Lawmakers seek to control elements of state spending

Debates over the Texas House and Senate versions of the state budget lie ahead, and movement toward setting budget controls to blend into a final, agreedupon budget for 2016-2017 emerged in low-numbered  bills filed last week.  B 20 by Senate Finance Chair Jane Nelson, RGrapevine,  would strengthen state agency contract  reporting requirements, require  agency heads to sign off on contracts worth more  than $1 million and require agencies to post a list of all contracts on their state website,  according to a reportposted by the Senate’s inhouse  news service. “These contracts are paid for with  taxpayer dollars,” Nelsonsaid. “We must ensure that  they are awarded with thehighest degree of ethics and  transparency.” Nelson saidher committee would vote on SB 20 this week. 

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