Southwest

Ten Texas financial advisors with Southwest Securities jumped to Samco Capital Markets after SWS was acquired by Hilltop Holdings Inc., the parent firm of First Southwest Co.

Sticking to his plan to cut income taxes, Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback is proposing higher taxes on alcohol and tobacco to cover a shortfall of more than $700 million over the current and coming fiscal years.

After a record year of debt issuance, the Texas Transportation Commission expects a significant reduction in borrowing costs for its Central Texas Tollway System as it issues $1.8 billion of refunding bonds.

In a farewell speech to the Texas Legislature that some saw as a prelude to another presidential campaign, Gov. Rick Perry highlighted his accomplishments after a record 14 years in office but did not mention prospects for a weakening economy.

The Texas economy will continue to grow in 2015 but at a slower pace than the past year, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.

Beginning his second term, Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper described his personal struggles and those of the state over the past four years while promising progress on water, transportation and environmental fronts.

In his first state-of-the-state address Gov. Doug Ducey promised to work with legislators to cover a $1 billion budget deficit but said he was "not persuaded by appeals to raise taxes so we can spend more."

Utah should have $14 billion to apply to its fiscal year 2016 budget, according to Gov. Gary Herbert. That represents a 5.3% increase from the current spending plan.

Local governments and school districts in the major oil and gas producing regions of Texas could suffer economically if the price of crude remains at its current lows, according to Fitch Ratings.

New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez proposed a $6.29 billion budget that would increase spending by 2.3% in the coming fiscal year.