Leading Off (7/12/10)

1. Well, that Cowboys Stadium deal didn’t turn out too horribly for the city of Arlington after all. Looks like the tax revenue generated by the project is exceeding projections, and the city is going to be able to pay down its bond debt earlier than expected. Has the statute of limitations on groaning about Laura Miller and losing the ‘Boys to the ‘burbs officially expired?

2. Both sides of the wet/dry fight brewing over a referendum to expand beer and wine sale in Dallas have hired economists to throw numbers around about the potential impact alcohol sales would have on city sales tax revenue. It basically breaks down to this: supporters of the expanding sales say the city will make more money. Opponents of the sale say that businesses benefiting from the status quo will be hurt. And I say, who cares about economics? It is just silly there are wet and dry areas.

3. Looking to trim the state budget, Texas legislators decided on a 1 percent cut in funding to Medicaid, which is now prompting Texas doctors to consider opting out of the medical program. It’s great timing too, considering the new health care overhaul is estimated to add 1.5 million Texans to Medicaid by 2015.

4. If you asked me who owned the Texas Rangers right now, I don’t think I could tell you. So I’m not sure who is happy about the spike in ticket sales after signing of Cliff Lee. I’m sure someone’s happy.