Top Stories
- House closes current budget gap, prepares to take on next – Tim Eaton, Austin American-Statesman
- Texas Legislature: GOP uses its leverage in budget marathon – Zahira Torres, El Paso Times
Elections have consequences, and Democrats haven’t won an election in a long while. - 50 facts about the House’s proposed state budget – Jason Embry, First Reading
4) It could cause about 96,000 school employees across Texas to lose their jobs, according to the Center for Public Policy Priorities.
“Liberal Texas group CPPP, which is fighting the budget cuts, speculates that up to 96,000 school employees could lose their jobs.” We prefer our wording.
- House GOP freshmen are flexing some muscle – Joe Holley and Gary Scharrer, San Antonio Express-News
They’re holding firm despite rear-guard amendments from beleaguered House Democrats and despite concerns expressed by folks back home about teachers losing jobs, nursing homes closing and college financial aid withering.
Concerns back home, or concerns from Texas political media?
- UT controversy a distraction from its tech potential, Perry says – Ralph Haurwitz, Austin American-Statesman
The Governor cavalierly bats aside the latest obsession of the state’s political media. - Laffer: CSHB 1 job loss claims “wrong and not based on sound economics” – TPPF
The LBB report is worthless. It used a model which assumed the conclusion. - School Daze – Abby Rapoport, The Texas Observer
On the sunny second Saturday in March, 11,000 Texans massed on the state Capitol grounds to demand that the state adequately fund public schools.
11,000? It used to be a mere “several thousand.” What’s the over/under on how many months until it becomes 20,000?
- Sneak Attack on Public Integrity Unit? – Nate Blakeslee, BurkaBlog
Similar efforts in previous sessions went nowhere….
If there were similar efforts in previous sessions AND our state’s political media could figure out this year’s proposal, then the notion of a “sneak attack” is a bit of a stretch, no? Leaving partisanship aside, why does a mere county have jurisdiction over a statewide office?
- Texas students should not take back seat to research – Ronald Trowbridge, Houston Chronicle
Professors have every incentive to research and almost none to teach. - John Silber sounds like a Regent – Weston Hicks, AgendaWise Reports
- Texas’ highway funding system gets an ‘F’ – Gordon Dickson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram
- Public pension details in Texas kept confidential, not subject to public records requests – Steve Miller, Texas Watchdog
- Insurers Drop Child-Only Plans, Blame Health Reform – Emily Ramshaw, Texas Tribune
Some states have responded to these insurers with legislation.
The answer to unanticipated consequences of previous, poorly vetted healthcare legislation is…. even more market-distorting healthcare legislation!
- Study: $329 million wasted by Medicaid on brand-name drugs when cheaper generics available; Texas waste at $8 per enrollee – Mark Lisherson, Texas Watchdog
- ‘A rampant war just south of our border’ – Gary Martin, San Antonio Express-News
A travesty. Obama continues to turn a blind eye.
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