Behind the fiery health care rhetoric is a measure expected to dramatically expand Texas’ Medicaid program, adding up to 1 million adults to the state’s insurance roll — but at a steep cost. Texas will have to come up with hundreds of millions of dollars in new revenue to foot its share of the bill.
David Dewhurst
Posted in
Health care
TribBlog: Health Care Passes; Texans Sound Off
House lawmakers passed the Senate version of long-awaited health care reform on Sunday night. And Texas leaders were quick to fire off on it.
Posted in
Health care
TribBlog: State Leaders To Congress: Vote Against Health Reform
Gov. Rick Perry, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and House Speaker Joe Straus sent a firmly-worded letter to members of Congress today, urging them to vote against health care reform in Washington, or, as they dub it, “the federal government’s takeover of health care.” A vote is expected on Sunday.
Posted in
State Government
TribBlog: Leaders OK Capitol Security Upgrades
The big three state leaders approved seven new security measures for the Capitol, and none of them are X-ray machines or metal detectors that the director of the top Texas police agency said are critical to keep the pink dome safe from armed intruders.
Posted in
State Government
2010: Averitt Resigns
Sen. Kip Averitt, R-Waco, resigned from office Monday, a week after winning the GOP primary for reelection to a seat he no longer wants to hold.
Posted in
State Government
Lt. Gov: Chavez-Thompson Grabs Early Lead
Linda Chavez-Thompson announces victory over Ronnie Earle and Marc Katz in the race for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor. The winner of that contest will face incumbent Republican David Dewhurst in November.
Posted in
State Government
2010: A Crash of RINOs
Republican candidate Milton Rister says he’s got nothing to do with the speaker-bashing in an email making the rounds in Georgetown.
Posted in
State Government
2010: Newspaper Endorsements: Star-Telegram for Chavez-Thompson
“[S]he would bring a fresh perspective, a commitment to work with both sides of the aisle and an emphasis on the state’s public schools and higher education…”
Posted in
State Government
2010: Newspaper Endorsements: DMN, SAEN on Lite Guv
“Earle has the better insight into the levers of power in government,” says the Morning News. “Chavez-Thompson is undoubtedly the best Democratic candidate in the race,” says the Express-News.
Posted in
Economy
The Last Time Around
How will lawmakers deal with a budget shortfall of at least $11 billion — and maybe several billion more — in the next legislative session? In all likelihood, by doing what they did in 2003, when things were almost this bad.