The Brief: Top Texas News for March 1, 2011

by David Muto
March 1, 2011
19 Comments

THE BIG CONVERSATION:

Gov. Rick Perry, on a visit to the White House, swatted down a health care olive branch on Monday.

President Barack Obama, speaking to a bipartisan group of governors, announced that he would grant states leeway by letting them propose their own health care plans by 2014, three years sooner than the current law stipulates.

But Obama warned the governors that states would still be required to cover just as many people and, in a nod to labor disputes raging in the Midwest, said the burden shouldn't be passed to public-sector workers. "I don't think ...

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Comments (19)

March 1, 2011 @ 8:18 a.m.

Dave MacDonald via Texas Tribune on Facebook

All but the very rich are at increasing risk due to this governor.
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March 1, 2011 @ 8:32 a.m.

Anonymous User via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Even the very rich are at risk; the kind of broad social collapse he and his "friends" are hell-bent to create isn't going to benefit ANYONE.
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March 1, 2011 @ 8:37 a.m.

Marcey Casey via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Perry has no interest in anything other than being President of the US. Too bad, he doesn't know how to act like one.
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March 1, 2011 @ 8:44 a.m.

Joe Estep via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Any of you 3 above know where to get the money for this ? I`m sure Gov. Godd Hair would like to know too.
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March 1, 2011 @ 8:53 a.m.

Tom Erickson via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Um, your budget is already crushed, thanks to your 2006 decrease in property taxes that started costing the state $5 billion a year in revenue as spending steadily increased.
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March 1, 2011 @ 9:03 a.m.

Karen Cardwell Diller via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Perry won't be satisfied until the train called Texas goes over the cliff, and we're heading that way at 200 mph.
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March 1, 2011 @ 9:41 a.m.

Karen Shellberg Herbert via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Joe, it's called the Rainy Day Fund. It has $9M just sitting there waiting to be used. It's self-replenishing. But the TX GOP won't touch it.
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March 1, 2011 @ 9:47 a.m.

Mary Lynn VanZandt Neill via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Swat or shoot??
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March 1, 2011 @ 9:49 a.m.

Marc Lippincott via Texas Tribune on Facebook

I thought the quote was about Perry, to be honest. The resetting of the clock was done by taking federal stimulus whilst telling everyone that it was bad to take federal stimulus. Pot, meet kettle, Mr. Perry.
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March 1, 2011 @ 9:50 a.m.

Joe Estep via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Karen, this money in the Rainy Day fund just refills out of a magic hat everytime it is spent? Wow, how cool is that! I thought it from money we paid in taxes. It really doesn`t matter, the HC law is going to die in the courts.
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March 1, 2011 @ 10:03 a.m.

Dale Curry

PERRY CONTINUES TO PLAY POLITICS AS OPPOSED TO LEADING. NO SURPRISE THERE. THERE WAS ONE STATEMENT THAT CAUGHT MY EYE, "PERRY WAS UNDERWHELMED"

WELL RICKY, NOW YOU KNOW HOW WE FEEL EVERYTIME YOU OPEN YOUR BIGOTED T-BAGGIN MOUTH!
March 1, 2011 @ 10:16 a.m.

Anna Garza Franklin via Texas Tribune on Facebook

If this isn't a "Rainy Day" I don't know what is! Use the darn Rainy Day money Perry! Our children need their education and our state can't afford more unemployed.
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March 1, 2011 @ 10:42 a.m.

Marcey Casey via Texas Tribune on Facebook

There is an online petition that will send a letter to your elected state reps to use the rainy day fund. Maybe if they here from enough people.

http://www.change.org/petitions/use-the-rainy-day-fund-to-save-texas-education-and-health-care
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March 1, 2011 @ 11:06 a.m.

Chris Thornton via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Obamacare has been ruled unconstitutional, i.e. null and void, so this is a moot point anyway. States can, and are, legally ignoring the mandates of Obamacare. This governor meeting was unnecessary. A waste of time,and a waste of money discussing an unconstitutional law that cannot be legally enforced.
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March 1, 2011 @ 11:28 a.m.

Robert Moorhead via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Hope you got your healthcare taken care of Chris...
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March 1, 2011 @ 12:52 p.m.

Stephen J Wright via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Karen-I'm with you, but a quick correction: The RDF has $9 BILLION. :)

Chris-far from the truth. Last time I checked, four federal judges had ruled on the constitutionality of the health care law. Three of those upheld it as constitutional, while only one ruled it unconstitutional. All have been appealed and this will end up at the Supreme Court. Also, about a dozen judges tossed the case stating that the plaintiffs had no standing to sue.
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March 1, 2011 @ 1:45 p.m.

Paul Theobald via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Is the headline quote something Rick Perry said about himself in the third person? Cuz that would actually make a whole lot of sense....
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March 1, 2011 @ 1:50 p.m.

Karen Cummings

Chris,

Where do you get your info?

http://thinkprogress.org/2011/02/23/kessler-aca/

http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/Daily-Reports/2011/February/23/latest-court-ruling.aspx
March 1, 2011 @ 4:03 p.m.

Cynthia Griffin via Texas Tribune on Facebook

The 2014 date change was suggested by states that are actually well on their way to cost cutting/delivery reform/broadening access so they can succeed putting a firm foundation of health in place for their citizens by their own designs. Perry's blustering continues to cover his lack of a plan for Texas. He is an immoral empty suit who damages Texas and Texans.
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