House lawmakers had their first chance to weigh in on the controversial abortion sonogram bill today โ and they didn’t mince words. Rep. Leo Berman, R-Tyler, compared the number of fetuses that have been aborted since Roe v. Wade to a “Holocaust times nine.โ
Health care
In-depth reporting on public health, healthcare policy, hospitals, and wellness issues shaping communities across Texas, from The Texas Tribune.
Guest Column: The Conservative Case for Needle Exchange
While many people believe that needle exchange programs simply facilitate or condone illegal drug use, there is a powerful conservative argument for why they’re good public policy.
Zerwas: Use Most of Rainy Day Fund or I’ll Get Spanked
At this morning’s TribLive conversation about health care, state Rep. John Zerwas, R-Simonton, took a more aggressive position than most of his fellow Republicans on the subject of whether to tap the Rainy Day Fund and how much should be tapped.
Liveblog: Reform or Bust?
We liveblogged this morning from the Austin Club, where the subject of today’s TribLive was health care: the costs โ and solutions โ for Medicaid, payment reform in Texas vs. the federal health overhaul, and what kind of hit Texas’ neediest patients will take.
UT/TT Poll: Texans Are Ready to Roll the Dice
A majority of the state’s voters say they’re ready for full-blown casino gambling, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune poll.
TPPF, State Leaders: Medicaid Growth Is “Unsustainable”
A conservative think tank and Republican state leaders gathered this morning to offer their solutions to the state’s “unsustainable” Medicaid cost crunch.
Garnet Coleman: The TT Interview
The Democratic state representative from Houston on his Republican colleagues’ quest for a federal Medicaid waiver, the problem with block grants and what realistically the feds could do to help Texas and other states.
UT/TT Poll: Voters Want Budget Cuts but Don’t Like Options
By more than 2 to 1, Texas voters believe lawmakers should solve the state’s shortfall by cutting the budget, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune poll, but they’re divided on specific cuts.
TribWeek: In Case You Missed It
The best of our best content from Feb. 14 to 18, 2011.
The Week in Texas Politics Recap: 2/14 to 2/18
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.



