The House has blown its stack and made up again a couple of times since our last conversation, all within the rules, and all — if you take a long view of things —right on schedule. Senators, who had a group conniption fit last week, have remained clear to partly cloudy and calm.
May 2011
Posted in
State Government
Instant Maps
Kel Seliger decided to run the redistricting marathon by saving up his energy until the end and then running a sprint. The Amarillo Republican’s Senate Redistricting Committee met less than three weeks before end of the session to consider Senate district maps that had at that point been public for less than 24 hours. He told members — this was on Thursday — that they had until 5 p.m. to get their amendments to him and to make sure they were legally vetted and so on. And he said he planned to vote on the plan, along with a House plan already approved on the other side of the rotunda, on Friday. That sets up a full Senate vote for as early as next week.
Posted in
Health care
Cardiologists Accuse Victoria Hospital of Discrimination
The emails and memos written by administrators and doctors at Victoria’s Citizens Medical Center about three of their colleagues of Indian descent are, at best, derogatory. At worst, they could be seen as racist — and they’re the subject of a sweeping discrimination suit.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
TribWeek: In Case You Missed It
Aaronson on pork choppers, Aguilar on sanctuary cities legislation, Galbraith on Brownsville’s ban on plastic bags, Grissom on Delma Banks and prosecutorial misconduct, Hamilton on a tough week for higher education in Texas, Philpott on wildfires and politics, Ramshaw on the state’s pursuit of a federal Medicaid overhaul, M. Smith on what would happen if lawmakers don’t rewrite school finance formulas, yours truly on the Lege as schoolyard and Stiles with interactive graphics on how the proposed Senate redistricting maps compare with current ones: The best of our best content from May 9 to 13, 2011.
Posted in
State Government
Exchange of Words Between Former Friends Caps Off Tense Week at Lege
A South Texas border brawl, complete with personal attacks about weight and cowardice, took place between former allies Aaron Peña, R-Edinburg, and Armando Martinez, D-Weslaco.
Posted in
State Government
Texas House Passes Bill Against TSA “Groping”
Texas lawmakers have a message for Transportation Security Administration: hands off. The House passed a bill today that would prohibit invasive searches and pat-downs at airport security or other public buildings.
Posted in
State Government
Guest Column: Why “Loser Pays” is a Loser
The Governor, with the help of the Legislature, seems driven to dilute one of our most enduring constitutional bulwarks: the ability of Texas residents to get a fair shake in court.
Posted in
State Government
Video: The Week in Texas Politics, May 9 to May 13
No time to follow all the happenings of the Texas Legislature? We’ve made it easier for you with our weekly recap of the biggest political stories in the state.
Posted in
State Government
Guest Column: Why “Loser Pays” is a Winner
Forget the hyperbolic editorial rhetoric. The Governor’s proposals for improving our civil justice system will help make lawsuits less expensive and less time consuming.
Posted in
Higher Education
Texas Warned About Cuts to Historically Black Universities
In April, Gov. Rick Perry received a letter from Russlynn Ali, assistant secretary for civil rights at the U.S. Department of Education, reminding him of the state’s commitment to Prairie View A&M University and Texas Southern University.