At the Trib’s April 25 symposium on higher education at the University of Texas at Austin, state Reps. Garnet Coleman, D-Houston, and John Zerwas, R-Simonton, talked about Medicaid, mental health and more.
83rd Legislative Session
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Public Education
Hot Seat: A Conversation With Farney and Schwertner
At our 4/26 Hot Seat conversation at Southwestern University in Georgetown, state Rep. Marsha Farney, R-Georgetown, and state Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown, talked about public education, water, the budget and other issues in play in the 83rd session.
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Criminal Justice
House Backs $875 Million Budget Bill After Hot Debate
A debate in the Texas House on a supplemental budget bill Friday veered into debates on the Travis County district attorney’s drunken driving charge and the murder of two Kaufman County prosecutors.
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Economy
Cash for Road Repair in Shale Areas Proves Elusive
Efforts by state lawmakers to find money to repair South and West Texas roads torn up amid a drilling boom appear to be stalling, according to some officials working on the matter. Officials warn about the hazards of not maintaining these roads.
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State Government
Video: Lottery Commission Bill Moving Forward
After an unexpected debate that spanned two days, House members passed House Bill 2197 – to continue the Texas Lottery Commission — with a key provision that could ultimately lead to its demise.
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Politics
House Approves Continuation of Lottery Commission
Despite voting a second time in favor of continuing the Texas Lottery Commission on Wednesday, the majority of House members made clear that they would like to study how to wind down the agency.
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Public Education
Despite Concerns, TEA Moving Forward on A-F School Ratings Plan
Against the recommendation of school leaders and amid skepticism from some lawmakers, the Texas Education Agency will continue working toward a transition to a public school accountability ratings system with grades of A through F.
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Economy
Senate Backs $5.7 Billion Plan for Roads, Water, Schools
After spending most of the day locked away in negotiations, the Senate unanimously approved a measure pulling $5.7 billion from the Rainy Day Fund for water and road projects and public education.
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Public Education
Senate Panel Discusses Scrutiny of State Testing Contracts
The procedures that led to the state’s five-year, $468 million standardized testing contract with Pearson were the focus of a Senate panel’s hearing Tuesday on legislation that would change how the state handles future agreements.
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Bidness As Usual
Bill That Would End “Double Dipping” Gets Hearing
The obscure law that allows Gov. Rick Perry to collect both his pension and salary was the subject of a hearing Monday. A proposed bill would prevent future state officeholders from using the provision.