Your afternoon reading.
The Midday Brief: May 12, 2010
Dewhurst: “We Don’t Need” AZ Immigration Law
In the Tribune’s TribLive event Wednesday, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst takes a position on the controversial Arizona immigration law that requires police to check the immigration status of citizens.
Dewhurst on Why He Doesn’t Release His Tax Returns
Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst explains why he doesn’t release details of his tax returns. “I don’t see my tax returns,” he says.
Dewhurst “Would Have Taken the Money”
In a Tribune TribLive event Wednesday, Texas Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst splits with Gov. Rick Perry on the decision to reject $555 million in federal stimulus dollars for unemployment insurance.
TribBlog: Dewhurst Predicts No Tax Hikes or Gaming
The state won’t need new taxes or expanded legal gambling to cover a budget shortfall next session, but higher fees and more budget cuts are a possibility, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst said at this morning’s TribLive interview in Austin.
The Brief: May 12, 2010
State lawmakers could have 18 billion reasons to worry about next year’s session.
A Crude Awakening
Officials of the companies involved in the oil spill in the Gulf spent time on Capitol Hill this week blaming each other for the environmental devastation it has caused. But what about the economic devastation? Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune posed that question to former U.S. Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham.
The Workers’ Comp Whistleblowers
Former employees of the Division of Workers’ Compensation at the Texas Department of Insurance say their higher-ups have failed to sanction or remove dozens of physicians accused of fraudently overbilling and overtreating patients, costing insurers millions of dollars. The allegations of stalled enforcement action have sparked an inquiry by the State Auditor’s Office, records show.
In Too Deep
Lawmakers fishing for ideas on how to deal with a coming budget shortfall are going to need a bigger rod and reel: The newest projections show itl could be as much as $18 billion.
A Voice but No Vote
It took decades to get Texas lawmakers to allow students to sit on each university system’s board of regents — and only on the condition that they can’t vote. But most other states with student regents do grant voting privileges.



