Medicaid

TribWeek: In Case You Missed It

By Evan Smith June 4, 2011

Aaronson and Grissom on a freshman lawmaker who didn't mind making waves, Aguilar on E-Verify's new lease on life, Galbraith on the state's plodding progress toward solar power, Hamilton on Warren Chisum's exit, Philpott on the remapping of Lloyd Doggett's district, Ramsey on a proposed change to ethics laws for Texas pols, Ramshaw on efforts by the state to take control of Medicaid and Medicare, Root on why a Rick presidential bid shouldn't be underestimated, M. Smith on the unraveling of school finance legislation and Tan and Dehn on the highs and lows of the 82nd legislative session: The best of our best content from May 30 to June 3, 2011. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
Updated: Lawmakers Renew Push to Take Over Medicaid, Medicare

By Emily Ramshaw June 3, 2011

Texas’ long-shot efforts to take control of Medicare and Medicaid — the health programs for the elderly, the disabled and the state’s poorest children — from the feds are back on the table. Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Jacob Villanueva
Unfinished Business, and Then Some

By Ross Ramsey June 3, 2011

Texas lawmakers are back for a special session that started the day after their 140-day regular session. That’s something like sprinting to the finish of a long race and having your coach yell, just as you break the tape, “One more lap.” Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
Health Bills in Legislative Committees, Again

By Emily Ramshaw June 2, 2011

The Senate Finance Committee — for the second time — has passed out measures designed to make Medicaid more efficient and effective, and to open the door for medical professions and institutions to collaborate. Full Story

Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera
A Health-ful Special Session

By Emily Ramshaw June 1, 2011

With health care front and center in Gov. Rick Perry's special session call, lawmakers have already filed several key bills addressing multiple issues, from state efforts to seize control of Medicaid and Medicare to abortion. Full Story

Credit: Graphic by Todd Wiseman
Session's End Creates Graveyard of Failed Legislation

By Christopher Smith Gonzalez May 31, 2011

The system is meant to kill legislation: That’s the old line often heard around the Capitol. As the session's end slams the coffin door on a slew of bills, more than a few lawmakers are taking solace in the fact that their dead bills have lots of company. Full Story
Day One, 1st Called Session of the 82nd Legislature

By Brandi Grissom, Ross Ramsey, Emily Ramshaw, Morgan Smith, Julián Aguilar and Thanh Tan May 31, 2011

Your lawmakers, after 140 days in Austin, didn't finish their budget work for 2012-13 during the legislative session that ended Monday, and Gov. Rick Perry called them back for another crack at it, starting this morning. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
Updated: Perry Gives New Session, With New Rules, Its Agenda

By Ross Ramsey May 30, 2011

First two items on the call from Gov. Rick Perry: The "non-revenue" and school finance bill, and the Medicaid reforms that were in SB 23. That's where we start, and the governor can add as we go. Full Story

Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera
House and Senate Adjourn; Special Session to Begin Tuesday

By Brandi Grissom, Emily Ramshaw, Morgan Smith, Julián Aguilar and Thanh Tan May 30, 2011

Both the House and Senate have adjourned sine die. But without a school finance deal in the Senate, Gov. Rick Perry is expected to call a special session for 8 a.m. Tuesday. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
The HB 1 Apostates Explain Themselves

By Evan Smith May 30, 2011

Several members of the Legislature bucked their parties Saturday night in voting for or against the state budget. In their own words, here's why. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
Summer School Ahead for Texas Legislators

By Ross Ramsey May 30, 2011

Lawmakers were hoping to get out of Austin with their business done, without the prospect of a special session this summer. Fat chance. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
Guest Column: The Case for Family Planning Funding

By Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin May 30, 2011

This session we have seen an all out assault on women's health driven by the erroneous assumption that family planning is synonymous with abortion. Full Story
Liveblog: A Make-or-Break Day for the Budget

By Ross Ramsey, Emily Ramshaw, Morgan Smith and Jay Root May 29, 2011

With less than two days left in the legislative session, lawmakers set out to pay for the budget by passing SB 1811. Without it, the budget doesn't balance and lawmakers will be forced to come back in a special session. It passed in the House, but was undone by a Senate filibuster. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
20 Weeks in Which the Budget Held Sway

By Brandi Grissom, Reeve Hamilton, Ross Ramsey, Emily Ramshaw, Morgan Smith, Julián Aguilar and Kate Galbraith May 29, 2011

The 82nd Texas Legislature’s regular session ends as it started, with lawmakers arguing about a shrunken state budget and redistricting. Full Story

Credit: Caleb Bryant Miller
Liveblog: Lege Passes Budget Cuts of $15 Billion

By Ross Ramsey, Emily Ramshaw and Morgan Smith May 28, 2011

Texas lawmakers passed a two-year state budget on Saturday that cuts $15.2 billion from current spending — most of that in health and human services — but avoids increased taxes and leaves $6.5 billion untouched in the state's Rainy Day Fund. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
Crownover: Smoking Ban Dead, Again

By Emily Ramshaw May 28, 2011

Many thought this was the year. But Rep. Myra Crownover, R-Denton, acknowledged on Saturday that a measure establishing a statewide smoking ban in Texas is dead. Full Story

Credit: Andhi J
Guest Column: The Case for Family Planning Funding

By Donna Howard May 27, 2011

Eliminating funds for family planning services is not a responsible or compassionate choice. It will shift the burden of care to our already overloaded local hospitals and leave the women who depend on these services with few options. Full Story
A Businesslike Budget, After a Fashion

By Ross Ramsey May 27, 2011

When Texas lawmakers said they wanted to run government like a business, they left out the part about using Enron and Countrywide as their models. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
Smoking Ban Officially Snuffed?

By Becca Aaronson May 26, 2011

Hope for a smoke-free Texas seems officially snuffed. State Sen. Bob Deuell, R-Greenville, said today that a statewide smoking ban would not live on as an amendment to Senate Bill 1811. Full Story

Credit: Andhi J
Women's Health Program Still Stands, but Questions Linger

By Emily Ramshaw May 26, 2011

The Women's Health Program — long believed to require legislative renewal — lives on, at least for now, in the form of a budget rider. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman