At Thursday’s TribLive conversation, state Sen. Tommy Williams, R-The Woodlands, and state Rep. Jim Pitts, R-Waxahachie, discussed what the state should do about its exploding Medicaid obligations.
Texas Legislature
Posted in
Energy
Bills Aim to Stop Diverting Funds Meant for State Parks
Some legislators say the practice of diverting funds earmarked for state parks compromises the integrity of the state budget and the quality of parks.
Posted in
Public Education
Pitts and Williams Say School Funding Debate Can Wait
Ongoing school finance litigation will likely prevent the Legislature from discussing education funding issues this session, two Republican budget leaders said at a TribLive event Thursday.
Posted in
Economy
TribLive: Williams and Pitts on the Rainy Day Fund
At Thursday morning’s TribLive conversation, state Sen. Tommy Williams, R-The Woodlands, and state Rep. Jim Pitts, R-Waxahachie, talked about the possibility of withdrawals from the Rainy Day Fund.
Posted in
Politics
Straus Makes House Committee Assignments
House Speaker Joe Straus announced committee assignments for the Legislature’s lower chamber on Thursday, ending speculation over key chairmanships and giving lawmakers the go-ahead to start considering bills. Here’s his list.
Posted in
Health care
Senators Take On Health Care Costs, Medicaid Expansion
Texas budget writers got a briefing on the state’s health care programs Wednesday, and the biggest questions focused on how the state can reduce fraud and what to do about ever-increasing health care costs.
Posted in
Energy
Lawmakers Seek Cash to Fix Roads Hit by Drilling
As lawmakers look for a way to fix infrastructure crumbling under the weight of a drilling boom, talk of reducing the tax money that feeds the state’s Rainy Day Fund is drawing attention.
Posted in
State Government
Legislative Notebook — Week 2
Lawmakers are still in the “fixin’ to” stage of the session taking a week off after a week on the job — not unusual in the years when presidents are being inaugurated — but the wheels are turning.
Posted inState Government
Interactive Map: Senate Committees by Districts of Sitting Members
The members of the Texas Senate have been placed in their committees, but where in the state do the committee members come from? Use this interactive to explore the geographic distribution of committee members in the Senate.
Posted in
State Government
Video: Democrats Respond to Gov. Perry’s State of the State Address
Texas Democratic legislators respond to Gov. Rick Perry’s seventh State of the State address on Tuesday.
