Beginning September 1, there will be no pay for the Texas legislature. Gov. Greg Abbott’s unprecedented veto is prompting questions about the separation of powers in the state. As state Democrats explore legal options to fight back against Abbott’s retaliatory move, some legislative staffers are on edge.

Fresh off the defeat of two of his legislative priorities Sunday night when Democrats abandoned the Texas House to block a sweeping elections bill, Gov. Greg Abbott flexed his executive muscle Monday — vowing to defund a co-equal branch of government while raising questions about the separation of powers in Texas.

Across the chamber, skeptical lawmakers from both parties lined up to ask Murphy about his legislation. They offered amendments that stripped away its new business-friendly provisions and even proposed letting voters approve each tax break — a move that was unheard of in the history of Chapter 313, which is named after its place in…

Texas’ largest corporate tax incentive program is at risk of expiring after state lawmakers missed a critical deadline and failed to advance a bill that would have extended the $10 billion program for another two years.

Chapter 313 economic development agreements attract jobs and investment to Texas, make money for the state and grow school districts’ tax bases. This reality runs contrary to pervasive and persistent myths about the program, which assert school districts that enter into Chapter 313 agreements must be “subsidized” by the state. Misrepresentations about this program hurt…