/"> <meta property="article:published_time" content="2021-11-22T11:00:00+00:00"> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Analysis: A swelling Texas treasury gives 2022 hopefuls room for big …"> <meta name="twitter:description" content="As the political season starts, the contestants got an unexpected bit of good news: The state comptroller says the next Legislature will start with almost $25 billion in the state treasury. Expensive…"> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534im_/https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/70i80xBlj7I2oSNChfN5z7lK3Mk=/1200x630/filters:quality(95)/static.texastribune.org/media/files/b617331ea8d2dfd7d93e307607e190c8/Opening%20Day%20House%20Floor%20SP%20TT%20213.jpg"> <meta name="twitter:image:alt" content="Legislators on the opening day of the special session at the Texas Capitol on July 8, 2021."> <meta name="twitter:creator" content="@rossramsey"> <meta name="twitter:label1" content="By"/> <meta name="twitter:data1" content="Ross Ramsey"/> <meta name="twitter:label2" content="Published on"/> <meta name="twitter:data2" content="Nov. 22, 2021"/> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/web/20211130174534cs_/https://www2.texastribune.org/static/css/chz-story.6bca91a9c7acef3f27ad623bd6223a5a.css"> <script> /** Promises https://github.com/bramstein/fontfaceobserver */ (function(){'use strict';var f,g=[];function l(a){g.push(a);1==g.length&&f()}function m(){for(;g.length;)g[0](),g.shift()}f=function(){setTimeout(m)};function n(a){this.a=p;this.b=void 0;this.f=[];var b=this;try{a(function(a){q(b,a)},function(a){r(b,a)})}catch(c){r(b,c)}}var p=2;function t(a){return new n(function(b,c){c(a)})}function u(a){return new n(function(b){b(a)})}function q(a,b){if(a.a==p){if(b==a)throw new TypeError;var c=!1;try{var d=b&&b.then;if(null!=b&&"object"==typeof b&&"function"==typeof d){d.call(b,function(b){c||q(a,b);c=!0},function(b){c||r(a,b);c=!0});return}}catch(e){c||r(a,e);return}a.a=0;a.b=b;v(a)}} function r(a,b){if(a.a==p){if(b==a)throw new TypeError;a.a=1;a.b=b;v(a)}}function v(a){l(function(){if(a.a!=p)for(;a.f.length;){var b=a.f.shift(),c=b[0],d=b[1],e=b[2],b=b[3];try{0==a.a?"function"==typeof c?e(c.call(void 0,a.b)):e(a.b):1==a.a&&("function"==typeof d?e(d.call(void 0,a.b)):b(a.b))}catch(h){b(h)}}})}n.prototype.g=function(a){return this.c(void 0,a)};n.prototype.c=function(a,b){var c=this;return new n(function(d,e){c.f.push([a,b,d,e]);v(c)})}; function w(a){return new n(function(b,c){function d(c){return function(d){h[c]=d;e+=1;e==a.length&&b(h)}}var e=0,h=[];0==a.length&&b(h);for(var k=0;k<a.length;k+=1)u(a[k]).c(d(k),c)})}function x(a){return new n(function(b,c){for(var d=0;d<a.length;d+=1)u(a[d]).c(b,c)})};window.Promise||(window.Promise=n,window.Promise.resolve=u,window.Promise.reject=t,window.Promise.race=x,window.Promise.all=w,window.Promise.prototype.then=n.prototype.c,window.Promise.prototype["catch"]=n.prototype.g);}()); </script> <script> var dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; dataLayer.push({ contentType: 'article', contentCategory: 'News' }); </script> <script> dataLayer.push({ author: 'Ross Ramsey', contentID: '39361', contentSeries: 'Texas 2022 Elections', primaryTags: 'economy', publishDate: '11-22-2021', tags: 'economy,health care,law enforcement,politics,public education,state government,transportation', title: 'Analysis: A swelling Texas treasury gives 2022 hopefuls room for big ideas' }); </script> <script>(function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start': new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0], j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src= 'https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534/https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f); })(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-P5L2Z5Z');</script> <script> window.ttGlobal = { pageType: 'generic' }; </script> <script> document .documentElement .classList .remove('no-js'); </script> </head> <body class="tt_body storypage"> <a href="#main-tt-content" class="c-button c-button--skip has-bg-teal has-text-white button button--s button--teal">Skip to main content</a> <noscript> <iframe src="https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534if_/https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-P5L2Z5Z" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe> </noscript> <div style="display:none;"> <svg><symbol id="arrow-up" viewbox="0 0 26 28"><path d="M25.172 15.172c0 .531-.219 1.031-.578 1.406l-1.172 1.172c-.375.375-.891.594-1.422.594s-1.047-.219-1.406-.594L16 13.172v11C16 25.297 15.062 26 14 26h-2c-1.062 0-2-.703-2-1.828v-11L5.406 17.75a1.96 1.96 0 01-2.812 0l-1.172-1.172c-.375-.375-.594-.875-.594-1.406s.219-1.047.594-1.422L11.594 3.578C11.953 3.203 12.469 3 13 3s1.047.203 1.422.578L24.594 13.75c.359.375.578.891.578 1.422z"/></symbol><symbol id="bars" viewbox="0 0 24 28"><path d="M24 21v2c0 .547-.453 1-1 1H1c-.547 0-1-.453-1-1v-2c0-.547.453-1 1-1h22c.547 0 1 .453 1 1zm0-8v2c0 .547-.453 1-1 1H1c-.547 0-1-.453-1-1v-2c0-.547.453-1 1-1h22c.547 0 1 .453 1 1zm0-8v2c0 .547-.453 1-1 1H1c-.547 0-1-.453-1-1V5c0-.547.453-1 1-1h22c.547 0 1 .453 1 1z"/></symbol><symbol id="bug" viewbox="0 0 174.9 200"><path d="M0 0v200l40.2-25.1h134.6V0H0zm125.2 139.7l-38.3-25.2-38.3 25.2 12.1-44.2L25 66.8l45.8-2.1L87 21.8l16.2 42.9 45.8 2.1-35.8 28.6 12 44.3z"/></symbol><symbol id="camera" viewbox="0 0 30 28"><path d="M15 10.5c2.484 0 4.5 2.016 4.5 4.5s-2.016 4.5-4.5 4.5-4.5-2.016-4.5-4.5 2.016-4.5 4.5-4.5zM26 4c2.203 0 4 1.797 4 4v14c0 2.203-1.797 4-4 4H4c-2.203 0-4-1.797-4-4V8c0-2.203 1.797-4 4-4h3.5l.797-2.125C8.688.844 9.906 0 11 0h8c1.094 0 2.312.844 2.703 1.875L22.5 4H26zM15 22c3.859 0 7-3.141 7-7s-3.141-7-7-7-7 3.141-7 7 3.141 7 7 7z"/></symbol><symbol id="caret-down" viewbox="0 0 16 28"><path d="M16 11a.99.99 0 01-.297.703l-7 7C8.516 18.89 8.265 19 8 19s-.516-.109-.703-.297l-7-7A.996.996 0 010 11c0-.547.453-1 1-1h14c.547 0 1 .453 1 1z"/></symbol><symbol id="close" viewbox="0 0 22 28"><path d="M20.281 20.656c0 .391-.156.781-.438 1.062l-2.125 2.125c-.281.281-.672.438-1.062.438s-.781-.156-1.062-.438L11 19.249l-4.594 4.594c-.281.281-.672.438-1.062.438s-.781-.156-1.062-.438l-2.125-2.125c-.281-.281-.438-.672-.438-1.062s.156-.781.438-1.062L6.751 15l-4.594-4.594c-.281-.281-.438-.672-.438-1.062s.156-.781.438-1.062l2.125-2.125c.281-.281.672-.438 1.062-.438s.781.156 1.062.438L11 10.751l4.594-4.594c.281-.281.672-.438 1.062-.438s.781.156 1.062.438l2.125 2.125c.281.281.438.672.438 1.062s-.156.781-.438 1.062L15.249 15l4.594 4.594c.281.281.438.672.438 1.062z"/></symbol><symbol id="comments" viewbox="0 0 28 28"><path d="M22 12c0 4.422-4.922 8-11 8-.953 0-1.875-.094-2.75-.25a13.114 13.114 0 01-4.344 2 11.58 11.58 0 01-1.344.25h-.047c-.234 0-.453-.187-.5-.453-.063-.297.141-.484.313-.688.609-.688 1.297-1.297 1.828-2.594C1.625 16.796 0 14.531 0 11.999c0-4.422 4.922-8 11-8s11 3.578 11 8zm6 4c0 2.547-1.625 4.797-4.156 6.266.531 1.297 1.219 1.906 1.828 2.594.172.203.375.391.313.688-.063.281-.297.484-.547.453a11.58 11.58 0 01-1.344-.25 13.114 13.114 0 01-4.344-2c-.875.156-1.797.25-2.75.25-2.828 0-5.422-.781-7.375-2.063a20.4 20.4 0 001.375.063c3.359 0 6.531-.969 8.953-2.719C22.562 17.376 24 14.798 24 12.001c0-.812-.125-1.609-.359-2.375C26.282 11.079 28 13.392 28 16.001z"/></symbol><symbol id="envelope" viewbox="0 0 28 28"><path d="M28 11.094V23.5c0 1.375-1.125 2.5-2.5 2.5h-23A2.507 2.507 0 010 23.5V11.094c.469.516 1 .969 1.578 1.359 2.594 1.766 5.219 3.531 7.766 5.391 1.313.969 2.938 2.156 4.641 2.156h.031c1.703 0 3.328-1.188 4.641-2.156 2.547-1.844 5.172-3.625 7.781-5.391a9.278 9.278 0 001.563-1.359zM28 6.5c0 1.75-1.297 3.328-2.672 4.281-2.438 1.687-4.891 3.375-7.313 5.078-1.016.703-2.734 2.141-4 2.141h-.031c-1.266 0-2.984-1.437-4-2.141-2.422-1.703-4.875-3.391-7.297-5.078-1.109-.75-2.688-2.516-2.688-3.938 0-1.531.828-2.844 2.5-2.844h23c1.359 0 2.5 1.125 2.5 2.5z"/></symbol><symbol id="facebook" viewbox="0 0 16 28"><path d="M14.984.187v4.125h-2.453c-1.922 0-2.281.922-2.281 2.25v2.953h4.578l-.609 4.625H10.25v11.859H5.469V14.14H1.485V9.515h3.984V6.109C5.469 2.156 7.891 0 11.422 0c1.687 0 3.141.125 3.563.187z"/></symbol><symbol id="file-text-o" viewbox="0 0 24 28"><path d="M22.937 5.938c.578.578 1.062 1.734 1.062 2.562v18a1.5 1.5 0 01-1.5 1.5h-21a1.5 1.5 0 01-1.5-1.5v-25a1.5 1.5 0 011.5-1.5h14c.828 0 1.984.484 2.562 1.062zM16 2.125V8h5.875c-.094-.266-.234-.531-.344-.641L16.64 2.468c-.109-.109-.375-.25-.641-.344zM22 26V10h-6.5A1.5 1.5 0 0114 8.5V2H2v24h20zM6 12.5c0-.281.219-.5.5-.5h11c.281 0 .5.219.5.5v1c0 .281-.219.5-.5.5h-11a.494.494 0 01-.5-.5v-1zM17.5 16c.281 0 .5.219.5.5v1c0 .281-.219.5-.5.5h-11a.494.494 0 01-.5-.5v-1c0-.281.219-.5.5-.5h11zm0 4c.281 0 .5.219.5.5v1c0 .281-.219.5-.5.5h-11a.494.494 0 01-.5-.5v-1c0-.281.219-.5.5-.5h11z"/></symbol><symbol id="flag" viewbox="0 0 29 28"><path d="M5 4c0 .719-.391 1.359-1 1.719V25.5c0 .266-.234.5-.5.5h-1a.514.514 0 01-.5-.5V5.719c-.609-.359-1-1-1-1.719 0-1.109.891-2 2-2s2 .891 2 2zm23 1v11.922c0 .578-.359.797-.812 1.031-1.766.953-3.719 1.813-5.766 1.813-2.875 0-4.25-2.188-7.656-2.188-2.484 0-5.094 1.125-7.25 2.281A1.023 1.023 0 016 20c-.547 0-1-.453-1-1V7.406c0-.375.187-.641.484-.859.375-.25.828-.469 1.234-.672C8.687 4.875 11.077 4 13.296 4c2.453 0 4.375.812 6.547 1.828.438.219.891.297 1.375.297C23.671 6.125 26.312 4 26.999 4c.547 0 1 .453 1 1z"/></symbol><symbol id="info" viewbox="0 0 7 13"><path d="M.967 11.01c.564-1.789 1.632-3.932 1.821-4.474.273-.787-.211-1.136-1.74.209l-.34-.64c1.744-1.897 5.335-2.326 4.113.613-.763 1.835-1.309 3.074-1.621 4.03-.455 1.393.694.828 1.819-.211.153.25.203.331.356.619C2.877 13.534.104 13.744.967 11.01zm4.742-8.169c-.532.453-1.32.443-1.761-.022-.441-.465-.367-1.208.164-1.661.532-.453 1.32-.442 1.761.022.439.466.367 1.209-.164 1.661z"/></symbol><symbol id="instagram" viewbox="0 0 24 28"><path d="M16 14c0-2.203-1.797-4-4-4s-4 1.797-4 4 1.797 4 4 4 4-1.797 4-4zm2.156 0c0 3.406-2.75 6.156-6.156 6.156S5.844 17.406 5.844 14 8.594 7.844 12 7.844s6.156 2.75 6.156 6.156zm1.688-6.406c0 .797-.641 1.437-1.437 1.437S16.97 8.39 16.97 7.594s.641-1.437 1.437-1.437 1.437.641 1.437 1.437zM12 4.156c-1.75 0-5.5-.141-7.078.484-.547.219-.953.484-1.375.906s-.688.828-.906 1.375c-.625 1.578-.484 5.328-.484 7.078s-.141 5.5.484 7.078c.219.547.484.953.906 1.375s.828.688 1.375.906c1.578.625 5.328.484 7.078.484s5.5.141 7.078-.484c.547-.219.953-.484 1.375-.906s.688-.828.906-1.375c.625-1.578.484-5.328.484-7.078s.141-5.5-.484-7.078c-.219-.547-.484-.953-.906-1.375s-.828-.688-1.375-.906C17.5 4.015 13.75 4.156 12 4.156zM24 14c0 1.656.016 3.297-.078 4.953-.094 1.922-.531 3.625-1.937 5.031s-3.109 1.844-5.031 1.937c-1.656.094-3.297.078-4.953.078s-3.297.016-4.953-.078c-1.922-.094-3.625-.531-5.031-1.937S.173 20.875.08 18.953C-.014 17.297.002 15.656.002 14s-.016-3.297.078-4.953c.094-1.922.531-3.625 1.937-5.031s3.109-1.844 5.031-1.937c1.656-.094 3.297-.078 4.953-.078s3.297-.016 4.953.078c1.922.094 3.625.531 5.031 1.937s1.844 3.109 1.937 5.031C24.016 10.703 24 12.344 24 14z"/></symbol><symbol id="link" viewbox="0 0 72 72"><path d="M67.6 25.5L55 38.1c-1.2 1.2-3.1 1.2-4.2 0s-1.2-3.1 0-4.2l12.7-12.7c3.5-3.5 3.5-9.2 0-12.7s-9.2-3.5-12.7 0l-16.9 17c-1 1.1-6 6.7 0 12.7 1.2 1.2 1.2 3.1 0 4.2s-3.1 1.2-4.2 0c-8.3-8.3-3.6-17.4 0-21.1L46.5 4.4c5.8-5.8 15.3-5.8 21.1 0s5.9 15.2 0 21.1zm-25.3 4.2c-1.2-1.2-3.1-1.2-4.2 0-1.2 1.2-1.2 3.1 0 4.2 6 6 1 11.6 0 12.7L21.2 63.4c-3.5 3.5-9.2 3.5-12.7 0s-3.5-9.2 0-12.7L21.2 38c1.2-1.2 1.2-3.1 0-4.2s-3.1-1.2-4.2 0L4.4 46.5c-5.8 5.8-5.8 15.3 0 21.1 5.8 5.8 15.3 5.8 21.1 0l16.9-16.9c3.6-3.6 8.3-12.7-.1-21z"/></symbol><symbol id="linkedin" viewbox="0 0 24 28"><path d="M5.453 9.766V25.25H.297V9.766h5.156zm.328-4.782c.016 1.484-1.109 2.672-2.906 2.672h-.031C1.11 7.656 0 6.468 0 4.984c0-1.516 1.156-2.672 2.906-2.672 1.766 0 2.859 1.156 2.875 2.672zM24 16.375v8.875h-5.141v-8.281c0-2.078-.75-3.5-2.609-3.5-1.422 0-2.266.953-2.641 1.875-.125.344-.172.797-.172 1.266v8.641H8.296c.063-14.031 0-15.484 0-15.484h5.141v2.25h-.031c.672-1.062 1.891-2.609 4.672-2.609 3.391 0 5.922 2.219 5.922 6.969z"/></symbol><symbol id="long-arrow-left" viewbox="0 0 29 28"><path d="M28 12.5v3c0 .281-.219.5-.5.5H8v3.5c0 .203-.109.375-.297.453s-.391.047-.547-.078l-6-5.469A.508.508 0 011 14.047c0-.141.063-.281.156-.375l6-5.531A.5.5 0 118 8.5V12h19.5c.281 0 .5.219.5.5z"/></symbol><symbol id="long-arrow-right" viewbox="0 0 27 28"><path d="M27 13.953a.549.549 0 01-.156.375l-6 5.531A.5.5 0 1120 19.5V16H.5a.494.494 0 01-.5-.5v-3c0-.281.219-.5.5-.5H20V8.5c0-.203.109-.375.297-.453s.391-.047.547.078l6 5.469a.508.508 0 01.156.359z"/></symbol><symbol id="reddit" viewbox="0 0 28 28"><path d="M17.109 18.234c.141.141.141.359 0 .484-.891.891-2.609.969-3.109.969s-2.219-.078-3.109-.969c-.141-.125-.141-.344 0-.484a.34.34 0 01.469 0c.562.578 1.781.766 2.641.766s2.063-.187 2.641-.766a.34.34 0 01.469 0zm-4.796-2.828c0 .766-.625 1.391-1.391 1.391a1.397 1.397 0 01-1.406-1.391A1.4 1.4 0 0110.922 14c.766 0 1.391.625 1.391 1.406zm6.171 0c0 .766-.625 1.391-1.406 1.391a1.394 1.394 0 01-1.391-1.391c0-.781.625-1.406 1.391-1.406a1.4 1.4 0 011.406 1.406zm3.922-1.875a1.867 1.867 0 00-1.875-1.859c-.531 0-1 .219-1.344.562-1.266-.875-2.969-1.437-4.859-1.5l.984-4.422 3.125.703c0 .766.625 1.391 1.391 1.391.781 0 1.406-.641 1.406-1.406s-.625-1.406-1.406-1.406a1.42 1.42 0 00-1.25.781l-3.453-.766c-.172-.047-.344.078-.391.25l-1.078 4.875c-1.875.078-3.563.641-4.828 1.516a1.877 1.877 0 00-1.359-.578 1.867 1.867 0 00-1.875 1.859c0 .75.438 1.375 1.062 1.687a4.024 4.024 0 00-.094.875c0 2.969 3.344 5.375 7.453 5.375 4.125 0 7.469-2.406 7.469-5.375 0-.297-.031-.609-.109-.891a1.878 1.878 0 001.031-1.672zM28 14c0 7.734-6.266 14-14 14S0 21.734 0 14 6.266 0 14 0s14 6.266 14 14z"/></symbol><symbol id="rss" viewbox="0 0 32 32"><path d="M4.259 23.467A4.265 4.265 0 000 27.719a4.25 4.25 0 004.259 4.244 4.25 4.25 0 004.265-4.244 4.265 4.265 0 00-4.265-4.252zM.005 10.873v6.133c3.993 0 7.749 1.562 10.577 4.391A14.897 14.897 0 0114.966 32h6.16c0-11.651-9.478-21.127-21.121-21.127zM.012 0v6.136C14.255 6.136 25.848 17.74 25.848 32H32C32 14.36 17.648 0 .012 0z"/></symbol><symbol id="search" viewbox="0 0 26 28"><path d="M18 13c0-3.859-3.141-7-7-7s-7 3.141-7 7 3.141 7 7 7 7-3.141 7-7zm8 13c0 1.094-.906 2-2 2a1.96 1.96 0 01-1.406-.594l-5.359-5.344a10.971 10.971 0 01-6.234 1.937c-6.078 0-11-4.922-11-11s4.922-11 11-11 11 4.922 11 11c0 2.219-.672 4.406-1.937 6.234l5.359 5.359c.359.359.578.875.578 1.406z"/></symbol><symbol id="sign-in" viewbox="0 0 24 28"><path d="M18.5 14a.99.99 0 01-.297.703l-8.5 8.5A.996.996 0 019 23.5c-.547 0-1-.453-1-1V18H1c-.547 0-1-.453-1-1v-6c0-.547.453-1 1-1h7V5.5c0-.547.453-1 1-1a.99.99 0 01.703.297l8.5 8.5A.996.996 0 0118.5 14zM24 8.5v11c0 2.484-2.016 4.5-4.5 4.5h-5a.514.514 0 01-.5-.5c0-.438-.203-1.5.5-1.5h5c1.375 0 2.5-1.125 2.5-2.5v-11C22 7.125 20.875 6 19.5 6H15c-.391 0-1 .078-1-.5 0-.438-.203-1.5.5-1.5h5C21.984 4 24 6.016 24 8.5z"/></symbol><symbol id="sign-out" viewbox="0 0 25 28"><path d="M10 22.5c0 .438.203 1.5-.5 1.5h-5A4.502 4.502 0 010 19.5v-11C0 6.016 2.016 4 4.5 4h5c.266 0 .5.234.5.5 0 .438.203 1.5-.5 1.5h-5A2.507 2.507 0 002 8.5v11C2 20.875 3.125 22 4.5 22H9c.391 0 1-.078 1 .5zM24.5 14a.99.99 0 01-.297.703l-8.5 8.5A.996.996 0 0115 23.5c-.547 0-1-.453-1-1V18H7c-.547 0-1-.453-1-1v-6c0-.547.453-1 1-1h7V5.5c0-.547.453-1 1-1a.99.99 0 01.703.297l8.5 8.5A.996.996 0 0124.5 14z"/></symbol><symbol id="twitter" viewbox="0 0 26 28"><path d="M25.312 6.375a10.85 10.85 0 01-2.531 2.609c.016.219.016.438.016.656 0 6.672-5.078 14.359-14.359 14.359-2.859 0-5.516-.828-7.75-2.266.406.047.797.063 1.219.063 2.359 0 4.531-.797 6.266-2.156a5.056 5.056 0 01-4.719-3.5c.313.047.625.078.953.078.453 0 .906-.063 1.328-.172a5.048 5.048 0 01-4.047-4.953v-.063a5.093 5.093 0 002.281.641 5.044 5.044 0 01-2.25-4.203c0-.938.25-1.797.688-2.547a14.344 14.344 0 0010.406 5.281 5.708 5.708 0 01-.125-1.156 5.045 5.045 0 015.047-5.047 5.03 5.03 0 013.687 1.594 9.943 9.943 0 003.203-1.219 5.032 5.032 0 01-2.219 2.781c1.016-.109 2-.391 2.906-.781z"/></symbol><symbol id="user" viewbox="0 0 20 28"><path d="M20 21.859C20 24.14 18.5 26 16.672 26H3.328C1.5 26 0 24.141 0 21.859 0 17.75 1.016 13 5.109 13a6.979 6.979 0 009.782 0C18.985 13 20 17.75 20 21.859zM16 8c0 3.313-2.688 6-6 6s-6-2.688-6-6 2.688-6 6-6 6 2.688 6 6z"/></symbol><symbol id="volume-up" viewbox="0 0 26 28"><path d="M12 5.5v17c0 .547-.453 1-1 1a.99.99 0 01-.703-.297L5.094 18H1c-.547 0-1-.453-1-1v-6c0-.547.453-1 1-1h4.094l5.203-5.203A.996.996 0 0111 4.5c.547 0 1 .453 1 1zm6 8.5c0 1.563-.953 3.078-2.422 3.672a.869.869 0 01-.391.078c-.547 0-1-.438-1-1 0-1.188 1.813-.859 1.813-2.75s-1.813-1.563-1.813-2.75c0-.562.453-1 1-1 .125 0 .266.016.391.078C17.047 10.906 18 12.437 18 14zm4 0c0 3.172-1.906 6.125-4.844 7.359a1.158 1.158 0 01-.391.078 1.01 1.01 0 01-1.016-1c0-.438.25-.734.609-.922.422-.219.812-.406 1.188-.688 1.547-1.125 2.453-2.922 2.453-4.828s-.906-3.703-2.453-4.828c-.375-.281-.766-.469-1.188-.688-.359-.187-.609-.484-.609-.922 0-.547.453-1 1-1 .141 0 .281.031.406.078 2.938 1.234 4.844 4.188 4.844 7.359zm4 0c0 4.797-2.859 9.141-7.266 11.031a1.172 1.172 0 01-.406.078c-.547 0-1-.453-1-1 0-.453.234-.703.609-.922.219-.125.469-.203.703-.328.438-.234.875-.5 1.281-.797 2.562-1.891 4.078-4.875 4.078-8.062s-1.516-6.172-4.078-8.062a11.006 11.006 0 00-1.281-.797c-.234-.125-.484-.203-.703-.328-.375-.219-.609-.469-.609-.922 0-.547.453-1 1-1 .141 0 .281.031.406.078A12.009 12.009 0 0126 14z"/></symbol><symbol id="your-texas" viewbox="0 0 500 500"><path d="M270.19 448.13l-79.76-143.39-66.32 42.04L15 211h127.16V23.6h114.9v96.95l195.47 19.06L485 259.33l-11.46 53.57-124.58 87.57 9.54 75.93z"/></symbol><symbol id="youtube" viewbox="0 0 24 28"><path d="M15.172 19.437v3.297c0 .703-.203 1.047-.609 1.047-.234 0-.469-.109-.703-.344v-4.703c.234-.234.469-.344.703-.344.406 0 .609.359.609 1.047zm5.281.016v.719h-1.406v-.719c0-.703.234-1.062.703-1.062s.703.359.703 1.062zM5.359 16.047h1.672v-1.469H2.156v1.469h1.641v8.891H5.36v-8.891zm4.5 8.891h1.391v-7.719H9.859v5.906c-.313.438-.609.656-.891.656-.187 0-.297-.109-.328-.328-.016-.047-.016-.219-.016-.547v-5.688H7.233v6.109c0 .547.047.906.125 1.141.125.391.453.578.906.578.5 0 1.031-.313 1.594-.953v.844zm6.703-2.313v-3.078c0-.719-.031-1.234-.141-1.547-.172-.578-.562-.875-1.109-.875-.516 0-1 .281-1.453.844v-3.391h-1.391v10.359h1.391v-.75c.469.578.953.859 1.453.859.547 0 .938-.297 1.109-.859.109-.328.141-.844.141-1.563zm5.282-.156v-.203h-1.422c0 .562-.016.875-.031.953-.078.375-.281.562-.625.562-.484 0-.719-.359-.719-1.078v-1.359h2.797v-1.609c0-.828-.141-1.422-.422-1.813-.406-.531-.953-.797-1.656-.797-.719 0-1.266.266-1.672.797-.297.391-.438.984-.438 1.813v2.703c0 .828.156 1.437.453 1.813.406.531.953.797 1.687.797s1.313-.281 1.687-.828a1.8 1.8 0 00.328-.844c.031-.141.031-.453.031-.906zm-9.5-14.266V4.922c0-.719-.203-1.078-.672-1.078-.453 0-.672.359-.672 1.078v3.281c0 .719.219 1.094.672 1.094.469 0 .672-.375.672-1.094zm11.234 11.735c0 1.797-.016 3.719-.406 5.469-.297 1.234-1.297 2.141-2.5 2.266-2.875.328-5.781.328-8.672.328s-5.797 0-8.672-.328c-1.203-.125-2.219-1.031-2.5-2.266-.406-1.75-.406-3.672-.406-5.469 0-1.813.016-3.719.406-5.469.297-1.234 1.297-2.141 2.516-2.281 2.859-.313 5.766-.313 8.656-.313s5.797 0 8.672.313c1.203.141 2.219 1.047 2.5 2.281.406 1.75.406 3.656.406 5.469zM7.984 0h1.594L7.687 6.234v4.234H6.124V6.234c-.141-.766-.453-1.859-.953-3.313-.344-.969-.688-1.953-1.016-2.922h1.656L6.92 4.108zm5.782 5.203v2.734c0 .828-.141 1.453-.438 1.844-.391.531-.938.797-1.656.797-.703 0-1.25-.266-1.641-.797-.297-.406-.438-1.016-.438-1.844V5.203c0-.828.141-1.437.438-1.828.391-.531.938-.797 1.641-.797.719 0 1.266.266 1.656.797.297.391.438 1 .438 1.828zM19 2.672v7.797h-1.422V9.61c-.562.656-1.094.969-1.609.969-.453 0-.781-.187-.922-.578-.078-.234-.125-.609-.125-1.172V2.673h1.422v5.734c0 .328 0 .516.016.547.031.219.141.344.328.344.281 0 .578-.219.891-.672V2.673h1.422z"/></symbol></svg> </div> <nav class="c-navbar c-navbar--dark has-bg-black-off" aria-label="sitewide"> <div class="c-navbar__top l-align-center-x c-navbar__top--standard"> <a href="/web/20211130174534/https://www2.texastribune.org/" class="c-navbar__logo l-align-center-self" aria-label="The Texas Tribune Homepage"> <svg aria-hidden="true" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 585.7 64.51" class="l-display-block l-width-full"><path fill="#fff" d="M84.94 10.23v45.85H74.63V10.23H64.49V1.16H95v9.07zM120.08 56.08V33.57h-11.46v22.51H98.39V1.16h10.23v23.25h11.46V1.16h10.31v54.92zM136.78 56.08V1.16H163V10h-16v13.59h11.05v8.08H147v15.26h16v9.15zM198.62 10.23v45.85h-10.31V10.23h-10.14V1.16h30.51v9.07zM213.1 56.08V1.16h26.23V10h-16v13.59h11v8.08h-11v15.26h16v9.15zM265.89 56.08l-6.44-19-7 19h-10l11.29-27.71-10.62-27.21h10.73l6 19 6.59-19h10.07l-11 26.39 11.05 28.53zM301.7 56.08l-1.81-10.8h-9.73l-2 10.8h-9.57l11.07-54.92h11.47l11 54.92zM295.27 16l-3.71 21.2h7zM328.66 57.32c-9.4 0-15.25-5.61-15.25-14.19v-3.79h9.4v3.22c0 4 1.9 6.26 5.61 6.26s5.44-2.14 5.44-5.52c0-4.37-2.8-7.34-8.25-11.38-5.6-4-11.71-9.49-11.71-17.15C313.9 6.85 319 0 328.91 0c8.66 0 14.43 5.94 14.43 14.1v3.55H334v-3.3c0-3.38-1.72-5.85-5.19-5.85a4.63 4.63 0 0 0-4.95 4.94c0 4.62 2.72 7 8.82 11.47 6.52 4.86 11.14 9.81 11.14 17.23.02 8.86-6.08 15.18-15.16 15.18zM377.84 10.23v45.85h-10.31V10.23h-10.15V1.16h30.52v9.07zM417.57 56.41c-4.05 0-5.61-3.3-5.61-8.08V38c0-2.56-1.32-4.7-4.21-4.7h-5.36v22.78h-10.22V1.16h16.9c7.51 0 12.54 4.29 12.54 12v7.76c0 4.12-1.9 7.17-6.19 8.49a8.42 8.42 0 0 1 6.35 8.33v10.01a7.69 7.69 0 0 0 2 5.61v3zm-5.94-42.88c0-2.48-1.07-4-3.63-4h-5.61v16.2h5.2c2.64 0 4-1.4 4-4.37zM429.8 56.08V1.16H440v54.92zM465.59 56.08h-17.32V1.16h17.16c7.5 0 12.12 4 12.12 11.62v5.94c0 4.7-1.81 8.25-6.51 9.24 4.95 1.32 6.76 4.7 6.76 9.32v7.17c0 7.67-4.7 11.63-12.21 11.63zm2.15-42.55c0-2.48-1.08-4-3.63-4h-5.53v15.13h5.12c2.63 0 4-1.4 4-4.29zm.16 23c0-2.89-1.4-4.37-4-4.37h-5.28v15.5h5.78c2.55 0 3.54-1.4 3.54-4zM499.34 57.32c-8.9 0-15.5-5.69-15.5-13.94V1.16h10.39v42.22c0 3.22 1.81 5 5.11 5s5.2-1.81 5.2-5V1.16h10v42.22c-.02 8.25-6.29 13.94-15.2 13.94zM544.66 56.08L534 32.66l-3.87-8.74v32.16h-9.4V1.16h8.82L539.71 25l3.63 8.74V1.16h9.24v54.92zM559.48 56.08V1.16h26.22V10h-16v13.59h11v8.08h-11v15.26h16v9.15z"/><path d="M0 .6v63.91l12.85-8h43V.6zm40 44.63l-12.22-8.06-12.24 8.06 3.88-14.13L8 22l14.63-.68 5.15-13.76L33 21.27l14.58.73-11.44 9.1z" fill="#ffc200"/></svg> </a> <div class="c-navbar__content "> <ul class="c-navbar__items t-uppercase t-size-xxs hide_until--l is-hidden-until-bp-l js-toggle-on-search "> <li class="c-navbar__item"> <a class="c-navbar__item-content c-navbar__clickable c-navbar__clickable--animated" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534/https://support.texastribune.org/donate?installmentPeriod=once&amount=60" ga-on="click" ga-event-category="donations" ga-event-action="membership-intent" ga-event-label="c-navbar">Donate</a> </li> <li class="c-navbar__item"> <a class="c-navbar__item-content c-navbar__clickable c-navbar__clickable--animated " href="/web/20211130174534/https://www2.texastribune.org/about/subscribe/" ga-on="click" ga-event-category="subscribe intent" ga-event-action="top nav click" ga-event-label="not frontpage">Newsletters</a> </li> <li class="c-navbar__item"> <a class="c-navbar__item-content c-navbar__clickable c-navbar__clickable--animated " href="/web/20211130174534/https://www2.texastribune.org/events/" ga-on="click" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="top nav click" ga-event-label="events">Events</a> </li> <li class="c-navbar__item"> <a class="c-navbar__item-content c-navbar__clickable c-navbar__clickable--animated " href="/web/20211130174534/https://www2.texastribune.org/audio/" ga-on="click" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="top nav click" ga-event-label="audio">Audio</a> </li> <li class="c-navbar__item"> <a class="c-navbar__item-content c-navbar__clickable c-navbar__clickable--animated " href="/web/20211130174534/https://www2.texastribune.org/series/news-apps-graphics-databases/" ga-on="click" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="top nav click" ga-event-label="data">Data</a> </li> </ul> <ul class="c-navbar__items c-navbar__items--no-space js-toggle-on-search hide_until--l is-hidden-until-bp-l"> <li class="c-navbar__items"> <ul id="greeting" class="c-navbar__items t-uppercase t-size-xxs hide_until--l is-hidden-until-bp-l js-toggle-on-search"></ul> </li> <li class="c-navbar__item"> <button id="nav-search-open" class="c-navbar__item-content c-navbar__clickable" aria-label="Show site search form" ga-on="click" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="top nav click" ga-event-label="search-open"> <span class="c-icon c-icon--yellow t-size-s"><svg aria-hidden="true"><use xlink:href="/web/20211130174534im_/https://www2.texastribune.org/2021/11/22/texas-election-budget-surplus/#search"></use></svg></span> </button> </li> </ul> <ul class="c-navbar__items t-size-xxs hide_from--l is-hidden-from-bp-l"> <li id="nav-menu-open" class="c-navbar__item c-navbar__item--no-space"> <button class="c-navbar__item-content c-navbar__text c-navbar__clickable has-text-gray-light t-uppercase" aria-label="Show menu" ga-on="click" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="top nav click" ga-event-label="menu-open"> <span class="c-icon c-icon--yellow t-size-s"><svg aria-hidden="true"><use xlink:href="/web/20211130174534im_/https://www2.texastribune.org/2021/11/22/texas-election-budget-surplus/#bars"></use></svg></span> <span> Menu</span> </button> </li> <li id="nav-menu-close" class="c-navbar__item hidden"> <button class="c-navbar__item-content c-navbar__text c-navbar__clickable has-text-gray-light t-uppercase" aria-label="Hide menu" ga-on="click" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="top nav click" ga-event-label="menu-close"> <span class="c-icon c-icon--yellow t-size-s"><svg aria-hidden="true"><use xlink:href="/web/20211130174534im_/https://www2.texastribune.org/2021/11/22/texas-election-budget-surplus/#close"></use></svg></span> <span> Close</span> </button> </li> </ul> </div> <div id="nav-search-form" class="c-navbar__search hidden hide_until--l is-hidden-until-bp-l"> <form class="c-navbar__search-form" method="get" action="/web/20211130174534/https://www2.texastribune.org/search/"> <button class="c-navbar__search-button c-navbar__clickable" type="submit" ga-on="click" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="top nav click" ga-event-label="search-submit"> <span class="c-icon c-icon--yellow t-size-s"><svg aria-hidden="true"><use xlink:href="/web/20211130174534im_/https://www2.texastribune.org/2021/11/22/texas-election-budget-surplus/#search"></use></svg></span> </button> <input class="js-search-input c-navbar__search-input" name="q" type="text" placeholder="Search The Texas Tribune" aria-label="Search The Texas Tribune"> <button id="nav-search-close" class="c-navbar__clickable" type="button" aria-label="Close site search form" ga-on="click" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="top nav click" ga-event-label="search-close"> <span class="c-icon c-icon--yellow t-size-s"><svg aria-hidden="true"><use xlink:href="/web/20211130174534im_/https://www2.texastribune.org/2021/11/22/texas-election-budget-surplus/#close"></use></svg></span> </button> </form> </div> </div> <div id="nav-dropdown" class="c-navbar__dropdown hide_from--l is-hidden-from-bp-l hidden"> <div class="c-navbar__dropdown-search grid_separator has-b-btm-marg l-width-full"> <form class="c-navbar__search-form" method="get" action="/web/20211130174534/https://www2.texastribune.org/search/"> <button class="c-navbar__search-button c-navbar__clickable" type="submit" ga-on="click" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="top nav click" ga-event-label="search-submit"> <span class="c-icon c-icon--yellow t-size-s"><svg aria-hidden="true"><use xlink:href="/web/20211130174534im_/https://www2.texastribune.org/2021/11/22/texas-election-budget-surplus/#search"></use></svg></span> </button> <input class="js-search-input c-navbar__search-input" name="q" type="text" placeholder="Search The Texas Tribune" aria-label="Search The Texas Tribune"> </form> </div> <ul class="c-navbar__dropdown-items t-uppercase t-size-xxs"> <li class="c-navbar__dropdown-item"> <a class="c-navbar__clickable" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534/https://support.texastribune.org/donate?installmentPeriod=once&amount=60" ga-on="click" ga-event-category="donations" ga-event-action="membership-intent" ga-event-label="c-navbar">Donate</a> </li> <li class="c-navbar__dropdown-item"> <a class="c-navbar__clickable " href="/web/20211130174534/https://www2.texastribune.org/about/subscribe/" ga-on="click" ga-event-category="subscribe intent" ga-event-action="top nav click" ga-event-label="not frontpage">Newsletters</a> </li> <li class="c-navbar__dropdown-item"> <a class="c-navbar__clickable " href="/web/20211130174534/https://www2.texastribune.org/events/" ga-on="click" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="top nav click" ga-event-label="events">Events</a> </li> <li class="c-navbar__dropdown-item"> <a class="c-navbar__clickable " href="/web/20211130174534/https://www2.texastribune.org/audio/" ga-on="click" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="top nav click" ga-event-label="audio">Audio</a> </li> <li class="c-navbar__dropdown-item"> <a class="c-navbar__clickable " href="/web/20211130174534/https://www2.texastribune.org/series/news-apps-graphics-databases/" ga-on="click" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="top nav click" ga-event-label="data">Data</a> </li> </ul> <ul id="mobile-greeting" class="c-navbar__dropdown-items t-uppercase t-size-xxs"></ul> </div> </nav> <script> (function() { function bindSearchOpen(elements) { var searchOpen = elements.searchOpen; var searchForm = elements.searchForm; var searchInput = elements.searchInput; var toggleOnSearch = elements.toggleOnSearch; searchOpen.addEventListener('click', function () { searchForm.classList.remove('hidden'); toggleOnSearch.forEach(function (el) { el.classList.add('hidden'); searchInput.focus(); }); }); } function bindSearchClose(elements) { var searchClose = elements.searchClose; var searchForm = elements.searchForm; var toggleOnSearch = elements.toggleOnSearch; searchClose.addEventListener('click', function () { searchForm.classList.add('hidden'); toggleOnSearch.forEach(function (el) { el.classList.remove('hidden'); }); }); } function bindMenuOpen(elements) { var menuOpen = elements.menuOpen; var menuClose = elements.menuClose; var dropdown = elements.dropdown; menuOpen.addEventListener('click', function () { menuOpen.classList.add('hidden'); menuClose.classList.remove('hidden'); dropdown.classList.remove('hidden'); }); } function bindMenuClose(elements) { var menuOpen = elements.menuOpen; var menuClose = elements.menuClose; var dropdown = elements.dropdown; menuClose.addEventListener('click', function () { menuOpen.classList.remove('hidden'); menuClose.classList.add('hidden'); dropdown.classList.add('hidden'); }); } function getElements() { var toggleOnSearch = document.querySelectorAll('.js-toggle-on-search'); var menuOpen = document.querySelector('#nav-menu-open'); var menuClose = document.querySelector('#nav-menu-close'); var searchForm = document.querySelector('#nav-search-form'); var searchInput = document.querySelector('.js-search-input'); var searchOpen = document.querySelector('#nav-search-open'); var searchClose = document.querySelector('#nav-search-close'); var dropdown = document.querySelector('#nav-dropdown'); return { toggleOnSearch: toggleOnSearch, menuOpen: menuOpen, menuClose: menuClose, searchForm: searchForm, searchInput: searchInput, searchOpen: searchOpen, searchClose: searchClose, dropdown: dropdown }; } function bindNavEvents() { const elements = getElements(); bindSearchOpen(elements); bindSearchClose(elements); bindMenuOpen(elements); bindMenuClose(elements); } bindNavEvents(); }()); </script> <aside class="c-topic-bar c-topic-bar--btm-border c-topic-bar--sticky t-links-underlined-hover t-size-xs t-align-center has-bg-white" aria-labelledby="topic-bar-label" data-test-name="topicbar"> <h2 id="topic-bar-label" class="is-sr-only">Key coverage</h2> <div class="c-topic-bar__inner"> <div class="flatblock block-homepage-topic-bar"> <div class="flatblock-content"><ul> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534/https://www.texastribune.org/2021/11/24/texas-covid-19-hospitalizations/">COVID-19 Hospitalizations</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534/https://www.texastribune.org/2021/11/23/texas-evictions-rent-relief/">Evictions in Texas</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534/https://www.texastribune.org/2021/11/23/texas-abortion-providers-supreme-court/">Abortion Providers</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534/https://apps.texastribune.org/features/2021/texas-redistricting-map/?_ga=2.203830611.215433255.1635769039-771758848.1633621262">Find Your Political Districts</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534/https://apps.texastribune.org/features/2020/texas-coronavirus-cases-map/">COVID-19 Tracker</a></li> </ul></div> </div> </div> </aside> <div class="has-l-btm-marg" aria-hidden="true"></div> <div class="has-xl-btm-marg"> <div id="ad-unit-7427" class="js-ad-unit t-align-center"> <div class="c-ad-ldbd"> <div class="c-ad-ldbd__unit"></div> </div> </div> </div> <main id="main-tt-content" class="has-xxxl-btm-marg"> <article> <section class="l-container l-container--l"> <header class="has-page-padding has-b-btm-marg"> <div id="article-hed-byline" class="t-links"> <a class="t-uppercase t-lsp-b t-weight-bold l-display-ib has-xxxs-btm-marg has-text-vert-padding" href="/web/20211130174534/https://www2.texastribune.org/series/texas-2022-election-voting/" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="series label click" ga-event-label="Texas 2022 Elections">Texas 2022 Elections</a> <h1 itemprop="headline" class="t-headline t-serif t-lh-s has-b-btm-marg">Analysis: A swelling Texas treasury gives 2022 hopefuls room for big ideas</h1> <div class="has-notch is-hidden-from-bp-s has-b-btm-marg has-bg-yellow"></div> <p class="has-s-btm-marg has-vert-bar has-vert-bar--from-bp-s t-size-b has-text-yellow"> <span class="has-text-gray-dark">As the political season starts, the contestants got an unexpected bit of good news: The state comptroller says the next Legislature will start with almost $25 billion in the state treasury. Expensive campaign promises just got a lot easier to make.</span> </p> <p class="t-byline has-text-vert-padding t-uppercase t-lsp-m t-size-xs has-text-gray-dark has-s-btm-marg"> <span class="t-byline__item l-display-ib">by <a href="/web/20211130174534/https://www2.texastribune.org/about/staff/ross-ramsey/">Ross Ramsey</a></span> <time class="byline--item t-byline__item l-display-ib" datetime="Mon, 22 Nov 2021 05:00:00 -0600" title="2021-11-22 05:00 CST">Nov. 22, 2021</time><time class="byline--item t-byline__item l-display-ib" datetime="Mon, 22 Nov 2021 05:00:00 -0600" title="2021-11-22 05:00 CST">5 AM Central</time> </p> </div> <div id="share_button_row" class="c-share t-align-center t-size-s" ga-tracker="social_shares"> <a class="c-button c-button--outline has-bg-facebook has-text-facebook has-text-hover-facebook l-align-center-children has-reset-padding" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534/https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.texastribune.org/2021/11/22/texas-election-budget-surplus/%3Futm_campaign%3Dtrib-social-buttons%26utm_source%3Dfacebook%26utm_medium%3Dsocial" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" aria-label="Share on Facebook" ga-on="click" ga-event-category="Share" ga-event-action="facebook-intent" ga-event-label="Share Button Row"> <span class="c-icon c-button__inner t-size-s"><svg aria-hidden="true"><use xlink:href="/web/20211130174534im_/https://www2.texastribune.org/2021/11/22/texas-election-budget-surplus/#facebook"></use></svg></span> </a> <a class="c-button c-button--outline has-bg-twitter has-text-twitter has-text-hover-twitter l-align-center-children has-reset-padding" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534/https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.texastribune.org/2021/11/22/texas-election-budget-surplus/%3Futm_campaign%3Dtrib-social-buttons%26utm_source%3Dtwitter%26utm_medium%3Dsocial&text=Analysis%3A%20A%20swelling%20Texas%20treasury%20gives%202022%20hopefuls%20room%20for%20big%20ideas&via=TexasTribune" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" aria-label="Share on Twitter" ga-on="click" ga-event-category="Share" ga-event-action="twitter-intent" ga-event-label="Share Button Row"> <span class="c-icon c-button__inner t-size-s"><svg aria-hidden="true"><use xlink:href="/web/20211130174534im_/https://www2.texastribune.org/2021/11/22/texas-election-budget-surplus/#twitter"></use></svg></span> </a> <a class="c-button c-button--outline has-bg-yellow has-text-yellow has-text-hover-yellow l-align-center-children has-reset-padding" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534/mailto:/?subject=Analysis%3A%20A%20swelling%20Texas%20treasury%20gives%202022%20hopefuls%20room%20for%20big%20ideas&body=https://www.texastribune.org/2021/11/22/texas-election-budget-surplus/%3Futm_campaign%3Dtrib-social-buttons%26utm_source%3Demail%26utm_medium%3Dsocial" aria-label="Share this story by email" ga-on="click" ga-event-category="Share" ga-event-action="email-intent" ga-event-label="Share Button Row"> <span class="c-icon c-button__inner t-size-s"><svg aria-hidden="true"><use xlink:href="/web/20211130174534im_/https://www2.texastribune.org/2021/11/22/texas-election-budget-surplus/#envelope"></use></svg></span> </a> <div id="copy-link-3340"> <button class="c-button c-button--outline c-button--s has-bg-teal has-text-teal has-text-hover-teal l-align-center-children l-width-full l-height-full has-reset-padding" disabled> <span class="c-button__inner">Copy link</span> </button> </div> <a class="c-button c-button--outline has-bg-gray-dark has-text-gray-dark has-text-hover-gray-dark l-align-center-children has-reset-padding is-hidden-until-bp-l" href="/web/20211130174534/https://www2.texastribune.org/2021/11/22/texas-election-budget-surplus/republish/" aria-label="Republish this story" ga-on="click" ga-event-category="Republish" ga-event-action="republish-intent" ga-event-label="Share Button Row"> <span class="c-button__inner t-size-xxs">Republish</span> </a> </div> </header> </section> <div class="l-container l-container--l has-page-padding-at-bp-l has-xl-btm-marg"> <figure class="l-pos-rel"> <div class="c-image"> <div class="c-image__placeholder has-bg-white-off"> <picture> <source sizes="(min-width: 845px) 845px, 100vw" srcset="https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534im_/https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/gStqvHF6Z0cmIUtZn_h2oE-lZtA=/3000x2010/smart/filters:format(webp):quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b617331ea8d2dfd7d93e307607e190c8/Opening%20Day%20House%20Floor%20SP%20TT%20213.jpg 3000w, https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534im_/https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/xjj9lrhuZka4G_dh384ywYwMuz8=/2500x1675/smart/filters:format(webp):quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b617331ea8d2dfd7d93e307607e190c8/Opening%20Day%20House%20Floor%20SP%20TT%20213.jpg 2500w, https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534im_/https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/UBVDcLIeGKiVg6zqlHHV4agCggE=/1550x1038/smart/filters:format(webp):quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b617331ea8d2dfd7d93e307607e190c8/Opening%20Day%20House%20Floor%20SP%20TT%20213.jpg 1550w, https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534im_/https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/_y2GwYcemFOhtqiYJxQ7IB5Lp18=/1200x804/smart/filters:format(webp):quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b617331ea8d2dfd7d93e307607e190c8/Opening%20Day%20House%20Floor%20SP%20TT%20213.jpg 1200w, https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534im_/https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/CsybN5gO1XXFihYvP8PpxjyKmGk=/1000x670/smart/filters:format(webp):quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b617331ea8d2dfd7d93e307607e190c8/Opening%20Day%20House%20Floor%20SP%20TT%20213.jpg 1000w, https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534im_/https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/IQelj3HOY9tNr_NcsVJB5pvUrr4=/850x570/smart/filters:format(webp):quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b617331ea8d2dfd7d93e307607e190c8/Opening%20Day%20House%20Floor%20SP%20TT%20213.jpg 850w, https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534im_/https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/YwqeG7ujADgqAPCDxieK_a-kmvA=/640x429/smart/filters:format(webp):quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b617331ea8d2dfd7d93e307607e190c8/Opening%20Day%20House%20Floor%20SP%20TT%20213.jpg 640w, https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534im_/https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/XZQaw6JsGKw9xislbi5nn7yMm_o=/375x251/smart/filters:format(webp):quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b617331ea8d2dfd7d93e307607e190c8/Opening%20Day%20House%20Floor%20SP%20TT%20213.jpg 375w" type="image/webp"> <source sizes="(min-width: 845px) 845px, 100vw" srcset="https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534im_/https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/e0osga0PKwDPj7KBKXncLijHqBs=/3000x2010/smart/filters:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b617331ea8d2dfd7d93e307607e190c8/Opening%20Day%20House%20Floor%20SP%20TT%20213.jpg 3000w, https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534im_/https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/ByRDHp2iGBk9CqS5EdSLGHU-Ufk=/2500x1675/smart/filters:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b617331ea8d2dfd7d93e307607e190c8/Opening%20Day%20House%20Floor%20SP%20TT%20213.jpg 2500w, https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534im_/https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/BenfB7tnOtE321Q76y3Ft_81zXk=/1550x1038/smart/filters:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b617331ea8d2dfd7d93e307607e190c8/Opening%20Day%20House%20Floor%20SP%20TT%20213.jpg 1550w, https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534im_/https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/Tp1EOwgo1mBdY-yFsWL8oBq-Poo=/1200x804/smart/filters:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b617331ea8d2dfd7d93e307607e190c8/Opening%20Day%20House%20Floor%20SP%20TT%20213.jpg 1200w, https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534im_/https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/mOx13ttU6pcMn5mvz_GFmHW_pd0=/1000x670/smart/filters:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b617331ea8d2dfd7d93e307607e190c8/Opening%20Day%20House%20Floor%20SP%20TT%20213.jpg 1000w, https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534im_/https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/NOdbS020wHK-6KwoH-avKa0YIUE=/850x570/smart/filters:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b617331ea8d2dfd7d93e307607e190c8/Opening%20Day%20House%20Floor%20SP%20TT%20213.jpg 850w, https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534im_/https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/ZJ-UbSKsSN2LLAiCfGbYOQVJbRM=/640x429/smart/filters:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b617331ea8d2dfd7d93e307607e190c8/Opening%20Day%20House%20Floor%20SP%20TT%20213.jpg 640w, https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534im_/https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/loCt2y_MP2GOnZ5qw625UwAiTjU=/375x251/smart/filters:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b617331ea8d2dfd7d93e307607e190c8/Opening%20Day%20House%20Floor%20SP%20TT%20213.jpg 375w"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534im_/https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/NOdbS020wHK-6KwoH-avKa0YIUE=/850x570/smart/filters:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/b617331ea8d2dfd7d93e307607e190c8/Opening%20Day%20House%20Floor%20SP%20TT%20213.jpg" alt="Legislators on the opening day of the special session at the Texas Capitol on July 8, 2021." class="did-load c-image__img"> </picture> </div> </div> <figcaption class="c-caption t-links-underlined l-display-block t-size-xs"> <span aria-hidden="true"> Legislators on the opening day of the special session at the Texas Capitol on July 8, 2021. </span> <cite> <span class="is-sr-only">Credit:</span><span class="c-icon c-icon--baseline"><svg aria-hidden="true"><use xlink:href="/web/20211130174534im_/https://www2.texastribune.org/2021/11/22/texas-election-budget-surplus/#camera"></use></svg></span> Sophie Park/The Texas Tribune </cite> </figcaption> </figure> </div> <div class="story_body c-story-body t-size-b has-giant-btm-marg"> <div class="c-story-body"> <p class="t-copy t-links-underlined t-align-left"><em><sub>Editor's note: If you'd like an email notice whenever we publish Ross Ramsey's column, click here.</sub></em></p> <p class="t-copy t-links-underlined t-align-left"><strong><em><sub>If you would like to listen to the column, just click on the play button below.</sub></em></strong></p> <div class="c-plugin c-plugin--default c-plugin--narrow is-hidden-print"> <div class="c-plugin__inner"> <div id="audio-2253415"> <div class="loading loading--s c-loading c-loading--s" aria-hidden="true"></div> </div> </div> </div> <p class="t-copy t-links-underlined t-align-left">According to the state comptroller, Texas is heading into an election year with projections that more than $24 billion will be left over at the end of the current budget, in spite of a pandemic that began with fears that the economy might be hit as hard as public health.</p> <p class="t-copy t-links-underlined t-align-left">That projected pile of cash gives the political class the power to grant wishes — or to propose granting wishes — for budget-busting goodies their voters want, like lower property taxes, and higher spending on public education, health care, highways and law enforcement.</p> <div class="c-plugin c-plugin--flush "> <div class="c-plugin__inner"> <div id="ad-unit-4251" class="js-ad-unit"> <div class="c-ad-flex"> <div class="c-ad-flex__inner"> <div class="c-ad-flex__unit"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <p class="t-copy t-links-underlined t-align-left">A couple of weeks ago, Comptroller Glenn Hegar said<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534/https://comptroller.texas.gov/transparency/reports/certification-revenue-estimate/2022-23/"> the state will bring in almost $23 billion</a> more in general revenue during the current two-year budget period than he originally estimated.</p> <p class="t-copy t-links-underlined t-align-left">He’s expecting the state to end the current budget period, which runs through August 2023, with almost $12 billion in the bank, and with an additional $12.6 billion in the <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534/https://www.texastribune.org/2018/12/19/texas-rainy-day-fund-budget/">state’s Economic Stabilization Fund</a>, more commonly known as the Rainy Day Fund.</p> <p class="t-copy t-links-underlined t-align-left">In spring 2020, Hegar was telling state lawmakers and budget writers to hit the brakes on spending, and to expect an economic downturn as the coronavirus took hold. The improvement in the official outlook has been steady and dramatic since then. In each of the last seven months, the state’s sales tax receipts topped $3 billion; it had only reached that monthly total three times in state history.</p> <p class="t-copy t-links-underlined t-align-left">“Texas personal income, buoyed by support from federal pandemic relief spending, increased by an estimated 6.5% in fiscal 2021 following 5.4% growth in 2020,” according to<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534/https://comptroller.texas.gov/transparency/reports/certification-revenue-estimate/2022-23/"> the comptroller’s latest projection</a> of state revenue. Gross state product increased 7.9% in 2021, and is expected to grow 8.3% next year, the report said.</p> <div class="c-plugin c-plugin--default c-plugin--narrow is-hidden-print"> <div class="c-plugin__inner"> <div id="newsletter-subscribe-2326"> <div class="loading loading--s c-loading c-loading--s" aria-hidden="true"></div> </div> </div> </div> <p class="t-copy t-links-underlined t-align-left">The traditional caveat on comptroller forecasts was in the fine print: Hegar said COVID-19, supply-chain problems, inflationary pressures and labor shortages could slow or derail the economic train.</p> <p class="t-copy t-links-underlined t-align-left">That might as well have gone unsaid: This is the beginning of an election cycle. Candidates are filing to run for office. By this time next year, the primary and general elections will be behind us, and the newly elected and reelected lawmakers will be preparing to come to Austin to pass new laws and write a new budget.</p> <p class="t-copy t-links-underlined t-align-left">Given the amount of money Hegar predicts will be on hand, those incoming officeholders will be entertaining every politician’s fantasy: There’s money in the state treasury, and we can make big proposals without laying out new taxes or budget cuts to cover the costs.</p> <p class="t-copy t-links-underlined t-align-left">They don’t need to wait for the 2023 session to begin. Challengers and incumbents are already starting to talk to voters. Some people are concerned about inflation and other economic troubles. For instance, Hegar and others have said we are in a “K-shaped recovery,” where economic conditions are improving rapidly for some parts of the economy while they’re getting worse for others.</p> <div class="c-plugin c-plugin--flush "> <div class="c-plugin__inner"> <div id="ad-unit-1301" class="js-ad-unit"> <div class="c-ad-flex"> <div class="c-ad-flex__inner"> <div class="c-ad-flex__unit"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <p class="t-copy t-links-underlined t-align-left">The state appears to be one of the beneficiaries, a boon to anyone who wants money for one of the big-ticket items in the state budget — or on campaign wishlists.</p> <p class="t-copy t-links-underlined t-align-left">That’s not the only money piling up. Federal revenue to the state’s Coronavirus Relief Fund totaled $44.1 billion in the last budget, and another $36.9 billion is expected during the current two-year budget period, according to the comptroller.<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534/https://www.texastribune.org/2021/11/09/biden-infrastructure-bill-texas/"> Texas expects to get $35.4 billion</a> from the federal infrastructure bill over the next five years, most of it for transportation spending.</p> <p class="t-copy t-links-underlined t-align-left">It sets the table for anyone who’s been stymied by a tight state budget. It’s easy for budget writers to say no in lean times. When there’s money in the bank, they don’t have the excuse of “sorry, no money.”</p> <p class="t-copy t-links-underlined t-align-left">Discipline is scarcer during the political election season than during the governing season that follows. Until the general elections next November, politicians can paint the prettiest pictures they want, proposing new programs, services, tax breaks and whatever else they and their consultants dream up. When voters ask how they’ll pay for it, they’ll point at those rosy projections of bulging state treasury vaults.</p> <p class="t-copy t-links-underlined t-align-left">They won’t have to do the math until after the elections.</p> </div> <div class="c-plugin c-plugin--default c-plugin--narrow is-hidden-print"> <div class="c-plugin__inner"> <section class="t-serif"> <div class="has-notch has-bg-yellow has-b-btm-marg" aria-hidden="true"></div> <h2 class="t-sans t-uppercase t-lsp-b t-size-b has-b-btm-marg has-text-black"> Related News </h2> <ul class="has-l-btm-marg"> <li class="has-b-btm-marg"> <article class="c-story-block c-story-block--read-more c-story-block--stack-until-bp-m"> <header class="c-story-block__text t-links-underlined-hover"> <h3 class="has-tiny-btm-marg"> <a href="/web/20211130174534/https://www2.texastribune.org/2021/11/19/texas-winter-storm-elections/" ga-on="click" ga-event-category="read more" ga-event-action="curated" ga-event-label="story page"> <strong>Analysis: 2022 primary elections in Texas merit a severe weather alert</strong> </a> </h3> <p class="t-byline t-uppercase t-lsp-b t-sans t-size-xs has-text-gray-dark is-hidden-until-bp-m"> <time class="t-byline__item l-display-ib" datetime="Fri, 19 Nov 2021 05:00:00 -0600"> Nov. 19, 2021 </time> </p> </header> <figure class="c-story-block__image-wrap is-hidden-until-bp-m"> <a href="/web/20211130174534/https://www2.texastribune.org/2021/11/19/texas-winter-storm-elections/" class="l-display-block" tabindex="-1" ga-on="click" ga-event-category="read more" ga-event-action="curated" ga-event-label="story page"> <div class="c-image"> <div class="c-image__placeholder has-bg-white-off"> <noscript> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534im_/https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/PMTzsE3CMDJrwrApw8SbocGAMNg=/850x570/smart/filters:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/9ba811910089b1c18dd6756437176c62/San%20Marcos%20Winter%20Storm%20JV%20TT%2013.jpg" alt="The Blanco Vista neighborhood of San Marcos is blanketed with several inches of snow as a massive winter weather system caus…" class="c-image__img l-width-full l-display-block did-load"> </noscript> <picture> <source data-srcset="https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534im_/https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/tLg0CH1-YJZXZelttouQaqIEOkY=/3000x2010/smart/filters:format(webp):quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/9ba811910089b1c18dd6756437176c62/San%20Marcos%20Winter%20Storm%20JV%20TT%2013.jpg 3000w, https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534im_/https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/nQJzNUwuGQJG8U5-xqw0Fl-HF-k=/2500x1675/smart/filters:format(webp):quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/9ba811910089b1c18dd6756437176c62/San%20Marcos%20Winter%20Storm%20JV%20TT%2013.jpg 2500w, https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534im_/https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/hJLiXvYzEa94Wlbsa_OTmL-oeqU=/1550x1038/smart/filters:format(webp):quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/9ba811910089b1c18dd6756437176c62/San%20Marcos%20Winter%20Storm%20JV%20TT%2013.jpg 1550w, https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534im_/https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/COtfyZ8GiuiLnP4GhKDLPriyiGQ=/1200x804/smart/filters:format(webp):quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/9ba811910089b1c18dd6756437176c62/San%20Marcos%20Winter%20Storm%20JV%20TT%2013.jpg 1200w, https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534im_/https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/TUGxId5B9uSnwPIo1dY8O2b-tcQ=/1000x670/smart/filters:format(webp):quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/9ba811910089b1c18dd6756437176c62/San%20Marcos%20Winter%20Storm%20JV%20TT%2013.jpg 1000w, https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534im_/https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/xUrQKKWdiSdMjQLXCDfykP6Vrfc=/850x570/smart/filters:format(webp):quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/9ba811910089b1c18dd6756437176c62/San%20Marcos%20Winter%20Storm%20JV%20TT%2013.jpg 850w, https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534im_/https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/UNAgigYFC7lNV60yOFBOGK8vQMI=/640x429/smart/filters:format(webp):quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/9ba811910089b1c18dd6756437176c62/San%20Marcos%20Winter%20Storm%20JV%20TT%2013.jpg 640w, https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534im_/https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/g6Pr--LGa4Td76NXUpjmuC24eZo=/375x251/smart/filters:format(webp):quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/9ba811910089b1c18dd6756437176c62/San%20Marcos%20Winter%20Storm%20JV%20TT%2013.jpg 375w" type="image/webp"> <source data-srcset="https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534im_/https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/DzzUxT-P8jrJ0kPRE3va3e77UIQ=/3000x2010/smart/filters:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/9ba811910089b1c18dd6756437176c62/San%20Marcos%20Winter%20Storm%20JV%20TT%2013.jpg 3000w, https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534im_/https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/pVFQhMkaB3goLHAfLubACz3VZ50=/2500x1675/smart/filters:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/9ba811910089b1c18dd6756437176c62/San%20Marcos%20Winter%20Storm%20JV%20TT%2013.jpg 2500w, https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534im_/https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/48KYSz7ZzhMEjikWfX9Se9HcjRQ=/1550x1038/smart/filters:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/9ba811910089b1c18dd6756437176c62/San%20Marcos%20Winter%20Storm%20JV%20TT%2013.jpg 1550w, https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534im_/https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/PVKjJ_nMabizIRDuG8UQrQynV3Y=/1200x804/smart/filters:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/9ba811910089b1c18dd6756437176c62/San%20Marcos%20Winter%20Storm%20JV%20TT%2013.jpg 1200w, https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534im_/https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/EXYU9l5vT86ZZcOMHHwmciSuwTs=/1000x670/smart/filters:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/9ba811910089b1c18dd6756437176c62/San%20Marcos%20Winter%20Storm%20JV%20TT%2013.jpg 1000w, https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534im_/https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/PMTzsE3CMDJrwrApw8SbocGAMNg=/850x570/smart/filters:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/9ba811910089b1c18dd6756437176c62/San%20Marcos%20Winter%20Storm%20JV%20TT%2013.jpg 850w, https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534im_/https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/zDjfs7yDU7OsxaVHUX-LjjAxK9c=/640x429/smart/filters:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/9ba811910089b1c18dd6756437176c62/San%20Marcos%20Winter%20Storm%20JV%20TT%2013.jpg 640w, https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534im_/https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/VLg5ueeb9rBtm8K2zzgAZYFUNvw=/375x251/smart/filters:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/9ba811910089b1c18dd6756437176c62/San%20Marcos%20Winter%20Storm%20JV%20TT%2013.jpg 375w"> <img data-src="https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534/https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/PMTzsE3CMDJrwrApw8SbocGAMNg=/850x570/smart/filters:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/9ba811910089b1c18dd6756437176c62/San%20Marcos%20Winter%20Storm%20JV%20TT%2013.jpg" alt="The Blanco Vista neighborhood of San Marcos is blanketed with several inches of snow as a massive winter weather system caus…" class="js-lazy-image js-lazy-image--target c-image__img" data-sizes="auto"> </picture> </div> </div> </a> </figure> </article> </li> <li class="has-b-btm-marg"> <article class="c-story-block c-story-block--read-more c-story-block--stack-until-bp-m"> <header class="c-story-block__text t-links-underlined-hover"> <h3 class="has-tiny-btm-marg"> <a href="/web/20211130174534/https://www2.texastribune.org/2021/11/17/texas-governor-beto-orourke-greg-abbott/" ga-on="click" ga-event-category="read more" ga-event-action="curated" ga-event-label="story page"> <strong>Analysis: Different year, different race, different Beto</strong> </a> </h3> <p class="t-byline t-uppercase t-lsp-b t-sans t-size-xs has-text-gray-dark is-hidden-until-bp-m"> <time class="t-byline__item l-display-ib" datetime="Wed, 17 Nov 2021 05:00:00 -0600"> Nov. 17, 2021 </time> </p> </header> <figure class="c-story-block__image-wrap is-hidden-until-bp-m"> <a href="/web/20211130174534/https://www2.texastribune.org/2021/11/17/texas-governor-beto-orourke-greg-abbott/" class="l-display-block" tabindex="-1" ga-on="click" ga-event-category="read more" ga-event-action="curated" ga-event-label="story page"> <div class="c-image"> <div class="c-image__placeholder has-bg-white-off"> <noscript> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534im_/https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/3i1CX0xJ40tFA7m9ZG2y2JlE7x4=/850x570/smart/filters:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/bf5b4af02e1ef14b9c2768ffc52292d9/Beto%20at%20San%20Antonio%20CS%20TT%2050.jpg" alt="Texas gubernatorial candidate Beto O'Rourke speaks at a campagin rally in San Antonio on November 16, 2021." class="c-image__img l-width-full l-display-block did-load"> </noscript> <picture> <source data-srcset="https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534im_/https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/iAvzX1buF0LbRm420wch73yGXe0=/3000x2010/smart/filters:format(webp):quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/bf5b4af02e1ef14b9c2768ffc52292d9/Beto%20at%20San%20Antonio%20CS%20TT%2050.jpg 3000w, https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534im_/https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/BCGrcuGv4tBVf5A4VOsLbKADI5o=/2500x1675/smart/filters:format(webp):quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/bf5b4af02e1ef14b9c2768ffc52292d9/Beto%20at%20San%20Antonio%20CS%20TT%2050.jpg 2500w, https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534im_/https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/8eV7FM-Ocx3Q2Xlw32JAi-5t1iw=/1550x1038/smart/filters:format(webp):quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/bf5b4af02e1ef14b9c2768ffc52292d9/Beto%20at%20San%20Antonio%20CS%20TT%2050.jpg 1550w, https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534im_/https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/nza3TDGAuYvUUzh5EMu9uCH4jBk=/1200x804/smart/filters:format(webp):quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/bf5b4af02e1ef14b9c2768ffc52292d9/Beto%20at%20San%20Antonio%20CS%20TT%2050.jpg 1200w, https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534im_/https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/lavqyfVja27yWivIFqEaV8djLuc=/1000x670/smart/filters:format(webp):quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/bf5b4af02e1ef14b9c2768ffc52292d9/Beto%20at%20San%20Antonio%20CS%20TT%2050.jpg 1000w, https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534im_/https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/mrO-j1MVOaeyMJce-wYuFVweGjQ=/850x570/smart/filters:format(webp):quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/bf5b4af02e1ef14b9c2768ffc52292d9/Beto%20at%20San%20Antonio%20CS%20TT%2050.jpg 850w, https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534im_/https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/WauiMKiePclGW7o6tbSaPt5dzsc=/640x429/smart/filters:format(webp):quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/bf5b4af02e1ef14b9c2768ffc52292d9/Beto%20at%20San%20Antonio%20CS%20TT%2050.jpg 640w, https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534im_/https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/W2NkkienyhvVUiH9iXuXBEOo2vA=/375x251/smart/filters:format(webp):quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/bf5b4af02e1ef14b9c2768ffc52292d9/Beto%20at%20San%20Antonio%20CS%20TT%2050.jpg 375w" type="image/webp"> <source data-srcset="https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534im_/https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/5VNDp95XQFjfIA-FhfdcZLoRclw=/3000x2010/smart/filters:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/bf5b4af02e1ef14b9c2768ffc52292d9/Beto%20at%20San%20Antonio%20CS%20TT%2050.jpg 3000w, https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534im_/https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/JnMbhuvEB_wJZUtseazhohmUyKk=/2500x1675/smart/filters:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/bf5b4af02e1ef14b9c2768ffc52292d9/Beto%20at%20San%20Antonio%20CS%20TT%2050.jpg 2500w, https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534im_/https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/H537gqHCa6WWHg-HhN3Z1HwK4xI=/1550x1038/smart/filters:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/bf5b4af02e1ef14b9c2768ffc52292d9/Beto%20at%20San%20Antonio%20CS%20TT%2050.jpg 1550w, https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534im_/https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/dhSQrkF39NKJNepw3w_yO2gBT9M=/1200x804/smart/filters:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/bf5b4af02e1ef14b9c2768ffc52292d9/Beto%20at%20San%20Antonio%20CS%20TT%2050.jpg 1200w, https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534im_/https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/NwQlgRX-Aw5E9TiJT0D7jCtUiak=/1000x670/smart/filters:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/bf5b4af02e1ef14b9c2768ffc52292d9/Beto%20at%20San%20Antonio%20CS%20TT%2050.jpg 1000w, https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534im_/https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/3i1CX0xJ40tFA7m9ZG2y2JlE7x4=/850x570/smart/filters:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/bf5b4af02e1ef14b9c2768ffc52292d9/Beto%20at%20San%20Antonio%20CS%20TT%2050.jpg 850w, https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534im_/https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/6e9N1LKnDHNoQA34Fby0aOaTfeE=/640x429/smart/filters:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/bf5b4af02e1ef14b9c2768ffc52292d9/Beto%20at%20San%20Antonio%20CS%20TT%2050.jpg 640w, https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534im_/https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/CDt2QAmt4HNpt2-9l0GOVCw1WrU=/375x251/smart/filters:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/bf5b4af02e1ef14b9c2768ffc52292d9/Beto%20at%20San%20Antonio%20CS%20TT%2050.jpg 375w"> <img data-src="https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534/https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/3i1CX0xJ40tFA7m9ZG2y2JlE7x4=/850x570/smart/filters:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/bf5b4af02e1ef14b9c2768ffc52292d9/Beto%20at%20San%20Antonio%20CS%20TT%2050.jpg" alt="Texas gubernatorial candidate Beto O'Rourke speaks at a campagin rally in San Antonio on November 16, 2021." class="js-lazy-image js-lazy-image--target c-image__img" data-sizes="auto"> </picture> </div> </div> </a> </figure> </article> </li> <li class="has-b-btm-marg"> <article class="c-story-block c-story-block--read-more c-story-block--stack-until-bp-m"> <header class="c-story-block__text t-links-underlined-hover"> <h3 class="has-tiny-btm-marg"> <a href="/web/20211130174534/https://www2.texastribune.org/2021/11/10/texas-election-polling-issues/" ga-on="click" ga-event-category="read more" ga-event-action="curated" ga-event-label="story page"> <strong>Analysis: Texas Republican lawmakers pleased most of their own voters, most of the time</strong> </a> </h3> <p class="t-byline t-uppercase t-lsp-b t-sans t-size-xs has-text-gray-dark is-hidden-until-bp-m"> <time class="t-byline__item l-display-ib" datetime="Wed, 10 Nov 2021 05:00:00 -0600"> Nov. 10, 2021 </time> </p> </header> <figure class="c-story-block__image-wrap is-hidden-until-bp-m"> <a href="/web/20211130174534/https://www2.texastribune.org/2021/11/10/texas-election-polling-issues/" class="l-display-block" tabindex="-1" ga-on="click" ga-event-category="read more" ga-event-action="curated" ga-event-label="story page"> <div class="c-image"> <div class="c-image__placeholder has-bg-white-off"> <noscript> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534im_/https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/Hupc0QXSbKGsyhVyPJo0R-mRAYs=/850x570/smart/filters:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/c491349a5b5ba3b394ef25ded4426906/Archer%20Co%20Early%20Voting%20ST%20TT%2011.jpg" alt="Voters at the Alvord City Hall, an early voting site in Alvord on Oct. 28, 2020." class="c-image__img l-width-full l-display-block did-load"> </noscript> <picture> <source data-srcset="https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534im_/https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/vyLaksCAJzRuUZpf3LDLiiFtuD8=/3000x2010/smart/filters:format(webp):quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/c491349a5b5ba3b394ef25ded4426906/Archer%20Co%20Early%20Voting%20ST%20TT%2011.jpg 3000w, https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534im_/https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/2_in7aPKvFL3XNgK5GiviCCE6kI=/2500x1675/smart/filters:format(webp):quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/c491349a5b5ba3b394ef25ded4426906/Archer%20Co%20Early%20Voting%20ST%20TT%2011.jpg 2500w, https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534im_/https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/5iQNATdwXeEl1pxmJ1xwNIxn4kU=/1550x1038/smart/filters:format(webp):quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/c491349a5b5ba3b394ef25ded4426906/Archer%20Co%20Early%20Voting%20ST%20TT%2011.jpg 1550w, https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534im_/https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/vQ1okpnYID2mWRVx2jLQBXZRX0k=/1200x804/smart/filters:format(webp):quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/c491349a5b5ba3b394ef25ded4426906/Archer%20Co%20Early%20Voting%20ST%20TT%2011.jpg 1200w, https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534im_/https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/ni3BonVLXdKDO1bPI9HCvN4zRcI=/1000x670/smart/filters:format(webp):quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/c491349a5b5ba3b394ef25ded4426906/Archer%20Co%20Early%20Voting%20ST%20TT%2011.jpg 1000w, https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534im_/https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/EwUzq4nm-Iif7mauH44T4ib9spY=/850x570/smart/filters:format(webp):quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/c491349a5b5ba3b394ef25ded4426906/Archer%20Co%20Early%20Voting%20ST%20TT%2011.jpg 850w, https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534im_/https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/VYyg8qTjG9_Pj9ZaRHTSzoOWTX0=/640x429/smart/filters:format(webp):quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/c491349a5b5ba3b394ef25ded4426906/Archer%20Co%20Early%20Voting%20ST%20TT%2011.jpg 640w, https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534im_/https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/9-MQ1ZC6sruWSIpobW_1kIXAZkw=/375x251/smart/filters:format(webp):quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/c491349a5b5ba3b394ef25ded4426906/Archer%20Co%20Early%20Voting%20ST%20TT%2011.jpg 375w" type="image/webp"> <source data-srcset="https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534im_/https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/NFttGQa9ugszheYLosMZiHZXZjw=/3000x2010/smart/filters:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/c491349a5b5ba3b394ef25ded4426906/Archer%20Co%20Early%20Voting%20ST%20TT%2011.jpg 3000w, https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534im_/https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/f-KdaprkYi6z8TomMPkLBwoZlKE=/2500x1675/smart/filters:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/c491349a5b5ba3b394ef25ded4426906/Archer%20Co%20Early%20Voting%20ST%20TT%2011.jpg 2500w, https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534im_/https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/zyslbDAyb_4TQ8XVaLvjBvGSFi4=/1550x1038/smart/filters:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/c491349a5b5ba3b394ef25ded4426906/Archer%20Co%20Early%20Voting%20ST%20TT%2011.jpg 1550w, https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534im_/https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/-ZLbHWvHOyfVn5hzfY6eztiibL4=/1200x804/smart/filters:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/c491349a5b5ba3b394ef25ded4426906/Archer%20Co%20Early%20Voting%20ST%20TT%2011.jpg 1200w, https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534im_/https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/xMBE-0AQTBel95Yqgbkv0-hgiaE=/1000x670/smart/filters:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/c491349a5b5ba3b394ef25ded4426906/Archer%20Co%20Early%20Voting%20ST%20TT%2011.jpg 1000w, https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534im_/https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/Hupc0QXSbKGsyhVyPJo0R-mRAYs=/850x570/smart/filters:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/c491349a5b5ba3b394ef25ded4426906/Archer%20Co%20Early%20Voting%20ST%20TT%2011.jpg 850w, https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534im_/https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/GaFu_yA0KSmDUvoPqRcRrcg5Kqg=/640x429/smart/filters:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/c491349a5b5ba3b394ef25ded4426906/Archer%20Co%20Early%20Voting%20ST%20TT%2011.jpg 640w, https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534im_/https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/mjbK1GEr0iv7BBMg4bTvqbfPixo=/375x251/smart/filters:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/c491349a5b5ba3b394ef25ded4426906/Archer%20Co%20Early%20Voting%20ST%20TT%2011.jpg 375w"> <img data-src="https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534/https://thumbnails.texastribune.org/Hupc0QXSbKGsyhVyPJo0R-mRAYs=/850x570/smart/filters:quality(75)/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/c491349a5b5ba3b394ef25ded4426906/Archer%20Co%20Early%20Voting%20ST%20TT%2011.jpg" alt="Voters at the Alvord City Hall, an early voting site in Alvord on Oct. 28, 2020." class="js-lazy-image js-lazy-image--target c-image__img" data-sizes="auto"> </picture> </div> </div> </a> </figure> </article> </li> </ul> <div id="ad-unit-6739" class="js-ad-unit"> <div class="c-ad-fluid"></div> </div> </section> </div> </div> </div> <div class="c-plugin c-plugin--default c-plugin--narrow "> <div class="c-plugin__inner"> <div class="has-vert-bar has-vert-bar--padded-xxl has-vert-bar--thin has-text-yellow"> <h2 class="t-headline t-serif t-lh-s t-size-l has-b-btm-marg has-text-black-off">Quality journalism doesn't come free</h2> <p class="t-size-b t-serif t-links-underlined has-b-btm-marg has-text-black-off">Perhaps it goes without saying — but producing quality journalism isn't cheap. At a time when newsroom resources and revenue across the country are declining, The Texas Tribune remains committed to sustaining our <a href="/web/20211130174534/https://www2.texastribune.org/about">mission</a>: creating a more engaged and informed Texas with every story we cover, every event we convene and every newsletter we send. As a nonprofit newsroom, we rely on members to help keep our stories free and our events open to the public. Do you value our journalism? Show us with your support.</p> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534/https://support.texastribune.org/donate?installmentPeriod=yearly&amount=150&campaignId=701460000007V3QAAU#join-today" class="c-button has-bg-yellow has-text-black-off l-display-block has-b-btm-marg" ga-on="click" ga-event-category="donations" ga-event-action="membership-intent" ga-event-label="story-cta-button"><span class="t-size-s">Yes, I'll donate today</span></a> </div> </div> </div> </article> </main> <aside class="c-story-bottom has-bg-white-off has-giant-btm-marg" aria-label="Latest Texas Tribune events and articles"> <h2 class="is-sr-only">Latest Texas Tribune events and articles</h2> <div class="l-container l-container--xxl has-m-btm-marg is-hidden-print"> <div id="rug"> <div class="c-rug"> <div class="c-rug__featured"> <section aria-label="Upcoming events"> <h3 class="is-sr-only">Upcoming events</h3> <p class="is-sr-only">Loading content …</p> <div aria-hidden="true"> <svg aria-labelledby="block-loader-4704" role="img" viewbox="0 0 400 300" style="max-width: 100%;"> <title id="block-loader-4704">Loading indicator</title> <rect role="presentation" x="0" y="0" width="100%" height="100%" clip-path="url(#block-loader-clip-7246)" style="fill: url("/web/20211130174534im_/https://www2.texastribune.org/2021/11/22/texas-election-budget-surplus/#block-loader-gradient-539");"></rect> <defs role="presentation"> <clippath id="block-loader-clip-7246"> <circle cx="30" cy="258" r="30"></circle> <rect x="75" y="233" rx="4" ry="4" width="35%" height="13"></rect> <rect x="75" y="260" rx="4" ry="4" width="20%" height="8"></rect> <rect x="0" y="210" rx="5" ry="5" width="100%" height="10"></rect> <rect x="0" y="0" rx="5" ry="5" width="100%" height="200"></rect> </clippath> <lineargradient id="block-loader-gradient-539"> <stop offset="0%" stop-color="#d0d0d0" stop-opacity="1"></stop> <stop offset="50%" stop-color="#d0d0d0" stop-opacity="1"></stop> <stop offset="100%" stop-color="#d0d0d0" stop-opacity="1"></stop> </lineargradient> </defs> </svg> <div class="c-block-grid"> <svg aria-labelledby="block-loader-3935" role="img" viewbox="0 0 400 300" style="max-width: 100%;"> <title id="block-loader-3935">Loading indicator</title> <rect role="presentation" x="0" y="0" width="100%" height="100%" clip-path="url(#block-loader-clip-9731)" style="fill: url("/web/20211130174534im_/https://www2.texastribune.org/2021/11/22/texas-election-budget-surplus/#block-loader-gradient-5221");"></rect> <defs role="presentation"> <clippath id="block-loader-clip-9731"> <circle cx="30" cy="258" r="30"></circle> <rect x="75" y="233" rx="4" ry="4" width="35%" height="13"></rect> <rect x="75" y="260" rx="4" ry="4" width="20%" height="8"></rect> <rect x="0" y="210" rx="5" ry="5" width="100%" height="10"></rect> <rect x="0" y="0" rx="5" ry="5" width="100%" height="200"></rect> </clippath> <lineargradient id="block-loader-gradient-5221"> <stop offset="0%" stop-color="#d0d0d0" stop-opacity="1"></stop> <stop offset="50%" stop-color="#d0d0d0" stop-opacity="1"></stop> <stop offset="100%" stop-color="#d0d0d0" stop-opacity="1"></stop> </lineargradient> </defs> </svg> <svg aria-labelledby="block-loader-5651" role="img" viewbox="0 0 400 300" style="max-width: 100%;"> <title id="block-loader-5651">Loading indicator</title> <rect role="presentation" x="0" y="0" width="100%" height="100%" clip-path="url(#block-loader-clip-339)" style="fill: url("/web/20211130174534im_/https://www2.texastribune.org/2021/11/22/texas-election-budget-surplus/#block-loader-gradient-3231");"></rect> <defs role="presentation"> <clippath id="block-loader-clip-339"> <circle cx="30" cy="258" r="30"></circle> <rect x="75" y="233" rx="4" ry="4" width="35%" height="13"></rect> <rect x="75" y="260" rx="4" ry="4" width="20%" height="8"></rect> <rect x="0" y="210" rx="5" ry="5" width="100%" height="10"></rect> <rect x="0" y="0" rx="5" ry="5" width="100%" height="200"></rect> </clippath> <lineargradient id="block-loader-gradient-3231"> <stop offset="0%" stop-color="#d0d0d0" stop-opacity="1"></stop> <stop offset="50%" stop-color="#d0d0d0" stop-opacity="1"></stop> <stop offset="100%" stop-color="#d0d0d0" stop-opacity="1"></stop> </lineargradient> </defs> </svg> </div> </div> </section> </div> <div class="c-rug__reporters"> <section aria-label="Latest from our reporters"> <h3 class="is-sr-only">Latest from our reporters</h3> <p class="is-sr-only">Loading content …</p> <div aria-hidden="true"> <svg aria-labelledby="list-loader-4779" role="img" viewbox="0 0 400 130" style="max-width: 100%;"> <title id="list-loader-4779">Loading indicator</title> <rect role="presentation" x="0" y="0" width="100%" height="100%" clip-path="url(#list-loader-clip-7976)" style="fill: url("/web/20211130174534im_/https://www2.texastribune.org/2021/11/22/texas-election-budget-surplus/#list-loader-gradient-2987");"></rect> <defs role="presentation"> <clippath id="list-loader-clip-7976"> <rect x="0" y="0" rx="3" ry="3" width="100%" height="10"></rect> <rect x="20" y="20" rx="3" ry="3" width="90%" height="10"></rect> <rect x="20" y="40" rx="3" ry="3" width="70%" height="10"></rect> <rect x="0" y="60" rx="3" ry="3" width="100%" height="10"></rect> <rect x="20" y="80" rx="3" ry="3" width="80%" height="10"></rect> <rect x="20" y="100" rx="3" ry="3" width="20%" height="10"></rect> </clippath> <lineargradient id="list-loader-gradient-2987"> <stop offset="0%" stop-color="#d0d0d0" stop-opacity="1"></stop> <stop offset="50%" stop-color="#d0d0d0" stop-opacity="1"></stop> <stop offset="100%" stop-color="#d0d0d0" stop-opacity="1"></stop> </lineargradient> </defs> </svg> <svg aria-labelledby="list-loader-4674" role="img" viewbox="0 0 400 130" style="max-width: 100%;"> <title id="list-loader-4674">Loading indicator</title> <rect role="presentation" x="0" y="0" width="100%" height="100%" clip-path="url(#list-loader-clip-5019)" style="fill: url("/web/20211130174534im_/https://www2.texastribune.org/2021/11/22/texas-election-budget-surplus/#list-loader-gradient-7709");"></rect> <defs role="presentation"> <clippath id="list-loader-clip-5019"> <rect x="0" y="0" rx="3" ry="3" width="100%" height="10"></rect> <rect x="20" y="20" rx="3" ry="3" width="90%" height="10"></rect> <rect x="20" y="40" rx="3" ry="3" width="70%" height="10"></rect> <rect x="0" y="60" rx="3" ry="3" width="100%" height="10"></rect> <rect x="20" y="80" rx="3" ry="3" width="80%" height="10"></rect> <rect x="20" y="100" rx="3" ry="3" width="20%" height="10"></rect> </clippath> <lineargradient id="list-loader-gradient-7709"> <stop offset="0%" stop-color="#d0d0d0" stop-opacity="1"></stop> <stop offset="50%" stop-color="#d0d0d0" stop-opacity="1"></stop> <stop offset="100%" stop-color="#d0d0d0" stop-opacity="1"></stop> </lineargradient> </defs> </svg> <svg aria-labelledby="list-loader-4906" role="img" viewbox="0 0 400 130" style="max-width: 100%;"> <title id="list-loader-4906">Loading indicator</title> <rect role="presentation" x="0" y="0" width="100%" height="100%" clip-path="url(#list-loader-clip-1379)" style="fill: url("/web/20211130174534im_/https://www2.texastribune.org/2021/11/22/texas-election-budget-surplus/#list-loader-gradient-6730");"></rect> <defs role="presentation"> <clippath id="list-loader-clip-1379"> <rect x="0" y="0" rx="3" ry="3" width="100%" height="10"></rect> <rect x="20" y="20" rx="3" ry="3" width="90%" height="10"></rect> <rect x="20" y="40" rx="3" ry="3" width="70%" height="10"></rect> <rect x="0" y="60" rx="3" ry="3" width="100%" height="10"></rect> <rect x="20" y="80" rx="3" ry="3" width="80%" height="10"></rect> <rect x="20" y="100" rx="3" ry="3" width="20%" height="10"></rect> </clippath> <lineargradient id="list-loader-gradient-6730"> <stop offset="0%" stop-color="#d0d0d0" stop-opacity="1"></stop> <stop offset="50%" stop-color="#d0d0d0" stop-opacity="1"></stop> <stop offset="100%" stop-color="#d0d0d0" stop-opacity="1"></stop> </lineargradient> </defs> </svg> <svg aria-labelledby="list-loader-8432" role="img" viewbox="0 0 400 130" style="max-width: 100%;"> <title id="list-loader-8432">Loading indicator</title> <rect role="presentation" x="0" y="0" width="100%" height="100%" clip-path="url(#list-loader-clip-4591)" style="fill: url("/web/20211130174534im_/https://www2.texastribune.org/2021/11/22/texas-election-budget-surplus/#list-loader-gradient-7297");"></rect> <defs role="presentation"> <clippath id="list-loader-clip-4591"> <rect x="0" y="0" rx="3" ry="3" width="100%" height="10"></rect> <rect x="20" y="20" rx="3" ry="3" width="90%" height="10"></rect> <rect x="20" y="40" rx="3" ry="3" width="70%" height="10"></rect> <rect x="0" y="60" rx="3" ry="3" width="100%" height="10"></rect> <rect x="20" y="80" rx="3" ry="3" width="80%" height="10"></rect> <rect x="20" y="100" rx="3" ry="3" width="20%" height="10"></rect> </clippath> <lineargradient id="list-loader-gradient-7297"> <stop offset="0%" stop-color="#d0d0d0" stop-opacity="1"></stop> <stop offset="50%" stop-color="#d0d0d0" stop-opacity="1"></stop> <stop offset="100%" stop-color="#d0d0d0" stop-opacity="1"></stop> </lineargradient> </defs> </svg> <svg aria-labelledby="list-loader-4725" role="img" viewbox="0 0 400 130" style="max-width: 100%;"> <title id="list-loader-4725">Loading indicator</title> <rect role="presentation" x="0" y="0" width="100%" height="100%" clip-path="url(#list-loader-clip-2164)" style="fill: url("/web/20211130174534im_/https://www2.texastribune.org/2021/11/22/texas-election-budget-surplus/#list-loader-gradient-7989");"></rect> <defs role="presentation"> <clippath id="list-loader-clip-2164"> <rect x="0" y="0" rx="3" ry="3" width="100%" height="10"></rect> <rect x="20" y="20" rx="3" ry="3" width="90%" height="10"></rect> <rect x="20" y="40" rx="3" ry="3" width="70%" height="10"></rect> <rect x="0" y="60" rx="3" ry="3" width="100%" height="10"></rect> <rect x="20" y="80" rx="3" ry="3" width="80%" height="10"></rect> <rect x="20" y="100" rx="3" ry="3" width="20%" height="10"></rect> </clippath> <lineargradient id="list-loader-gradient-7989"> <stop offset="0%" stop-color="#d0d0d0" stop-opacity="1"></stop> <stop offset="50%" stop-color="#d0d0d0" stop-opacity="1"></stop> <stop offset="100%" stop-color="#d0d0d0" stop-opacity="1"></stop> </lineargradient> </defs> </svg> <svg aria-labelledby="list-loader-2720" role="img" viewbox="0 0 400 130" style="max-width: 100%;"> <title id="list-loader-2720">Loading indicator</title> <rect role="presentation" x="0" y="0" width="100%" height="100%" clip-path="url(#list-loader-clip-8424)" style="fill: url("/web/20211130174534im_/https://www2.texastribune.org/2021/11/22/texas-election-budget-surplus/#list-loader-gradient-168");"></rect> <defs role="presentation"> <clippath id="list-loader-clip-8424"> <rect x="0" y="0" rx="3" ry="3" width="100%" height="10"></rect> <rect x="20" y="20" rx="3" ry="3" width="90%" height="10"></rect> <rect x="20" y="40" rx="3" ry="3" width="70%" height="10"></rect> <rect x="0" y="60" rx="3" ry="3" width="100%" height="10"></rect> <rect x="20" y="80" rx="3" ry="3" width="80%" height="10"></rect> <rect x="20" y="100" rx="3" ry="3" width="20%" height="10"></rect> </clippath> <lineargradient id="list-loader-gradient-168"> <stop offset="0%" stop-color="#d0d0d0" stop-opacity="1"></stop> <stop offset="50%" stop-color="#d0d0d0" stop-opacity="1"></stop> <stop offset="100%" stop-color="#d0d0d0" stop-opacity="1"></stop> </lineargradient> </defs> </svg> <svg aria-labelledby="list-loader-8771" role="img" viewbox="0 0 400 130" style="max-width: 100%;"> <title id="list-loader-8771">Loading indicator</title> <rect role="presentation" x="0" y="0" width="100%" height="100%" clip-path="url(#list-loader-clip-4960)" style="fill: url("/web/20211130174534im_/https://www2.texastribune.org/2021/11/22/texas-election-budget-surplus/#list-loader-gradient-5951");"></rect> <defs role="presentation"> <clippath id="list-loader-clip-4960"> <rect x="0" y="0" rx="3" ry="3" width="100%" height="10"></rect> <rect x="20" y="20" rx="3" ry="3" width="90%" height="10"></rect> <rect x="20" y="40" rx="3" ry="3" width="70%" height="10"></rect> <rect x="0" y="60" rx="3" ry="3" width="100%" height="10"></rect> <rect x="20" y="80" rx="3" ry="3" width="80%" height="10"></rect> <rect x="20" y="100" rx="3" ry="3" width="20%" height="10"></rect> </clippath> <lineargradient id="list-loader-gradient-5951"> <stop offset="0%" stop-color="#d0d0d0" stop-opacity="1"></stop> <stop offset="50%" stop-color="#d0d0d0" stop-opacity="1"></stop> <stop offset="100%" stop-color="#d0d0d0" stop-opacity="1"></stop> </lineargradient> </defs> </svg> <svg aria-labelledby="list-loader-740" role="img" viewbox="0 0 400 130" style="max-width: 100%;"> <title id="list-loader-740">Loading indicator</title> <rect role="presentation" x="0" y="0" width="100%" height="100%" clip-path="url(#list-loader-clip-5149)" style="fill: url("/web/20211130174534im_/https://www2.texastribune.org/2021/11/22/texas-election-budget-surplus/#list-loader-gradient-3274");"></rect> <defs role="presentation"> <clippath id="list-loader-clip-5149"> <rect x="0" y="0" rx="3" ry="3" width="100%" height="10"></rect> <rect x="20" y="20" rx="3" ry="3" width="90%" height="10"></rect> <rect x="20" y="40" rx="3" ry="3" width="70%" height="10"></rect> <rect x="0" y="60" rx="3" ry="3" width="100%" height="10"></rect> <rect x="20" y="80" rx="3" ry="3" width="80%" height="10"></rect> <rect x="20" y="100" rx="3" ry="3" width="20%" height="10"></rect> </clippath> <lineargradient id="list-loader-gradient-3274"> <stop offset="0%" stop-color="#d0d0d0" stop-opacity="1"></stop> <stop offset="50%" stop-color="#d0d0d0" stop-opacity="1"></stop> <stop offset="100%" stop-color="#d0d0d0" stop-opacity="1"></stop> </lineargradient> </defs> </svg> </div> </section> </div> </div> </div> </div> </aside> <div class="grid_separator has-giant-btm-marg"> <div id="ad-unit-5829" class="js-ad-unit"> <div class="c-ad-ldbd-then-cube"> <div class="c-ad-ldbd-then-cube__unit"></div> </div> </div> </div> <footer id="site_footer" class="c-site-footer has-bg-black-off has-text-white t-size-xs"> <div class="l-container grid_container c-site-footer__inner c-site-footer__inner--standard"> <div class="c-site-footer__col c-site-footer__col--1"> <span class="c-icon c-icon--yellow c-site-footer__logo has-giant-btm-marg" style="font-size: 4rem;"> <svg aria-hidden="true"><use xlink:href="/web/20211130174534im_/https://www2.texastribune.org/2021/11/22/texas-election-budget-surplus/#bug"></use></svg> </span> <div class="border--yellow_notch has-notch has-notch--thin has-bg-yellow has-b-btm-marg"></div> <ul class="c-site-footer__links c-site-footer__links--standard"> <li class="has-text-blue"> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534/https://support.texastribune.org/donate?installmentPeriod=once&amount=60" title="Donate" class="donate" ga-on="click" ga-event-category="donations" ga-event-action="membership-intent" ga-event-label="footer">Donate</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20211130174534/https://www2.texastribune.org/contact/" title="Contact Us" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="footer link click" ga-event-label="contact us">Contact Us</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534/https://mediakit.texastribune.org/" title="Advertise" class="advertise" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="footer link click" ga-event-label="advertise">Advertise</a> </li> <li><a href="/web/20211130174534/https://www2.texastribune.org/" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="footer link click" ga-event-label="copyright">© 2021 The Texas Tribune</a></li> </ul> </div> <section id="footer-sections" class="hide_until--m is-hidden-until-bp-m c-site-footer__col c-site-footer__col--2"> <h2 class="c-site-footer__header t-size-xs has-text-yellow t-uppercase has-xxs-btm-marg"> Topics </h2> <ul class="c-site-footer__links c-site-footer__links--standard"> <li> <a href="/web/20211130174534/https://www2.texastribune.org/topics/congress/" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="footer link click" ga-event-label="Congress"> Congress </a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20211130174534/https://www2.texastribune.org/topics/courts/" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="footer link click" ga-event-label="courts"> Courts </a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20211130174534/https://www2.texastribune.org/topics/criminal-justice/" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="footer link click" ga-event-label="criminal justice"> Criminal justice </a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20211130174534/https://www2.texastribune.org/topics/demographics/" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="footer link click" ga-event-label="demographics"> Demographics </a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20211130174534/https://www2.texastribune.org/topics/economy/" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="footer link click" ga-event-label="economy"> Economy </a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20211130174534/https://www2.texastribune.org/topics/energy/" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="footer link click" ga-event-label="energy"> Energy </a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20211130174534/https://www2.texastribune.org/topics/environment/" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="footer link click" ga-event-label="environment"> Environment </a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20211130174534/https://www2.texastribune.org/topics/health-care/" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="footer link click" ga-event-label="health care"> Health care </a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20211130174534/https://www2.texastribune.org/topics/higher-education/" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="footer link click" ga-event-label="higher education"> Higher education </a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20211130174534/https://www2.texastribune.org/topics/immigration/" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="footer link click" ga-event-label="immigration"> Immigration </a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20211130174534/https://www2.texastribune.org/topics/politics/" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="footer link click" ga-event-label="politics"> Politics </a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20211130174534/https://www2.texastribune.org/topics/public-education/" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="footer link click" ga-event-label="public education"> Public education </a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20211130174534/https://www2.texastribune.org/topics/state-government/" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="footer link click" ga-event-label="state government"> State government </a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20211130174534/https://www2.texastribune.org/topics/transportation/" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="footer link click" ga-event-label="transportation"> Transportation </a> </li> <li><a href="/web/20211130174534/https://www2.texastribune.org/topics/" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="footer link click" ga-event-label="topics">View all</a></li> </ul> </section> <section class="c-site-footer__col c-site-footer__col--3"> <h2 class="c-site-footer__header t-size-xs has-text-yellow t-uppercase has-xxs-btm-marg"><span class="is-sr-only">Company </span>Info</h2> <ul class="c-site-footer__links c-site-footer__links--standard"> <li> <a href="/web/20211130174534/https://www2.texastribune.org/about/" title="About Us" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="footer link click" ga-event-label="about us">About Us</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20211130174534/https://www2.texastribune.org/about/staff/" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="footer link click" ga-event-label="our staff">Our Staff</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20211130174534/https://www2.texastribune.org/jobs/" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="footer link click" ga-event-label="jobs">Jobs</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20211130174534/https://www2.texastribune.org/support-us/donors-and-members/" title="Who Funds Us?" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="footer link click" ga-event-label="who funds us">Who Funds Us?</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20211130174534/https://www2.texastribune.org/about/texas-tribune-strategic-plan/" title="Strategic Plan" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="footer link click" ga-event-label="strategic plan">Strategic Plan</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20211130174534/https://www2.texastribune.org/republishing-guidelines/" title="Republishing Guidelines" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="footer link click" ga-event-label="republishing guidelines">Republishing Guidelines</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20211130174534/https://www2.texastribune.org/about/ethics/" title="Code of Ethics" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="footer link click" ga-event-label="code of ethics">Code of Ethics</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20211130174534/https://www2.texastribune.org/about/terms-of-service/" title="Terms of Service" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="footer link click" ga-event-label="terms of service">Terms of Service</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20211130174534/https://www2.texastribune.org/about/privacy-policy/" title="Privacy Policy" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="footer link click" ga-event-label="privacy policy">Privacy Policy</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20211130174534/https://www2.texastribune.org/about/tips/" title="Send a Tip" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="footer link click" ga-event-label="send us a confidential tip">Send us a confidential tip</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20211130174534/https://www2.texastribune.org/corrections/" title="Corrections" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="footer link click" ga-event-label="corrections">Corrections</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20211130174534/https://www2.texastribune.org/about/feeds/" title="Feeds" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="footer link click" ga-event-label="feeds">Feeds</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20211130174534/https://www2.texastribune.org/about/subscribe/" title="Newsletters" ga-event-category="subscribe intent" ga-event-action="footer link">Newsletters</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20211130174534/https://www2.texastribune.org/audio/" title="Audio" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="footer link click" ga-event-label="audio">Audio</a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20211130174534/https://www2.texastribune.org/video/" title="Video" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="footer link click" ga-event-label="video">Video</a> </li> </ul> </section> <section class="c-site-footer__col c-site-footer__col--4"> <h2 class="c-site-footer__header t-size-xs has-text-yellow t-uppercase has-xxs-btm-marg">Social Media</h2> <ul class="c-site-footer__links c-site-footer__links--standard"> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534/https://facebook.com/texastribune" title="Facebook" class="external" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="footer link click" ga-event-label="facebook"><span class="c-icon c-icon--baseline c-site-footer__icon"><svg aria-hidden="true"><use xlink:href="/web/20211130174534im_/https://www2.texastribune.org/2021/11/22/texas-election-budget-surplus/#facebook"></use></svg></span> Facebook</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534/https://twitter.com/texastribune" title="Twitter" class="external" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="footer link click" ga-event-label="twitter"><span class="c-icon c-icon--baseline c-site-footer__icon"><svg aria-hidden="true"><use xlink:href="/web/20211130174534im_/https://www2.texastribune.org/2021/11/22/texas-election-budget-surplus/#twitter"></use></svg></span> Twitter</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534/https://youtube.com/user/thetexastribune?sub_confirmation=1" title="YouTube" class="external" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="footer link click" ga-event-label="youtube"><span class="c-icon c-icon--baseline c-site-footer__icon"><svg aria-hidden="true"><use xlink:href="/web/20211130174534im_/https://www2.texastribune.org/2021/11/22/texas-election-budget-surplus/#youtube"></use></svg></span> YouTube</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534/https://instagram.com/texas_tribune" title="Instagram" class="external" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="footer link click" ga-event-label="instagram"><span class="c-icon c-icon--baseline c-site-footer__icon"><svg aria-hidden="true"><use xlink:href="/web/20211130174534im_/https://www2.texastribune.org/2021/11/22/texas-election-budget-surplus/#instagram"></use></svg></span> Instagram</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534/https://www.linkedin.com/company/texas-tribune" title="LinkedIn" class="external" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="footer link click" ga-event-label="linkedin"><span class="c-icon c-icon--baseline c-site-footer__icon"><svg aria-hidden="true"><use xlink:href="/web/20211130174534im_/https://www2.texastribune.org/2021/11/22/texas-election-budget-surplus/#linkedin"></use></svg></span> LinkedIn</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534/https://www.reddit.com/user/texastribune" title="Reddit" class="external has-xxs-btm-marg l-display-ib" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="footer link click" ga-event-label="reddit"><span class="c-icon c-icon--baseline c-site-footer__icon"><svg aria-hidden="true"><use xlink:href="/web/20211130174534im_/https://www2.texastribune.org/2021/11/22/texas-election-budget-surplus/#reddit"></use></svg></span> Reddit</a> </li> <li><div class="border--yellow_notch has-notch has-notch--thin has-bg-yellow has-s-btm-marg"></div></li> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534/https://www.facebook.com/groups/thisisyourtexas/" title="This is Your Texas" class="external" ga-event-category="navigation" ga-event-action="footer link click" ga-event-label="this is your texas"><span class="c-icon c-icon--baseline c-site-footer__icon"><svg aria-hidden="true"><use xlink:href="/web/20211130174534im_/https://www2.texastribune.org/2021/11/22/texas-election-budget-surplus/#your-texas"></use></svg></span> Join our Facebook Group, This Is Your Texas.</a> </li> </ul> </section> </div> <div class="flatblock block-message-bar-here"> <div class="flatblock-content"><style> .db-bar-frame{ font-family: "Open Sans","Helvetica Neue",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; width:100%; z-index:2; } .db-height-tracker { visibility:visible; will-change:transition; } .db-height-tracker.animation-top { max-height:500px; transition:margin-top .3s ease-in-out 0ms; } .js .db-frame-pinned { display:block; position:fixed; left:0; max-height:0; overflow:hidden; width:100%; z-index:4; zoom:1; } .db-frame-pinned.top { top:0; } .db-frame-pinned.top.opened { max-height:500px; } .db-frame-pinned.top.opened.animation-top { animation:.3s ease-in-out 0s slideInFromTop; } .db-frame-pinned.bottom { bottom:0; } .db-frame-pinned.bottom.opened { max-height:500px; } .db-frame-pinned.bottom.opened.animation-bottom { animation:.3s ease-in-out 0s slideInFromBottom; } .db-cancel-button { background-color:inherit; border-width:0; box-shadow:none; cursor:pointer; font-size:2em; font-weight:normal; line-height:.75em; margin-left: 15px; opacity:.75; padding:5px; position:absolute; right:5px; text-align:right; text-decoration:none; width:25px; z-index:1; } .db-cancel-button:focus { font-weight:normal; opacity:1; outline:0; } .db-engage-button { box-shadow:none; display:inline-block; margin-right: 1em; white-space:nowrap; z-index:2; } .db-engage-button p { margin:.2em .8em; } .db-flex-wrap { padding:7px 5px 7px 5px; } @media (min-width:768px){ .db-flex-wrap { align-items:center; clear:both; display:flex; flex-wrap:wrap; justify-content:center; margin:0; } .db-engage-button { margin-top:0; } } .db-col-inline { flex:0 1 auto; letter-spacing:.2em; margin:5px 15px 5px 15px; vertical-align: middle; z-index:1 } .db-col-inline a { border-bottom:1px solid #a1d2df; color: inherit; text-decoration: none; } @keyframes slideInFromTop { 0% { transform:translateY(-100%); -webkit-transform:translateY(-100%); } 100% { transform:translateY(0); -webkit-transform:translateY(0); } } @-webkit-keyframes slideInFromTop { 0% { transform:translateY(-100%); -webkit-transform:translateY(-100%); } 100% { transform:translateY(0); -webkit-transform:translateY(0); } } @keyframes slideInFromBottom { 0% { opacity:.25; transform:translateY(100%); -webkit-transform:translateY(100%); } 100% { opacity:1; } } @-webkit-keyframes slideInFromBottom { 0% { opacity:.25; transform:translateY(100%); -webkit-transform:translateY(100%); } 100% { opacity:1; } } </style> <style> .template-bar-frame{ background-color:#348094; } .template-cancel-button{ color:#FFFFFF; } .template-flex-wrap{ padding:12px; text-align:center; } .template-col-inline{ color:#FFFFFF; font-size:18px; letter-spacing:0.02em; text-transform:none; font-weight:bold; line-height: 1.5em; } .template-col-inline a{ } .template-col-inline span { font-family: "Open Sans","Helvetica Neue",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; text-transform:uppercase; } .template-engage-button{ align-items:center; background-color:#A1D2DF; border-radius:0; border-width:0; text-decoration:none; } .template-engage-button p{ color:#000000; font-size:13px; font-weight:bold; letter-spacing:0.04em; padding:.3em; text-transform:uppercase; vertical-align:middle; } </style> <script> (function (document, window) { const TOOL_PREVIEW_ON=true; const msgBarLoader=function (el, cfg){ "use strict"; var elBnr, elVertSpace, sets, elHTML=document.documentElement, barOpen; const VSPC_DIV_ID='vert-spacer'; const ANIM_SEEN_CKIE ='mb_animation_seen=true'; const ANIM_SEEN_WB_STORE ='mb_animation_seen'; const UI_USE_CKIE='ck'; const UI_USE_WBSTORE='ws'; const ANIM_ONCE='once'; const ANIM_ALWAYS='always'; const PIN_BOTTOM ='bottom'; const PIN_TOP ='top'; const PIN_PLATFORM='platform'; const PIN_PLATFORM_BRKPOINT=768; const COOKIE_NAME='_tt_msgbar='; const dataLayer=window.dataLayer || []; const CANCEL_ELEMENT_ID='cancel-click'; const ENGAGE_ELEMENT_ID='engage-click'; const DB_TEMPLATE_LITERAL = `<div id="${cfg.mbId}" class="db-bar-frame template-bar-frame" > <button class="db-cancel-button template-cancel-button"> \t× </button> <div class="db-flex-wrap template-flex-wrap"> <h4 class="db-col-inline template-col-inline"> <span class="">${cfg.barPrefixText}</span>${cfg.mbBarTextFinalEncode} </h4> <a id=${ENGAGE_ELEMENT_ID} href="${cfg.btnURL}" class="db-engage-button template-engage-button" ga-event-category="${cfg.mbGAEvtCat}" ga-event-action="${cfg.mbGAEvtAct}"> <p>${cfg.btnText}</p> </a> </div> </div>`; const storeUIState=function(type) { var store; try { store=window[type]; var x='__storage_test__'; store.setItem(x, x); store.removeItem(x); return { tempStorage: UI_USE_WBSTORE, seen: function () { if (sessionStorage.getItem(ANIM_SEEN_WB_STORE)) { return true; } else { return false; } }, setSeen: function() { sessionStorage.setItem(ANIM_SEEN_WB_STORE, true) } }; } catch (e) { return { tempStorage: UI_USE_CKIE, seen: function () { if (document.cookie.indexOf(ANIM_SEEN_CKIE) == -1) { return false; } else { return true; } }, setSeen: function () { document.cookie=ANIM_SEEN_CKIE + '; expires=0; path=/;'; } }; } }; function pinBasedOnPlatform(choice) { switch (choice) { case PIN_TOP: case PIN_BOTTOM: return choice; case PIN_PLATFORM: if (window.innerWidth < PIN_PLATFORM_BRKPOINT) { return PIN_BOTTOM; } else { return PIN_TOP; } default: return PIN_TOP; } } var addEvent=function (el, evt, fn, bubble) { if ("addEventListener" in el) { el.addEventListener(evt, fn, bubble); } else if ("attachEvent" in el) { if (typeof fn === "object" && fn.handleEvent) { el.attachEvent("on" + evt, function () { fn.handleEvent.call(fn); }); } else { el.attachEvent("on" + evt, fn); } } }, setAttributes=function (el, attrs) { for (var key in attrs) { el.setAttribute(key, attrs[key]); } }, addClass=function (el, cls) { if (el.className.indexOf(cls) !== 0) { el.className += " " + cls; el.className=el.className.replace(/(^\s*)|(\s*$)/g,""); } }, removeClass=function (el, cls) { var reg=new RegExp("(\\s|^)" + cls + "(\\s|$)"); el.className=el.className.replace(reg, " ").replace(/(^\s*)|(\s*$)/g,""); }, forEach=function (array, callback, scope) { for (var i=0; i < array.length; i++) { callback.call(scope, i, array[i]); } }; const addAnimClass=function(elBnr, pinnedTo, elSpacing) { addClass(elBnr, "animation-" + pinnedTo); addClass(elVertSpace,"animation-"+pinnedTo); elSpacing.style.cssText=`margin-top: 0 ${elBnr.offsetHeight}px;`; }; const removeAnimClass=function(elBnr, pinnedTo, elSpacing) { removeClass(elBnr, "animation-" + pinnedTo); removeClass(elVertSpace,"animation-"+pinnedTo); elSpacing.style.cssText=`margin-top: 0 ${elBnr.offsetHeight}px;`; }; const MsgBarControl=function (el, cfg) { this.cfg={ UIStateVal: storeUIState('sessionStorage'), openPos: "relative", animate: cfg.barAnimate, barPin: pinBasedOnPlatform(cfg.barPinTo), barClass: "db-frame-pinned " + pinBasedOnPlatform(cfg.barPinTo), barActiveClass: "js-bar-active", jsClass: "js", close: function(){}, }; for (let i in cfg) { this.cfg[i]=cfg[i]; } addClass(elHTML, this.cfg.jsClass); this.wrapper=document.getElementById("body"); sets=this.cfg; this.el=el.replace("#", ""); this._init(this); }; MsgBarControl.prototype={ setCookie: function (){ const endDate=new Date(cfg.mbEndDatetimeEncoded).toUTCString(); document.cookie=COOKIE_NAME+cfg.mbCookie+'; expires='+endDate+'; path=/;isSession=false;'; }, engage: function () { this.close(); }, cancel: function () { dataLayer.push({ event: cfg.mbGADLPushEvent, gaAction: cfg.mbGADLPushCloseAction, }); this.close(); }, close: function () { if (barOpen) { removeClass(elBnr, "opened"); addClass(elBnr, "closed"); setAttributes(elBnr, {"aria-hidden": "true"}); } else { elBnr.style.position="absolute"; } barOpen=false; this.resize(); this.setCookie(); sets.close(); }, resize: function () { if (window.getComputedStyle(elBnr, null).getPropertyValue("display") !== "none") { removeClass(elVertSpace,"animation-top" ); this._transitions(); setAttributes(elBnr, {"aria-hidden": "false"}); if (elBnr.className.match(/(^|\s)closed(\s|$)/)) { setAttributes(elBnr, {"aria-hidden": "true"}); elBnr.style.position="absolute"; } this._calcHeight(); } }, handleEvent: function (e) { var evt=e || window.event; switch (evt.type) { case "resize": this.resize(evt); break; case "focus": case "click": break; } }, _init: function () { let elExists=document.querySelector(this.el+'.db-frame-pinned'); if (!elExists){ elBnr=document.createElement(this.el); } else { elExists.nextSibling.remove(); elExists.remove(); elBnr=document.createElement(this.el); } document.body.insertBefore(elBnr, document.body.firstChild); elBnr.innerHTML=DB_TEMPLATE_LITERAL; addClass(elBnr, sets.barClass); addClass(elBnr, "opened"); setAttributes(elBnr, {"aria-hidden": "false"}); elVertSpace=document.createElement("div"); elVertSpace.setAttribute("id", VSPC_DIV_ID); addClass(elVertSpace, "db-height-tracker "); elBnr.parentNode.insertBefore(elVertSpace, elBnr.nextSibling); barOpen=true; addEvent(window, "focus", this, false); addEvent(window, "resize", this, false); addEvent(elBnr, "click", this, false); this._closeOnClick(); this.resize(); }, _closeOnClick: function () { let cancelActionEls=elBnr.getElementsByClassName("db-cancel-button"); let thisCancel=this; forEach(cancelActionEls, function (i) { addEvent(cancelActionEls[i], "click", function () { thisCancel.cancel(); }, false); }, this ); let links=elBnr.getElementsByTagName("a"); let thisLink=this; forEach(links, function (i) { addEvent(links[i], "click", function () { thisLink.engage(links[i].getAttribute("href")); }, true); }, this ); }, _transitions: function () { switch (sets.animate) { case ANIM_ONCE: if (!sets.UIStateVal.seen()) { sets.UIStateVal.setSeen(); addAnimClass(elBnr, sets.barPin, elVertSpace); } else { removeAnimClass(elBnr, sets.barPin, elVertSpace); } break; case ANIM_ALWAYS: if (!elBnr.classList.contains("animation-top") && !elBnr.classList.contains("animation-bottom")){ addAnimClass(elBnr, sets.barPin, elVertSpace); } break; default: removeAnimClass(elBnr, sets.barPin, elVertSpace); break; } }, _calcHeight: function () { if (sets.barPin === PIN_TOP) { elVertSpace.style.marginTop=elBnr.offsetHeight+"px"; } } }; return new MsgBarControl(el, cfg); }; function launchIfCampaignActive(cfg){ let nowDateTimeObj=new Date(); if ( ((Date.parse(cfg.mbStartDatetimeEncoded) <= nowDateTimeObj) & (nowDateTimeObj <= Date.parse(cfg.mbEndDatetimeEncoded) ) & (document.cookie.indexOf(cfg.mbCookie)== -1) )){ msgBarLoader("aside", cfg); } } const cfg={ styleTemplate:'Membership', mbSimulcast:'No', barPrefixText:'', btnText:'Donate', btnURL:'https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534/https://support.texastribune.org/donate?installmentPeriod=once&amount=60&campaignID=7016f0000023JsJAAU', barAnimate:'always', barPinTo:'platform', mbCookie:'giving-tuesday-2021', mbId:'message-bar-id', mbGAEvtCat:'message bar', mbGAEvtAct:'cta', mbGADLPushCloseAction:'close', mbGADLPushEvent:'customMessageBar', mbMobileOnly:'No', mbDesktopOnly:'No', mbStartDatetimeEncoded:'2021/11/30 06:00', mbEndDatetimeEncoded:'2021/11/30 23:00', mbBarTextFinalEncode:'This #GivingTuesday, help us unlock $30,000 in matching funds. Donate now to double your impact.', MB_VERSION:1638222750936}; launchIfCampaignActive(cfg); if (typeof module !== "undefined" && module.exports) { module.exports=msgBarLoader; } else { window.msgBarLoader=msgBarLoader; } }(document, window, 0)); </script></div> </div> </footer> <script defer src="/web/20211130174534js_/https://www2.texastribune.org/static/build/runtime.1f3b6efc36fc4b5f3e29.js"></script> <script defer src="/web/20211130174534js_/https://www2.texastribune.org/static/build/2.chunk.2432d684ff8751acf671.js"></script> <script defer src="/web/20211130174534js_/https://www2.texastribune.org/static/build/4.chunk.3a07325ff3221cc60c8a.js"></script> <script defer src="/web/20211130174534js_/https://www2.texastribune.org/static/build/content.chunk.1070f2265aea450f8ce2.js"></script> <div id="parsely-root" style="display: none"> <div id="parsely-cfg" data-parsely-site="texastribune.org"></div> </div> <script> (function(s, p, d) { var h=d.location.protocol, i=p+"-"+s, e=d.getElementById(i), r=d.getElementById(p+"-root"), u=h==="https:"?"d1z2jf7jlzjs58.cloudfront.net" :"static."+p+".com"; if (e) return; e = d.createElement(s); e.id = i; e.async = true; e.src = h+"//"+u+"/p.js"; r.appendChild(e); })("script", "parsely", document); </script> <a href="/web/20211130174534/https://www2.texastribune.org/test/hotbots/" aria-hidden="true" rel="nofollow" tabindex="-1"> </a> <script> (function() { var gutenTags = [], authors = [], series = []; gutenTags.push('subject-economy'); gutenTags.push('subject-health-care'); gutenTags.push('subject-law-enforcement'); gutenTags.push('subject-politics'); gutenTags.push('subject-public-education'); gutenTags.push('subject-state-government'); gutenTags.push('subject-transportation'); series.push('texas-2022-election-voting'); authors.push('ross-ramsey'); var updates = { contentId: 39361, authors: authors, pageType: 'article', gutenTags: gutenTags, series: series }; Object.keys(updates).forEach(function(key) { window.ttGlobal[key] = updates[key]; }); }()); </script> <script> window.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', function() { jsBundle.buildGreeting(); jsBundle.buildAdUnit({ selectorSuffix: '7427', slot: 'roofline', collapseOnFail: true }); jsBundle.buildCopyLink({ ariaLabel: 'Copy link to this page', ga: { label: 'Share Button Row' }, isMinimal: false, selectorSuffix: '3340', urlPath: '/2021/11/22/texas\u002Delection\u002Dbudget\u002Dsurplus/?utm_source\u003Darticleshare\u0026utm_medium\u003Dsocial' }); jsBundle.buildAudio({ selectorSuffix: '2253415', settings: { name: 'Unconventional Wisdom - November 22, 2021', artist: ' ', url: 'https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/a363e9fd9d051908f9454641d2b387d0/20211122-budget.mp3' } }); jsBundle.buildAdUnit({ selectorSuffix: '4251', slot: 'flex', collapseOnFail: true }); jsBundle.buildSignUp({ interestId: '20c921ee0a', selectorSuffix: '2326', isAuto: true, logoUrl: 'https://web.archive.org/web/20211130174534/https://static.texastribune.org/media/newsletters/TT-subscription-email-notification.jpg', title: 'The Brief', description: 'Keep tabs on Texas politics and policy with our morning newsletter', display: { isVertical: false, bgColor: '#ffffff', }, gaLabel: "story page" }); jsBundle.buildAdUnit({ selectorSuffix: '1301', slot: 'flex', collapseOnFail: true }); jsBundle.buildAdUnit({ selectorSuffix: '6739', slot: 'paidPost', collapseOnFail: true }); jsBundle.buildRug({ featuredType: 'UpcomingEvents', ga: { label: 'story page' } }); jsBundle.buildAdUnit({ selectorSuffix: '5829', slot: 'footer', collapseOnFail: true }); jsBundle.buildLazyImages(); jsBundle.makeVidsResponsive(); }); </script> </body> </html>