Hundreds of people rallied at the Capitol today to urge lawmakers to maintain state spending on Medicaid and CHIP, the health care programs for children, the disabled and the very poor.
Aziza Musa
Posted in
Guides
Texplainer: Why Is the Capitol’s Pink Dome So Shiny?
That’s what 1,200 gallons of fresh paint will do for a dome.
Posted in
State Government
Election Contest Committee Sides With Howard
The House Election Contest Committee unanimously voted today to uphold Rep. Will Hartnett’s determination that Donna Howard won the long-disputed HD-48 seat.
Posted in
Demographics
State Affairs Takes on “Sanctuary Cities”
Tonight, the Texas House took on another of the issues that Gov. Rick Perry has designated an emergency: sanctuary cities, or cities where police do not enforce federal immigration laws.
Posted inState Government
Former Mayors Offer Advice to Austin
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.
Posted in
State Government
Forensic Commissioners Answer to Legislators
The Senate Nominations Committee voted 4-2 today to recommend approval of the state forensic board Chairman John Bradley’s appointment. Sens. José Rodríguez and Kirk Watson voted against Bradley’s nomination.
Posted in
State Government
Neil Remains Hopeful Despite Long Wait [Updated]
The 82nd legislative session will be about halfway over by the time lawmakers on a specially appointed committee decide whether Republican Dan Neil or incumbent state Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin, won the disputed HD-48 seat.
Posted in
Politics
Senate Committee Targets Payday Lending
If a set of bills filed by Sens. Wendy Davis, D-Fort Worth, and Royce West, D-Dallas, passes this session, consumers who take out short-term, high-interest loans could be protected from exorbitant interest rate charges.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Advocates Worry TYC Cuts May be Shortsighted
The House and Senate budgets propose a $95.6 million cut in total revenue from the Texas Youth Commission budget in 2012-2013, and lawmakers are eying reductions in parole services, which could lead to fewer staffers and fewer district parole offices.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Religious Leaders Advocate for Ex-Veteran’s Clemency
Today, a week before his son is scheduled to die, Columbus Adams and a host of religious leaders asked the state to forgive Timothy Adams. His son, he said, never committed a crime before the day he lost control during an argument with his wife and killed their son.
