For Gov. Rick Perry, the fight between the state of Texas and the Environmental Protection Agency — a textbook example of states’ rights versus federal authority — may be heating up at just the right time.
The Brief: June 3, 2010
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Dying on the State’s Dime
Texas’ “geriatric” inmates (55 and older) make up just 7.3 percent of Texas’ 160,000-offender prison population, but they account for nearly a third of the system’s hospital costs. Prison doctors routinely offer up the oldest and sickest of them for medical parole, a way to get those who are too incapacitated to be a public threat and have just months to live out of medical beds that Texas’ quickly aging prison population needs. They’ve recommended parole for 4,000 such inmates within the last decade. But the state parole board has only agreed in a quarter of these cases, leaving the others to die in prison — and on the state’s dime.
Posted in
State Government
The Pollution Wars
Since last week’s announcement that the EPA is getting tough on Texas, the state and the feds have been going at it. But does alll the hubbub mean that the air we breathe is dangerous?
Posted in
Health care
Quite an Undertaking
When a family member dies, accessing bank accounts and collecting on insurance policies requires proper paperwork. Despite a state mandate to process death certificates in a timely fashion, however, doctors are dragging their heels, funeral directors say, leaving survivors in the lurch.
Posted in
State Government
The Weekly Tribcast Episode 31
In this week’s TribCast, Ross, Evan, Ben and Reeve discuss the summer political fundraising season, TxDOT’s audit, how population projections will impact into redistricting and the politics of pollution.
Posted in
Economy
TribBlog: A Taxing Problem
The state’s tax on corporations could end up half a billion dollars shy of Comptroller Susan Combs’ predictions, officials with her office say.
Posted in
State Government
TribBlog: Perry Takes a Knee [Updated]
Gov. Rick Perry’s having knee surgery on Friday. In an e-mail sent out this afternoon, Dana Parish, deputy finance director for Texans for Rick Perry, notified supporters that a campaign event had been rescheduled because of the impending surgery.
Posted in
State Government
TribBlog: Boosting Broadband
Most Americans can access broadband internet services where they live, but in rural Texas, some still lack the kind of connectivity that allows them to get online without the hassles of dial-up. On June 14, the Texas Department of Agriculture will release information on the state of connectivity in Texas, including maps of where Texans have the best — and worst — internet access.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
The Brief: June 2, 2010
The Fort Hood shooter made his first courtroom appearance Tuesday, but a trial, the military court decided, won’t happen until October.
