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.
Judith Zaffirini
Posted in
Health care
Is Medicaid Fraud Up? Or Is the State Getting More Vigilant?
The quickest way to curb the state’s reeling Medicaid costs? Eliminating fraud and recovering funds, state officials say. “I just don’t think people out there have any idea how much money is being scammed,” said Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Grapevine.
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Higher Education
Texas Already Has a $10,000 Degree — But for How Long?
Gov. Rick Perry has challenged Texas universities to develop a bachelor’s degree costing no more than $10,000, books included. As it turns out, there already is a $10,000 bachelor’s degree here — and the Legislature may be on the verge of eliminating it.
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Health care
For Senate Democrats, Abortion Bill Reveals Split
Unlike the debate over voter ID, in which Senate Democrats stood united in their opposition, a combination of politics, religion and personal histories have made the sonogram bill more divisive in their caucus.
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Health care
Health Care Advocates Offer Emotional Testimony
From patients and parents to nurses and practitioners, the many faces of Texans affected by health care budget cuts gathered at the Capitol today to give an earful to lawmakers on the Senate Finance Committee.
Posted in
Higher Education
TribBlog: Campus Construction Coming?
Times may be tough, but higher education leaders in both chambers of the Legislature believe now is the perfect time for universities to build.
Posted in
Higher Education
TribBlog: Changes Ahead For TEXAS Grants?
With the threat of massive budget cuts looming on the horizon, state higher education leaders are looking for ways to get more out of what few dollars they may ultimately get to spend. One program that may see some changes is the Toward Excellence, Access, and Success Grant program, the state’s largest financial aid program.
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State Government
TribBlog: Barring the R-Word
Disability advocates want Texas lawmakers to put the term “retarded” in the “word graveyard” with other derogatory terms.
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Higher Education
The Tracks of Our Tiers
It could take years before the seven emerging research universities in Texas (Texas Tech University, the University of Houston, the University of North Texas, the University of Texas at Dallas, the University of Texas at Arlington, the University of Texas at San Antonio and the University of Texas at El Paso) transform themselves into top-tier research campuses — if they do at all. But the state now pays them for demonstrated progress toward that goal, pitting them against one another in competition for limited funds. Officials from all seven will appear before a joint hearing of the House and Senate higher education committees today, seeking to show off progress to lawmakers and to size up where they stand against their peers.
Posted in
State Government
TribBlog: He’s All That
House Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, did not have to win a formalwear or swimwear competition to land the title of Mr. South Texas.
