Last week, freshman state Rep. Stefani Carter, R-Dallas, had her “TeaApproved” status revoked by the North Texas Tea Party following her vote in favor of re-electing Speaker Joe Straus. How did she get “TeaApproved” in the first place?
Texplainer: How Do You Get Tea Party Approved?
Posted in
State Government
Mental Notes on the Budget
For mental health and retardation centers like Round Rock’s Bluebonnet Trails, state budget cuts will have a direct effect on the number of people they serve — and help keep in school or employed and out of state hospitals and emergency rooms. Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune reports.
Posted in
Health care
John Zerwas: The TT Interview
The state representative and anesthesiologist from Simonton on why he filed the House’s first bill to implement a key piece of federal health-care reform and was the first in his party to openly suggest that dropping out of Medicaid wasn’t such a great idea after all.
Posted in
State Government
Voter ID Passes: The Highlights
Watch our abbreviated version of the daylong Senate debate, the dismissal of three dozen amendments and the ultimate passage of Senate Bill 14, a.k.a. the voter ID bill. The measure’s now headed to the House.
Posted in
State Government
The Weekly TribCast: Episode 64
In this week’s podcast, the group discusses voter ID, the budget shortfall’s impact on mental health services and the 2012 Senate race — and Elise says farewell.
Posted inState Government
TribBlog: Senate Approves Voter ID Bill
As expected, the Texas Senate approved the controversial voter ID bill on Wednesday. Next, the measure will move to the Republican-dominated House, where it is also expected to pass easily.
Posted in
Health care
TribBlog: Disability Rights Advocates Sue Perry
Disability rights advocates filed a class-action lawsuit today claiming that six Texas officials, including Gov. Rick Perry, violated the rights of more than 4,200 residents in state-supported living centers.
Posted inState Government
The Midday Brief: Jan 26, 2011
Your afternoon reading: voter ID vote could come early, congressional Democrats chime in, and “Choose Life” license plates make a return
Posted inState Government
The Brief: Jan 26, 2011
The real battle over voter ID, which cleared an initial vote last night, could be just beginning.
Posted in
Economy
The Pre-K Predicament
Just how important is full-day pre-kindergarten for the state’s youngest and most disadvantaged kids? Is it more important than after-school tutoring? Than canceling music and art classes? As public school officials brace for a proposed $10 billion less in state funding, that’s one decision they’ll have to make. “It’s choosing between bad and worse and bad and bad,” says one superintendent. “It’s definitely not a good day when we are sitting around talking about whether class size going up could help salvage all-day pre-K, or vice-versa.”
