health care

Inside Intelligence: A Pro-Choice GOP Candidate Will...

By Ross Ramsey Feb. 7, 2011

For the latest installment of our nonscientific survey of political and policy insiders on issues of the moment, we asked whether a Republican who supports abortion rights can survive a statewide primary, whether the sonogram bill on the governor's list of emergency items addresses a real or a political problem, whether it will pass and what other issues of interest to social conservatives might win approval from this Legislature this year. Full Story
Can a Pro-Choice Republican Win in Texas?

By Ross Ramsey Feb. 7, 2011

State Comptroller Susan Combs may test that question. She is considering a run for lieutenant governor in 2014. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
Pretty Good Forecasting

By Ross Ramsey Feb. 7, 2011

The keepers of numbers over in the LBJ Building, north of the Capitol, have confirmed to lawmakers what they warned them about in 2006: The legislation that cut local school property taxes and revised the state's corporate franchise tax didn't balance, to the tune of $10 billion a biennium. Full Story
TribWeek: In Case You Missed It

By Ross Ramsey Feb. 5, 2011

The best of our best from January 31 to February 4. Full Story
The Week in Texas Politics Recap: 1/31 to 2/4

By Reeve Hamilton and Justin Dehn Feb. 4, 2011

No time to follow every twist and turn of the Texas Legislature? We've made it easier for you with our weekly recaps of the action under the dome. Full Story
Texas Won't Secede — But It Won't Shut Up Either

By Ross Ramsey Feb. 4, 2011

Texas leaders aren't talking about secession, after an outbreak of conversation a couple of years ago. But the germ of the idea remains in the anti-federalist talking points that fueled Gov. Rick Perry’s re-election campaign last year and provided the outline for his book, Fed Up! Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
State Keeps Registry of Kids Who Abuse Kids

By Emily Ramshaw Feb. 4, 2011

“Dear future son,” the North Texas father wrote in a prospective adoption letter. “I am a single dad who adopted a middle school boy in 2008. Now we are looking for one more kid so he will have a brother.” Instead, the father got shocking news: He would not be allowed to adopt again because his son is on a state registry of people who abuse children. Full Story

Credit: Caleb Bryant Miller
The Texas Tribune Weekly TribCast: Ep 65

By Reeve Hamilton Feb. 2, 2011

In this week's TribCast, Evan, Ross, Reeve and Ben discuss the budget's structural deficit, the effort to repeal health care reform, the back-and-forth over House District 48 and if 2011 will be the year Texas bans smoking. Full Story
Health Care Advocates Offer Emotional Testimony

By Becca Aaronson Feb. 2, 2011

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. Full Story

Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera
Lawmakers Get Strong Message On Health Funds

By Justin Dehn Feb. 2, 2011

The Senate Finance Committee heard public testimony today on proposed cuts to health and human services. Full Story
Are Payment Reform, Texas Budget In Conflict?

By Emily Ramshaw Feb. 2, 2011

Lawmakers are crafting legislation to make health care more affordable and effective by rewarding doctors who get the best medical outcomes. But the cuts they're proposing to meet the state's budget shortfall could hinder some of the same physicians they're relying on to implement payment reform. Full Story

Credit: Callie Richmond
David Dewhurst: The TT Interview

By Emily Ramshaw Feb. 1, 2011

The lieutenant governor believes he knows how to save Texas money and improve patient care by overhauling how doctors and hospitals are paid: with carrots, not sticks. In an interview with the Tribune, he talks about what he sees as the root of the health care crisis, and his proposed solutions. Full Story

Credit: Caleb Bryant Miller
Suehs Warns Lawmakers On Health Cuts

By Becca Aaronson Feb. 1, 2011

Health and Human Services Commissioner Tom Suehs pulled no punches when he warned Senate lawmakers today what proposed budget cuts will mean: either cutting the number of people served, or the money paid to those who care for them. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
Most Texans Support Smoking Ban, Poll Says

By Reeve Hamilton Feb. 1, 2011

The latest from Gov. Rick Perry's preferred polling firm, Baselice & Associates, shows that 70 percent of Texans support a ban on indoor smoking, including in restaurants and bars. Full Story

Credit: Justin Shearer
Medicaid Cuts Worry Texas Nursing Homes

By Ben Philpott, KUT News Feb. 1, 2011

Texas agencies facing the budget ax say the only thing left to cut are the services they fund. Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune reports on fears that many of the state's nursing homes could be forced to dramatically cut back or even close as a result. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
Abbott: Why "Obamacare" is Unconstitutional

By Justin Dehn Jan. 31, 2011

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott says the reason is simple: Never before have Americans been mandated to buy a product for a specific reason. Full Story
Abbott: No Limits To Congressional Authority?

By Justin Dehn Jan. 31, 2011

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott says there will be no limits to congressional authority if the constitutionality of health care reform is upheld. Full Story
TribBlog: Health Reform Ruled Unconstitutional [Updated]

By Emily Ramshaw Jan. 31, 2011

A federal judge in Florida has ruled that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act — the federal health care reform that was signed into law in March — is unconstitutional, largely because it forces all Americans to purchase insurance. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
Red Meat, Fast Track

By Ross Ramsey Jan. 31, 2011

Abortion politics is back on center stage, with Gov. Rick Perry putting it, voter photo ID, state support for a balanced federal budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution, eminent domain and a ban on sanctuary cities at the top of his list of priorities. Why? Full Story

Credit: Caleb Bryant Miller
Health Reform Roulette

By Emily Ramshaw Jan. 31, 2011

Even as Texas pursues a lawsuit attacking federal health care reform, some state officials are reluctantly laying the groundwork to implement parts of the law. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman