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TxDOT Considers Outsourcing IT

By Aman Batheja Jan. 31, 2013

The Texas Department of Transportation is taking proposals for privatizing its information technology system, part of a larger movement by the agency toward outsourcing many of its functions. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Matthew Rutledge / Todd Wiseman
Health Advocates Make Case for Medicaid Expansion, Restoring Cuts

By Becca Aaronson Jan. 31, 2013

Health care advocates flocked to the Capitol on Thursday to urge the Senate Finance Committee to consider expanding Medicaid, restoring funding for family planning services and improving the state’s health care delivery system. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
Updated: Senate Finance Grills Doctor on Medicaid Fraud Allegations

By Becca Aaronson Jan. 31, 2013

A lead senator on the Senate Finance Committee had tough questions about allegations of Medicaid fraud and whether dental clincs are hurting Texas children. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Peter Skadberg / Todd Wiseman
The Evening Brief: Jan. 31, 2013

By David Muto Jan. 31, 2013

Your evening reading: Cruz aggressive at Hagel confirmation hearing; Straus announces House committee assignments; poll shows Clinton competitive in Texas Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
Advocacy Group Calls for Timely Appointment of Regents

By Reeve Hamilton Jan. 31, 2013

With a number of university system regents coming to the end of their terms, the Texas Coalition for Excellence in Higher Education issued a call for the timely appointment of "well-prepared, devoted, and conflict-free" replacements. Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman
TribLive: Williams and Pitts on Public Ed Funding

By Evan Smith Jan. 31, 2013

At Thursday's TribLive conversation, state Sen. Tommy Williams, R-The Woodlands, and state Rep. Jim Pitts, R-Waxahachie, talked about how the school finance litigation affects the debate over public education funding. Full Story
TribLive: Williams and Pitts on Medicaid

By Evan Smith Jan. 31, 2013

At Thursday's TribLive conversation, state Sen. Tommy Williams, R-The Woodlands, and state Rep. Jim Pitts, R-Waxahachie, discussed what the state should do about its exploding Medicaid obligations. Full Story
Joaquin Castro: Current Immigration Laws Create "Ugly Realities"

By Maurice Chammah, The Marshall Project Jan. 31, 2013

At a meeting of state business leaders Thursday, U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro said that current immigration laws create "ugly realities" and that Gov. Rick Perry "will never say the border is secure." Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
Ethics Opinion Lets Lawmakers Work, Solicit for Nonprofits

By Ryan Murphy Jan. 31, 2013

The Texas Ethics Commission's board has approved an advisory opinion that stops short of recommending against lawmakers soliciting contributions for nonprofit organizations they are employed by. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman / Caleb Bryant Miller
Bills Aim to Stop Diverting Funds Meant for State Parks

By Audrey White Jan. 31, 2013

Some legislators say the practice of diverting funds earmarked for state parks compromises the integrity of the state budget and the quality of parks. Full Story

Credit: Zhao Shouren
Pitts and Williams Say School Funding Debate Can Wait

By Aman Batheja Jan. 31, 2013

Ongoing school finance litigation will likely prevent the Legislature from discussing education funding issues this session, two Republican budget leaders said at a TribLive event Thursday. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
TribLive: Williams and Pitts on the Rainy Day Fund

By Evan Smith Jan. 31, 2013

At Thursday morning's TribLive conversation, state Sen. Tommy Williams, R-The Woodlands, and state Rep. Jim Pitts, R-Waxahachie, talked about the possibility of withdrawals from the Rainy Day Fund. Full Story
Family Services Agency Requests Funding for Redesign

By Becca Aaronson Jan. 31, 2013

Agency commissioners rarely get applause when they ask the Legislature for an additional $263 million. But that’s what happened on Thursday when John Specia asked to for money to redesign the Department of Family and Protective Services. Full Story
Straus Makes House Committee Assignments

By Emily Ramshaw Jan. 31, 2013

House Speaker Joe Straus announced committee assignments for the Legislature's lower chamber on Thursday, ending speculation over key chairmanships and giving lawmakers the go-ahead to start considering bills. Here's his list. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
Interactive: Could Medicaid Expansion Cover Costs?

By Becca Aaronson Jan. 31, 2013

Use our county-by-county interactive to track annual local spending on unreimbursed health care costs, and to see how those figures compare to the federal dollars counties would receive under the Medicaid expansion. Full Story
Senators Take On Health Care Costs, Medicaid Expansion

By Ben Philpott, KUT News Jan. 31, 2013

Texas budget writers got a briefing on the state’s health care programs Wednesday, and the biggest questions focused on how the state can reduce fraud and what to do about ever-increasing health care costs. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
Senate Hearing Will Target Curriculum System

By Morgan Smith Jan. 31, 2013

Educators and conservative activists will air their complaints about CSCOPE, the state's curriculum delivery system, at a Senate Education Committee hearing on Thursday led by state Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston. Full Story
Bills Aim to Douse HOAs' Xeriscaping Restrictions

By Kate Galbraith Jan. 31, 2013

Texas homeowners associations often require members to keep plush lawns. But some are easing their rules as the drought continues, and two Texas lawmakers have introduced legislation to prevent the groups from restricting xeriscaping. Full Story

Credit: Korye Logan
Lawmakers Seek Cash to Fix Roads Hit by Drilling

By Aman Batheja Jan. 31, 2013

As lawmakers look for a way to fix infrastructure crumbling under the weight of a drilling boom, talk of reducing the tax money that feeds the state's Rainy Day Fund is drawing attention. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman / KUT
The Brief: Jan. 31, 2013

By David Muto Jan. 31, 2013

Gov. Rick Perry on Wednesday threw cold water on speculation about a potential 2014 showdown with one of his political allies. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich