UPDATED: Friday morning’s clash between the House and Senate appears to be water under the bridge. Lawmakers in the upper chamber said it was a tussle over a local Houston matter — but that they’re working to resolve it.
Joan Huffman
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Criminal Justice
Senator Says Innocence Commission Bill is in Trouble
Two days after an advocate for a bill establishing a commission to review wrongful convictions lashed out at a state senator who voiced opposition to the bill, the measure’s Senate sponsor says he doesn’t have the votes to move the legislation forward.
Posted inState Government
Campaign Chatter
The daughter of a former Texas House speaker tops the latest round of campaign announcements.
Posted in
State Government
Charlie Howard Gets a Challenger
Sugar Land Mayor Pro Tem Jacquie Chaumette says she will challenge state Rep. Charlie Howard, R-Sugar Land, in next year’s Republican primary.
Posted in
Health care
Updated: Lawmakers Renew Push to Take Over Medicaid, Medicare
Texas’ long-shot efforts to take control of Medicare and Medicaid — the health programs for the elderly, the disabled and the state’s poorest children — from the feds are back on the table.
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Energy
Senate OKs “Reptile Bill”
The Senate passed the “reptile bill” today, which creates regulations for hunters who want to collect snakes and horny toads along Texas highways.
Posted in
State Government
Senate OKs Forensic Science Commission Bill
The mission and jurisdiction of the ever-controversial Texas Forensic Science Commission would get some clarification under a bil the Senate approved today.
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Criminal Justice
Traffic Patterns
Texas has the dubious distinction of being home to one of the busiest human trafficking routes in the country: the stretch of Interstate Highway 10 that runs from El Paso to Houston.
Posted in
State Government
After Sunset
Sunset Advisory Commissioners unanimously approved a series of changes to the troubled Division of Workers’ Compensation at the Texas Department of Insurance on Tuesday, but not before aggressively rewriting the Sunset staff’s original recommendations to improve the division’s medical quality review process.
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Criminal Justice
The Senate’s Biggest Spenders
The 31-member body spent nearly $16 million last fiscal year on travel, staff and office expenses, according to records from the office of the Secretary of the Senate. Overall spending by individual senators ranged from $206,000, by Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, to $637,000, by Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston.