Your afternoon reading: Senate hears testimony on foster kids, Howard-Neil fight under way, and Shapiro files school-mandate bill
The Midday Brief: Feb. 1, 2011
Posted in
Health care
Most Texans Support Smoking Ban, Poll Says
The latest from Gov. Rick Perry’s preferred polling firm, Baselice & Associates, shows that 70 percent of Texans support a ban on indoor smoking, including in restaurants and bars.
Posted in
Public Education
Gail Lowe Reappointed as Education Board Chair
Pending Senate confirmation, Gail Lowe will serve another term as head of the State Board of Education.
Posted in
State Government
Testimony Under Way in HD-48 Fight [Updated]
More than a dozen witnesses took the stand today to testify about where they lived and how they voted in the House District 48 contest in the November 2010 election.
Posted in
Politics
Few Obstacles Face Voter ID in the Legislature
Both sides cite stats and research papers to support their positions, with Democrats saying the photo voter ID law will suppress minority voting, and Republicans saying it won’t do anything but stop fraud. Whatever it is, it’s on its way into the law books.
Posted inState Government
Sam Kinch Jr., 1940-2011
Sam Kinch Jr., the founding editor of Texas Weekly and a former political and government correspondent for The Dallas Morning News, died shortly after midnight, according to a spokesman for the family. He was 70, and had been battling pancreatic cancer, emphysema and congestive heart disease.
Posted inState Government
The Brief: Feb. 1, 2011
The Legislature’s been under way for weeks now, but the last fight for a seat in the lower chamber isn’t over.
Posted in
Politics
Dan Neil on His Election Contest
Republican Dan Neil discusses his election contest against state Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Lawmakers Propose Raiding Auto Theft Fund
House and Senate budget writers have proposed closing a little-known state agency that helps prevent and solve automobile theft and burglary. The catch? While they’re planning to kill the agency, they’re not planning to stop collecting the fee you pay to keep it going.
Posted in
State Government
Lawmakers Mull Reductions to Pension Plans
As Texas lawmakers look to slash billions in state spending, pension plans have become fair game. Mose Buchele of KUT News reports on a legislative proposal to decrease state contributions to two retirement plans that collectively serve hundreds of thousands of Texans.
