State Rep. Garnet Coleman, D-Houston, says it would be “irresponsible” not to act in the wake of the suicide of 13-year old Asher Brown, a student who committed suicide after being bullied for his size, religion and perceived sexuality.
Garnet Coleman
Posted in
Economy
A Schoolyard Brawl
Tension between Texas and the federal government has been a major focus of Rick Perry’s re-election campaign. But on Monday, two top Democratic leaders in the Texas House ganged up on Texas Education Commissioner Robert Scott and, by proxy, the governor over the recent federal education funds fight. Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune reports.
Posted inState Government
TribBlog: Governor’s “Race”
Gov. Rick Perry’s campaign has accused Democrat Bill White of making racially charged comments at an event in Dallas. The White camp says it was Scripture-based language on leadership. So, was it racial or religious?
Posted in
Criminal Justice
The Fox and the Hen House
Five of the nine members of the state’s Commission on Jail Standards, which oversees the 245 county lockups, are elected officials from or employees of the counties whose facilities they regulate. Advocates say that’s a conflict of interest, and they’re calling for a change in the commission’s makeup.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
The Big House Isn’t Big Enough
At today’s hearing of the Texas Commission on Jail Standards, Sheriff Adrian Garcia will be grilled about efforts to control overcrowding at Harris County’s four jail facilities, which have seen a dramatic population spike. At the urging of Houston lawmakers, Garcia will be pressed to explain why he wants to keep housing more inmates than the facilities can accommodate, and why some recommendations by the county’s own consultant for ways to reduce its jail population have gone unheeded.
Posted in
Economy
TribBlog: Gambling 101
Coming soon to a large pink state capitol building in this very state: A day-long seminar on slot machines and casinos and all that, especially as it pertains to the state budget.
Posted in
Economy
TribBlog: An Off-Track Bet
The Speaker doesn’t have anyone studying gambling in advance of the next legislative session, and a leading Democrat says legislators ought to get together on their own to consider the issue.
Posted inState Government
TribBlog: Coleman on Continental
Amid reports that a merger deal might soon be struck between Houston-based Continental Airlines and United Airlines, with the latter as the surviving company headquartered in Chicago, state Rep. Garnet Coleman discusses Houston’s long-standing relationship with Continental.
Posted in
Health care
The Price of Reform
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.
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.
