The U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling this week that vaccine manufacturers are protected from lawsuits by parents who believe that vaccines harmed their children is sure to energize anti-immunization advocates working to thwart attempts to expand meningococcal vaccine requirements for college students.
82nd Legislative Session
Posted in
Health care
Zerwas: Use Most of Rainy Day Fund or I’ll Get Spanked
At this morning’s TribLive conversation about health care, state Rep. John Zerwas, R-Simonton, took a more aggressive position than most of his fellow Republicans on the subject of whether to tap the Rainy Day Fund and how much should be tapped.
Posted in
Higher Education
House Higher Ed Chairman Looks to Boost “Productivity”
For higher education issues, it appears that “productivity” is to this session what “tier one” was to 2009. House Higher Education Chairman Dan Branch, R-Dallas, has filed a trio of bills aimed at getting more bang for each buck invested in higher ed.
Posted in
Health care
Liveblog: Reform or Bust?
We liveblogged this morning from the Austin Club, where the subject of today’s TribLive was health care: the costs — and solutions — for Medicaid, payment reform in Texas vs. the federal health overhaul, and what kind of hit Texas’ neediest patients will take.
Posted in
University of Texas/Texas Tribune Polls
UT/TT Poll: Texans Are Ready to Roll the Dice
A majority of the state’s voters say they’re ready for full-blown casino gambling, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune poll.
Posted in
Guides
Texplainer: Can Wisconsin Happen Here?
Gov. Scott Walker should come to Texas, where much of what he’s seeking already exists. The right to bargain collectively isn’t allowed among state employees, and no public employee in Texas may legally go on strike.
Posted in
Demographics
Hundreds Rally Against Immigration Bills
Hundreds of Texans descended on the state Capitol on Tuesday to draw attention to dozens of bills they say would hinder economic development, stymie education and — above all — encourage racial profiling in the Lone Star State.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Exonerated Men Plead for Justice System Change
After listening to nearly two hours of emotional testimony from exonerated prisoners, the House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee today approved a bill meant to reform the way law enforcement officials in Texas gather and use eyewitness identification evidence.
Posted in
Politics
Senate Committee Targets Payday Lending
If a set of bills filed by Sens. Wendy Davis, D-Fort Worth, and Royce West, D-Dallas, passes this session, consumers who take out short-term, high-interest loans could be protected from exorbitant interest rate charges.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Advocates Worry TYC Cuts May be Shortsighted
The House and Senate budgets propose a $95.6 million cut in total revenue from the Texas Youth Commission budget in 2012-2013, and lawmakers are eying reductions in parole services, which could lead to fewer staffers and fewer district parole offices.
