Calling the old policy “stupid,” the head of the Department of Public Safety said Tuesday that congressional and state elected officials will no longer have to endure a background check to access the Governor’s Mansion.
Texas Legislature
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State Government
The Evening Brief: March 4, 2013
Your evening reading: House Republicans press for rejection of Medicaid expansion; NRA to sponsor NASCAR race in Texas; Jeb Bush opposes pathway to citizenship
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Higher Education
Texas State Regent Nominee Says Job Presents No Conflicts
A Texas State University System Board of Regents nominee said Monday at a Senate committee hearing that his job as owner of the state’s largest alternative teacher certification program would not conflict with his duties as a regent.
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Bidness As Usual
Charitable Donations, With Political Benefits
Charity fundraisers give lobbyists and political donors a way to show their support to officeholders during legislative sessions — when the law prohibits direct contributions.
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State Government
Updated: Garcia Wins Houston Senate Race
Former Harris County Commissioner Sylvia Garcia is headed for the Texas Senate after beating state Rep. Carol Alvarado in a Saturday special election runoff to succeed the late Mario Gallegos, D-Houston.
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Health care
Texas Weekly Newsreel: Voting Rights, Medicaid, Sequestration
In this week’s Newsreel: The Supreme Court heard arguments in a voting rights case that could have a big impact on Texas, Republican legislators side with Gov. Rick Perry on Medicaid expansion, and voters will decide on Saturday who will represent Senate District 6.
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Criminal Justice
Video: Bill Increases Punishment in Hit-and-Run Cases
A bill in the Texas Senate would make the penalty for failing to stop and render aid in certain hit-and-run cases equal to that of intoxication manslaughter. It’s a move lawmakers and law enforcement hope causes more drivers to do the right thing and stay put.
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Health care
Restoring Family Planning Cuts Without Ruffling Feathers
Republican legislators have proposed adding $100 million to a state-run primary care program specifically for women’s health services, which could avert a political fight over subsidizing specialty family planning clinics.
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Health care
TribLive: A Conversation About Health Care
Full video of Emily Ramshaw’s 2/27 TribLive conversation about health care with state Rep. John Zerwas, R-Simonton, and state Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown.
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Bidness As Usual
Lawmakers Slam Disclosure Bill — and Rebuke Freshman Who Filed It
Rep. Giovanni Capriglione got a rude awakening in his transparency bill’s hearing before the House State Affairs Committee on Wednesday when members suggested his legislation was a political “vendetta.”