One 2012 presidential candidate wanted to sell a government-run lottery to finance a health insurance program. He wanted to deregulate college tuition, and then freeze it. He proposed leaving the state’s Rainy Day Fund alone — or, sending the money back to taxpayers. Hint: He’s from Texas. Another hint: He’s not Ron Paul.
Medicaid
Posted in
Demographics
Naomi Gonzalez: The TT Interview
El Paso’s Democratic state representative on the media’s portrayal of her hometown, why the grassroots is key to making gains for her party, and why she thinks immigration legislation will hurt Gov. Rick Perry on the campaign trail.
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Health care
Perry Takes Fire From All Directions in GOP Debate
Gov. Rick Perry took shots from all directions Wednesday in his first nationally televised debate as his opponents unloaded on the presidential front-runner again and again, seeking relevance in a line of questioning that largely centered on Perry.
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Health care
31 Days, 31 Ways: Nursing Homes Brace for Higher Costs, Sicker Patients
DAY 31 of our month-long series on the effects of new state laws and budget cuts: Nursing homes were spared the draconian cuts proposed by lawmakers at the beginning of the 2011 session. Still, despite growing caseloads and rising medical costs, they move forward with less state and federal support.
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Health care
31 Days, 31 Ways: State Underfunds HIV Medication Program
DAY 27 of our month-long series on the effects of new state laws and budget cuts: Lawmakers didn’t cut spending for the Texas HIV Medication Program, but it remains nearly $20 million short.
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Health care
So What Would “Perrycare” Look Like?
Gov. Rick Perry routinely attacks federal health care reform, but he has so far revealed little on the presidential campaign trail about what his own “Perrycare” could look like — or how much changing American health care will figure into his candidacy.
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Health care
31 Days, 31 Ways: State Slashes Funding for Residency Programs
DAY 22 of our month-long series on the effects of new state laws and budget cuts: Lawmakers slash funding for residency programs in Texas, making it even more difficult for the state to meet its growing physician shortage.
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Environment
In “Liberal Bastion,” Perry Receives an Unfriendly Welcome
Rick Perry came to press the flesh with voters in Portsmouth, N.H., Thursday — but he ran instead into a vociferous protest of his views on Social Security and Medicare outside a local cafe. It wasn’t much better inside.
Posted in
Economy
Perry and the Stimulus: It’s Complicated
Gov. Rick Perry likes to rail against the Obama administration’s “failed” federal stimulus program, but he and state lawmakers have more than $17 billion in fed-stim dollars to thank for the last two balanced Texas budgets.
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Health care
31 Days, 31 Ways: Family Planning Funding Slashed
DAY 15 of our month-long series on the effects of new state laws and budget cuts: The Department of State Health Services expects about 180,000 Texas men and women will lose access to birth control and cancer screenings.
