The Evening Brief: Aug. 9, 2013
New in The Texas Tribune
• New Abortion Limits, but More Money for Women's Health: "In its 2013 session, the Legislature sought to mitigate the impact of those cuts with the largest financial package for women’s health services in state history, increasing spending to $214 million in the 2014-15 budget from $109 million. Still, women’s health advocates have raised concerns that the financing does not go far enough."
• Perry's Whack at the Obamacare Piñata: "While most Americans do in fact have an opinion on the Affordable Care Act, to say that they understand it — at all, let alone 'all too well' — runs contrary to the data currently available."
• In an Accident, Drivers Have New Reasons Not to Run: "With new laws increasing the penalties for drivers involved in hit-and-run fatalities or those who fail to stop and render aid, advocates are hoping that Texas drivers have a greater incentive to stay at the scene of accidents and help the injured."
• Outsiders Have Something in Common — Squeaky Wheels: "The model for Jonathan Stickland isn’t what you might expect."
Culled
• Davis: Governor's race announcement coming 'in a couple of weeks' (Austin American-Statesman): "State Sen. Wendy Davis will make an announcement about the governor’s race 'in a couple of weeks,' the Fort Worth Democrat said Friday afternoon at the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas conference in Austin."
• Rep. Brandon Creighton Announces Bid for Agriculture Commissioner (The Dallas Morning News): "Republican Representative Brandon Creighton officially announced a run for Agriculture Commissioner Friday. Straight out of the blocks he touted his conservative roots and blasted the federal government.
• CSCOPE curriculum debate to go live (Houston Chronicle): "Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, and State Board of Education member Thomas Ratliff have agreed to square off over a controversial science and social studies curriculum used in hundreds of Texas schools."
• Prepping for 2016: Rick Perry (The Washington Post): "As we wind down our series on presidential contenders, we look at Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s to-do list if he wants to be a serious contender in 2016."
• Weighing Governor's Bid, Wendy Davis Feels the August Heat (Time): "Politics is not a summer pastime in Texas. In the dog days of August, the politically obsessed, from staffers to lobbyists, typically flee triple-digit temperatures to cooler climes. Monday’s news that the legislature was finally adjourning was met with relief. And while Wendy Davis, the pink-sneakered abortion-bill-filibustering state senator, enjoyed a star turn at the National Press Club in Washington earlier this week, some of the folks back home grumbled.
Texas Tribune donors or members may be quoted or mentioned in our stories, or may be the subject of them. For a complete list of contributors, click here.
Information about the authors
Learn about The Texas Tribune’s policies, including our partnership with The Trust Project to increase transparency in news.