The Brief: Top Texas News for March 2, 2011
Is it raining out there yet? A growing chorus of Republican voices seems to think so. Full Story
Is it raining out there yet? A growing chorus of Republican voices seems to think so. Full Story
The Texas Windstorm Insurance Association has been placed under administrative oversight for questions surrounding its ethical conduct. Gretch Sanders of KUT News reports on what the future may hold for the insurer of last resort for homeowners along the Texas coast. Full Story
Approaches to budget cutting have divided lawmakers and their constituents, but as Erika Aguilar of KUT News reports, tension is brewing between two other worried groups: small and large businesses. Full Story
On Friday, at an event held by the Tribune and the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, I interviewed the senator from South Carolina about federal immigration policy and reform. Full Story
The Houston neurosurgeon, author and frequent health care adviser to Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst on his support for the individual insurance mandate, why cutting provider rates to rescue the budget is misguided and how far Texas would trim Medicaid if given the permission. Full Story
State Sen. Robert Deuell, R-Greenville, would rather raise taxes a little bit than make the cuts lawmakers are considering now, he told the Tribune this evening. Full Story
A dozen protestors from disability rights group ADAPT gathered at Gov. Rick Perry's office this afternoon to block the entrances. Organizers say they wont leave until Perry pledges to oppose cuts to community services. Full Story
Congrats to a super-smart QRANK: TT Edition player whose username is ThaddeusScott: He scored 99,711 points in February — more than 3,000 points better than the second-place finisher, KentWillis, who put up 96,505 points. Full Story
The Texas Department of Public Safety is recommending — again — that Texans avoid traveling to Mexico for vacation. It's the second warning in less than five weeks. Full Story
State Rep. John Zerwas, R-Simonton, is no fan of "Obamacare." But he told his House colleages this afternoon that if they don't set up a health insurance exchange — one of the tenets of reform — by 2014, the federal government will do it for them. Full Story
On Wednesday night, the LBJ Future Forum presented a conversation with six members of the Texas House about the future of Texas. Paul Burka of Texas Monthly moderated. Full Story
The U.S. trade representative took a brief time-out during his visit to Austin last week to talk with the Tribune about trade with Mexico, public perception of the Obama administration, Dallas politics and his own political future. Full Story
The Senate Education Committee has sent legislation on minimum grading and attendance policies to the full chamber, but bills on residential development and special education policy have stalled. Full Story
Your afternoon reading: Senate Democrats could block forensic nomination; disability advocates rally at Capitol; voter ID heard in House Full Story
Disability advocates gathered at the Capitol today to call on lawmakers to use the Rainy Day Fund, to raise new revenue and, above all else, to not cut community-based services for the disabled. Over and over again the crowd chanted, "No cuts! No cuts!" Full Story
The voter ID bill came before House lawmakers this morning — and it was a tense scene. Even supporters of the measure had to grapple with testimony from people who endorse the bill on anti-illegal immigration grounds. Full Story
The Obama administration’s education budget includes $900 million for the Race to the Top program. And this time around, there’s a twist: Individual districts — as opposed to states — can apply for the funds. Full Story
Gov. Rick Perry, on a visit to the White House, swatted down a health care olive branch on Monday. Full Story
Finding ways to cut health care costs is all the rage under the Pink Dome — and curbing smoking is a proven way to do it. But budget proposals slash tobacco cessation programs by more than 80 percent. Full Story
The city of Austin could follow in the footsteps of other major Texas cities if it changed its form of government to single-member districts in time for the next general election, former big-city mayors said Monday night. Full Story