The Texas Legislature is faced with a budget challenge that pits the Republican majority’s desire to cut government spending against a vulnerable target: the frail and the elderly covered by Medicaid and housed in nursing homes.
82nd Legislative Session
Posted in
State Government
Medicaid Shortfall Threatens Nursing Homes, Residents
The Texas Legislature is faced with a budget challenge that has pitted the Republican majority’s desire to cut government spending against a vulnerable faction: nursing homes.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Juvenile Justice Agencies Come Closer to Merger
Hours after the state Senate passed a bill Wednesday that would merge the state’s two juvenile criminal justice agencies, a House committee passed a similar bill.
Posted in
State Government
House Puppy Mill Bill Hits a Snag
A bill that would regulate so-called puppy mills, and has dog breeders and animal rights groups at each other’s throats, got derailed from the fast-track to passage in the Texas House today.
Posted in
Demographics
Latest Player in Sanctuary Cities Debate: God
The latest player in Texas’ immigration debate? God. Citing passages from the Bible they say teach that immigrants should be shown compassion, a group of religious leaders congregated Wednesday to denounce a House sanctuary cities bill.
Posted in
State Government
House Tentatively Passes Eminent Domain
Another bill on Gov. Rick Perry’s emergency items list — eminent domain — tentatively passed in the House today, and it could further curb the government’s right to take private property.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Senate OKs Merging Juvenile Justice Agencies
The Texas Youth Commission and the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission would be combined into a new Texas Juvenile Justice Department under a bill the Texas Senate approved today.
Posted in
State Government
Breeders Alarmed As Puppy Mill Bill Gets Fast-Tracked
The so-called puppy mill bill that has dog breeders and animal rights groups in Texas squared off in a war of words, HB 1451 by state Rep. Senfronia Thompson, will be up for a vote on the House floor tomorrow.
Posted in
Economy
Top Budget Players in Race to Find Revenue
The Big Men on Campus in the school known as the Texas Legislature have the unenviable job of finding money that might alleviate the massive cuts outlined in House Bill 1, the general appropriations bill for the next biennium.
Posted in
State Government
Bill Pushes for Single-Member Council Districts
A House committee is set to consider a bill requiring cities with populations of more than 500,000 to have single-member city council districts. As Ryland Barton of KUT News and ReportingTexas.com reports, the bill’s supporters say it would more effectively incorporate minorities and less densely populated areas.
