In Session, In-Depth: Budget and water

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Texas Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples said tapping the state's Rainy Day Fund to help pay for water needs is a legitimate use for the the state's savings account.

Staples, a Republican who is eyeing a run for lieutenant governor in 2014, also said more could be done to conserve the use of water across the state.

Past editions of In Session, In-Depth

• First: Previewing the 2013 session
• Special: Gov. Perry talks with KXAN
• Insiders' view of the players

"Water that is conserved is the cheapest water that's available to us," Staples said on Sunday's edition of "In Session, In-Depth," KXAN's Sunday program devoted to coverage of the 2013 legislative session. "But we need to understand that conservation alone" won't solve Texas' water needs.

The program also featured a recap of Week 2 of the session, including the introduction of two separate lean state budget proposals -- one from the House and one from the Senate.

Watch the program, cut into three segments, by clicking on the video box above. Also watch the roundtable discussion between KXAN's Josh Hinkle and his panel -- Ross Ramsey of the Texas Tribune, Peggy Fikac of the San Antonio Express News and Karen Brooks of the Dallas Morning News.