The Brief: April 2, 2010
Want to see some regulatory muscle in action? See Exhibit A: The Environmental Protection Agency. Full Story
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Want to see some regulatory muscle in action? See Exhibit A: The Environmental Protection Agency. Full Story
A small but growing number of state officials are warming to the idea of greater transparency and open access to raw government data, following a budding trend across the country. In the latest example, state Sen. Kirk Watson, D-Austin, wrote to numerous Texas agencies, urging them to post "high-value" databases online in open-standard formats. Full Story
The wait to get into one of Texas' 10 state mental hospitals — already long — may be about to get longer. Last month, as part of its attempt to comply with Gov. Rick Perry’s request that each state agency reduce its budget by 5 percent, the Department of State Health Services proposed eliminating 50 beds from four of the state's 10 mental hospitals: San Antonio, Rusk, Terrell and North Texas Wichita. The state's mental hospitals are already almost at full capacity, with nearly 2,500 self-admitted patients and allegedly criminal patients awaiting treatment so they can stand trial. Full Story
Cut through the routine Republican primary rhetoric about government spending and job creation and a narrative about the new and old guard emerges in the April 13 runoff in Texas' 23rd congressional district. Full Story
Your afternoon reading. Full Story
Kay stays, census or bust, "no" to the AG and another battle in the badlands. Full Story
The debate over how much federal health care reform will cost Texas put the state’s health and human services chief on the defensive on Wednesday, as he presented a budget estimate that is 20 times higher than federal projections. Full Story
She said she would limit her time in the U.S. Senate to two terms and is currently serving a third. She said she would resign her federal office to run for governor and didn't. She said she would quit after the primary and hasn't. So who's to say she won't reconsider in two years and run for a fourth term? And what of all those would-be successors? Full Story
Republican and Democratic members of the Texas congressional delegation are discussing a possible compromise designed to cool off the overheated politics of congressional redistricting by dividing the expected spoils once U.S. Census figures are in and the reapportionment process begins in 2011, two members of the delegation say. Full Story
Census Day isn't until tomorrow, but residents in some Texas cities and counties got a significant head start, according to the latest questionnaire response rates. Full Story
A midterm Congressional report released today by the National Latino Congreso asserts Texas’ U.S. House delegation votes against progressive immigration reform proposals 63 percent of the time. Full Story
Your afternoon reading. Full Story
State officials painted a grim picture of how much the federal health care reform will cost Texas, and cautioned lawmakers on Wednesday that the price tag will likely grow. Full Story
Surprising almost no one, U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison announced in San Antonio that she will not resign her Senate seat. She'll stay through the end of her term in 2012. Full Story
We've more than exceeded our goals for monthly unique visitors and page views — and way, way, way ahead of schedule. For that, we have you, Randy Neugebauer, and Gay Jesus to thank, among others. Full Story
State Sen. Florence Shapiro, R-Plano, is no longer a candidate for U.S. Senate and says she'll refund about $1 million to her contributors. Full Story
Kay makes a decision, Obama asks for patience, and a border slaying might be one step closer to being solved. Full Story
That's how Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw described the violence raging in Mexico’s drug war at a House hearing on Tuesday. Full Story
Lobbyists and lawmakers are fighting to preserve the terms of the contracts signed by parents who enrolled in the Texas Tomorrow Fund prepaid college tuition plan. Full Story
She says he's a carpetbagger. He says she's a moderate. We'll know what voters in this North Texas district say on April 13, when they decide whether former city councilwoman Mabrie Jackson or businessman Van Taylor will succeed state Rep. Brian McCall, R-Plano. Full Story