After appointing Sen. Jane Nelson to chair the Senate Finance Committee, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst has picked Sen. Charles Schwertner to replace her as the head of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee.
Jane Nelson
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Health care
The Brief: July 17, 2014
Wendy Davis’ fundraising figures from Tuesday that showed her raising slightly more money than her GOP rival for governor are now being questioned.
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Health care
Lawmakers Consider Closing Institutions for Disabled Texans
Lawmakers considered a proposal to shutter six of Texas’ 13 state-supported living centers over two days of public hearings, renewing a long-simmering debate over the future of the state’s institutions for the disabled.
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Health care
Uncertain Future for State’s Division of Blind Services
The state is considering a proposal to integrate its Division for Blind Services with other rehabilitation services. While lawmakers are largely supportive of a consolidation, advocates for the blind are voicing concerns.
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Health care
Amid Recommendations, an Uncertain Future at Institutions for Disabled
A recommendation from the state’s Sunset Advisory Commission to shutter six of Texas’ 13 state-supported living centers has reopened a giant divide in the disability community that had seemed to narrow in recent years.
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Health care
The Brief: Feb. 21, 2014
Ted Nugent on Thursday became a litmus test of sorts for Republican officeholders in the wake of the rocker’s appearance on the campaign trail with Republican gubernatorial candidate Greg Abbott.
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The Politics of Prevention
Senators Revisit Efforts to Expand Women’s Health
The Senate Health and Human Services committee at a hearing on Thursday discussed Texas’ efforts to expand access to women’s health services across the state.
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The Politics of Prevention
Senate Panel’s Hearing to Examine Progress on Women’s Health Services
State senators will hold a hearing Thursday to assess Texas’ efforts to expand access to women’s health services across the state. Abortion rights advocates say an essential issue has been left off the agenda.
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Public Education
Seeking to Pare State Exams, Lawmakers Take Aim at Testing Firm
As the Texas Legislature looks to overhaul the state’s standardized testing program amid outcry from parents and school leaders, state lawmakers have focused their criticism on the company that develops the tests.
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Public Education
Texas’ Struggle to Combat Childhood Obesity Advances, then Retreats
Texas’ latest effort to address childhood obesity — a new law allowing a deeper study of student fitness data — could be blunted by the exemption lawmakers gave school districts from having to collect and report the data on a significant number of students.
