Items of Interest Compiled by Arnold Public Affairs

Below are some general items of interest pertaining to the latest political developments and important events:

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Can Texas Lege Overrule Perry on Education Money?
“You always hear that the Texas governor’s powers are weak. If that’s true, why can’t the Legislature overrule Rick Perry’s decision to reject $830 million in education funds from the federal government? The short answer: Because that’s not how Congress wrote the law…”
(View full article here).

Texas Redistricting Lawsuit: Count Citizens Only
“Redistricting doesn’t start until next week, but the first lawsuit has already been filed. Attorney Michael Hull of Austin, representing three North Texas voters, sued the state and a bunch of others, alleging that counting undocumented immigrants in political districts has an unfair and illegal effect on voters in districts with smaller numbers of non-citizens. The logic goes this way…”
(View full article here).

Plan to Fix Texas Budget Hole Taking Shape
“Texas lawmakers who make fiscal austerity their calling card have come face-to-face in recent weeks with the specter of staggering cuts to public education and health care, and they appear ready to blink. There is still no groundswell for new taxes, and nobody expects one. But as the Legislature moves into the nitty-gritty of writing an extra-lean budget, there is growing agreement that more revenue — billions of it — will be needed to help bridge the gap. The two biggest and most popular sources of new money…”
(View full article here).

Texas Is “On the Brink,” Legislative Study Group Says
“Texas’ superlatives are nothing to brag about, according to the fifth edition of “Texas on the Brink,” an annual review that ranks the state on dozens of factors ranging from health insurance to voter turnout. Despite having the highest birth rate, Texas has the worst rate of women with health insurance, and…”
(View full article here).

Texas Industries Take Big Hit in Proposed Obama Budget
“Texas industries would be hit hard in the budget President Barack Obama proposed Monday, through an end to oil and gas subsidies, aggressive promotion of clean energy and regulation of greenhouse gases — all to the dismay of many Texas lawmakers. The $3.7 trillion proposal also omits nearly all funding for Dallas’ multibillion-dollar Trinity River project. Presidents have tried to kill the project for years, but with Congress adhering to a new ban on earmarks — long the Trinity project’s lifeblood — it’s on shakier ground than ever…”
(View full article here).

GOP Lawmakers Introduce Health Care Bills
“Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Grapvine, introduced two bills Wednesday they believe could save the state a significant amount of money and produce “healthy patient outcomes.” The duo repeated those words throughout a press conference in the Capitol, flanked on all sides by stakeholders from the Texas Medical Association, the Texas Hospital Association and House Public Health Committee Chair Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham. ‘We don’t have health care in America — we have sick care,’ said Dewhurst…”
(View full article here).

Warren Chisum for Texas Railroad Commissioner?
“Put state Rep. Warren Chisum on the ‘maybe’ list for Texas railroad commissioner — if there is such a thing when the job comes open. As a sworn-in state lawmaker, the Pampa Republican is ineligible for appointment to the commission spot opened up by Michael Williams’ retirement. Williams is leaving in April to run for the U.S. Senate, and Gov. Rick Perry will appoint someone to serve until the next regular election in 2012. But current lawmakers can run then…”
(View full article here).

Jurists, Lawmakers, Lawyers: Aid Funds Running Out
“Crystal was on food stamps, she was unemployed and at one point she even had a gun pointed in her face. With the legal help of Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse, she now has a job, she can afford groceries and she has hope. “These people saved my life,” said Crystal, who gave only her first name because she is an abuse victim. Organizations like Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse, which provide legal services to those who can’t afford them, are quickly running out of money at the same time that the need for their services is increasing…”
(View full article here).

Committee News and Commentary: House Appropriations
“AUSTIN (2/16/11, E1.030, 7:00 AM) The House Appropriations Sub-Committee on Article II met this morning under the direction of Chairman Zerwas, who called the meeting to order at 7:03 AM. The meeting focused on the Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS)…”
(View full report here).