The Brief: Jan. 22, 2015
From state agencies paying employees' tuition to House budget writers sending a shot across the UT System's bow, here are two good reads to start your day. Full Story
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Abbott Names New HHSC Watchdog
In one of his first moves as governor, Greg Abbott has tapped Stuart Bowen Jr., the special inspector general who oversaw the reconstruction of Iraq, to be the chief watchdog at the state's embattled health agency. Full Story
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![Gov.-elect Greg Abbott gives a speech at a Texas Public Policy Foundation conference on Jan. 8, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
The Playlist: Them Changes
This week was marked by a big turnover in state government, so we’re launching our playlist of the news with "Changes," played here by the Band of Gypsys. Full Story
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Credit: Graphic by John Jordan -
A Look Back at the 83rd: How Some Issues Played Out in the 2013 Session
With the 84th Legislature underway, we've renewed our State of Mind video series, a look at various issues that communities across the state are talking about. First up, a look at some issues from the last session. Full Story
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HHSC Exec Given Taxpayer-Funded MBA Resigns
Already placed on leave, the deputy chief of staff to Health and Human Services Commission chief Kyle Janek resigned Friday, and has started paying back half the $97,050 tuition paid by the state. Full Story
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![Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Kyle Janek whispers to an aide at a hearing of the Sunset Advisory Commission on Jan. 14, 2015.]()
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Arkansas Medicaid Plan Offers Mixed Lessons
Early on, supporters of Medicaid expansion pointed to Arkansas as an example of how Texas might go about helping insure its poor. But lately, the neighbor's grass doesn't look quite as green. Full Story
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The Brief: Jan. 16, 2015
Gov. Rick Perry's formal farewell Thursday afternoon to the state Legislature dominated headlines with writers trying to discern from his speech what the future holds for him. Full Story
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![Gov. Rick Perry delivers a farewell speech to a joint session of the Texas House and Senate on Jan. 15, 2015.]()
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Sources: Abbott Will Wait to Decide on Janek's Future
Amid calls for Texas Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Kyle Janek to resign over a contracting scandal, sources close to Gov.-elect Greg Abbott say Abbott won't decide on Janek's future until after the completion of state investigations. Full Story
![Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Kyle Janek whispers to an aide at a hearing of the Sunset Advisory Commission on Jan. 14, 2015.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
The Brief: Jan. 15, 2015
Gov. Rick Perry will close the door on 30 years of state government work with a farewell address Thursday afternoon to the Legislature. Full Story
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Greg Abbott Gives Back 21CT Campaign Donation
Gov.-elect Greg Abbott's office has confirmed that he returned a $10,000 campaign contribution from the CEO of the beleaguered company at the center of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission contracting woes. Full Story
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![Greg Abbott is shown visiting the Senate chamber on Jan. 13, 2015.]()
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Video: New House Members on the Health Care
At our 1/14 conversation, new state Reps. Celia Israel, D-Austin, Linda Koop, R-Dallas, and Matt Rinaldi, R-Irving, talked about what the Lege is likely to do on health care. Full Story
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Amid Health Commission Contracting Fallout, Abbott Calls for Review
UPDATED: Gov.-elect Greg Abbott announced Wednesday the creation of an independent "strike force" to review the state's largest health agency, specifically how it awards contracts to private vendors. Full Story
![Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Kyle Janek whispers to an aide at a hearing of the Sunset Advisory Commission on Jan. 14, 2015.]()
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The Brief: Jan. 13, 2015
A historic vote for House speaker could happen on a day long on ceremony otherwise. Full Story
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The Brief: Jan. 12, 2015
Glenn Hegar, the state's new comptroller, today releases his revenue estimate for the next two years, which will go a long way to setting the early tone for the 84th Legislature. Full Story
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![Glenn Hegar (far right) stands with chief revenue estimators past and future. From left: Dale Craymer, Billy Hamilton and Tom Currah, the incoming estimator.]()
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The Playlist: Brand New Day
With the 84th Legislature starting next week and new faces in every statewide office, it feels like a "Brand New Day" in and around the Capitol, so that's how we started this week's playlist off of the week's news. Full Story
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HHSC Revamping Rules After Paying for Janek Aide's MBA
The embattled agency on Friday promised reforms, after confirming a Tribune finding that an employee with ties to Commissioner Kyle Janek and ousted chief counsel Jack Stick has been pursuing his MBA at taxpayers' expense. Full Story
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![Texas Health and Human Services Commissioner Kyle Janek is shown at a Texas Tribune event in 2012.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
The Brief: Jan. 8, 2015
Unexpectedly tough lines of questioning by federal appeals court judges hearing arguments over Texas' requirement that abortion clinics meet hospital-like standards buoyed hopes of abortion rights supporters on Wednesday. Full Story
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![An abortion procedure room at the Whole Woman's Health ambulatory surgical center in San Antonio.]()
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Appeals Judges Grill Lawyers Over Abortion Law Provision
As they weigh the constitutionality of a Texas abortion law, federal appeals court judges on Wednesday challenged arguments presented by the state and abortion providers during more than an hour of tough questioning. Full Story
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![The U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals building in New Orleans.]()
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Lakey Leaving DSHS, but Not Public Health
It's official: David Lakey is leaving his job as the state's public health chief for a new academic post. His move comes as lawmakers are considering consolidating the state's health agencies, which could've meant changes for Lakey. Full Story
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![Dr. Lakey questions witness during the Texas Task Force on Infectious Disease Preparedness and Response at the Texas Capitol on October 23rd, 2014]()
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Court to Weigh Texas Policies on Abortion and Gay Marriage
This week, a federal appeals court is set to consider two prominent Texas cases: a legal challenge to the state's strict abortion regulations and an attempt to overturn the state’s longstanding ban on same-sex marriages. Full Story
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Credit: Todd Wiseman / Callie Richmond
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