Texas medical schools feel like the scorned children of the state’s education budget. Lost amid the pleas of parents to restore funding for public education, and the demands of college students to preserve financial aid, the state’s health care institutions say few seem to understand the drastic situation they face.
May 2011
Posted in
Politics
With Clock Ticking, Congressional Redistricting Set to Begin
The legislative session ends in less than two weeks, and lawmakers won’t take up a bill to redraw the state’s congressional districts until later this week. Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune reports on how the delay could affect how the new lines are drawn.
Posted in
Economy
Budget Leaders: It’s Up to the House
If the House doesn’t pass legislation that adds $2.6 billion to state revenue with a mix of delayed payments, increased penalties, government efficiencies and the like, the state budget won’t balance and a special session will probably be required, House and Senate leaders said today.
Posted in
Energy
With Vote, Texas Moves Closer to Expanded Nuclear Waste Dump
The House gave preliminary approval today to a bill that will give more flexibility to an operator at a planned West Texas disposal site for low-level radioactive waste. An effort to curb the company’s potential profits failed.
Posted in
State Government
House Gives Final OK to “Pork Chopper” Bill
The Texas House gave a final OK today to the “pork chopper” bill and sent it off to the governor’s office. The bill would allow licensed hunters to hire helicopters and contract with landowners to shoot feral hogs and coyotes on their property from the sky.
Posted in
Politics
Budget Writers Agree to First Texas Prison Closure
Lawmakers working on a final version of the state’s two-year budget have agreed to close down a Texas prison for the first time in the state’s history, according to a report from the Texas Public Policy Foundation.
Posted in
State Government
Update: Senate Approves Redistricting Maps
The Texas Senate approved new political districts that protect all of the Republicans and all but one of the Democratic incumbents in that body and, after a delay, gave tentative approval to a House map already approved by the House.
Posted inState Government
The Midday Brief: May 17, 2011
Your afternoon reading: Combs finds $1.2 billion for the budget; Senate redistricting map advances; Davis amendments killed
Posted in
Economy
Combs Finds Another $1.2 Billion for Budget
Comptroller Susan Combs added $1.2 billion to her estimate of state revenues, making that much more money available to budget writers who are scrambling for cash. She said the state’s income is up.
Posted in
Politics
Guest Column: My Lege in a Box
Call it the Justin Timberlake Treatment: The Legislature has found itself boxed in as it searches for a way out of the budget divide.