With just a few days left in the 2013 legislative regular session, details and summary information on the 2013 and 2014-15 state budget deals are finally starting to emerge. The conference
By Jeanie Donovan The US Senate and House Agriculture Committees approved separate versions of a new five-year farm bill and both pieces of legislation include damaging cuts to SNAP (formerly
“Because the governor is hesitant to expand Medicaid, the legislature will probably adjourn without taking full advantage of the dollars available to Texas to cover the uninsured through the Affordable
The Senate this week will consider tax giveaways that would reduce the amount available to support public services in the next state budget by $1 billion. Supporters claim these tax
The Associated Press reported this week that Texas hospitals could lose $56 million in 2014 in special Medicaid payments to hospitals that serve lots of people on Medicaid and the uninsured (so-called
In yesterday’s New York Times, Angelina Jolie got the world talking about breast cancer. Having been diagnosed with a “faulty” BRCA1 gene, and knowing she stood an 87 percent chance
A tax abatement program that already reduces school property tax revenue by $4.2 billion would be expanded and extended by HB 3390, which passed the House on Friday, and SB
A couple of bills filed this session address “balance billing” in health insurance. HB 3270 by Rep. Smithee puts into state law important new consumer protections against balance billing first
By Jeanie Donovan When a Texas family is struggling to make ends meet or having trouble keeping food on the table, they may turn to SNAP (formerly food stamps) to
“When it comes to funding priorities for Texas children, legislators appear to be facing similar tough choices as they work to finalize the state budget. The Senate and House have