WEEKLY REPORT
September 30, 2011
A New Law on School Fitness Data Faces Obstacles
It is something state policy makers have known and have struggled to address for years. In the last decade, the Legislature has passed laws that set nutritional standards for school meals, required body mass index screenings for children and adolescents, and instituted physical activity requirements.
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Is Texas really a leader in low taxes?
On national television and in stump speeches nationwide, Gov. Rick Perry is touting Texas as a model for the U.S. economy, notably the state’s tax structure.
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Exiting Ogden keeps a hand in politics
Even though he’s not running for re-election, Senate Finance Chairman Steve Ogden is keeping a hand in politics — in part by raising money for Gov. Rick Perry‘s presidential bid.
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Report paints border of fear outside El Paso
If you want to understand the fear and threats of spillover violence in Texas border cities, talk to the people who live there — unless they are from El Paso, the co-author of a new border security report suggested on Monday.
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Perry’s Medicaid plan secret: Dems like it
Texas Gov. Rick Perry publicly floated dropping out of Medicaid less than a year ago to cut spending — but now the state is quietly revamping the health care safety net for the poor in a way even some Democrats can get behind.
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Anticipating Budget Cuts, State Agencies Shrink
State government is shrinking. Many attribute the big drop to the $15 billion in budget cuts lawmakers passed in this year’s legislative session. They kicked in on Sept. 1. But these cuts didn’t come as a shock to state agencies; they’ve been preparing for the budget deficit — and dropping employees — for more than a year.
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Dewhurst: I’ll serve in Senate, won’t support immigrants tuition law
Although Gov. Rick Perry’s White House run gets a lot of the attention, the biggest Texas race next year is for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate.
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Refunds may cut millions from schools
Some of the nation’s largest oil refineries are seeking huge tax refunds that could force school districts and local governments across Texas to give back tens of millions of dollars they were counting on to pay teachers and provide other services.
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Health reform lawsuit appears headed for Supreme Court
The Obama administration chose not to ask the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals to re-hear a pivotal health reform case Monday, signaling that it’s going to ask the Supreme Court to decide whether President Barack Obama’s health reform law is constitutional.
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School districts pull books from shelves
During Banned Books Week, which runs Sept. 24 to Oct. 1, the American Library Association brings attention to books that have drawn complaints from parents, teachers, administrators, religious groups and others.
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Health Insurers Push Premiums Sharply Higher
Major health insurance companies have been charging sharply higher premiums this year, outstripping any growth in workers’ wages and creating more uncertainty for the Obama administration and employers who are struggling to drive down an unrelenting rise in medical costs.
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Texas Inmates Don’t Vote, but They Sometimes Count
Texas prison inmates can’t vote, so most counties ignore them. But they can change the value of your votes for Congress and the state Legislature.
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Along with Florida, Texas GOP also may change plans for 2012 primary
While Florida lawmakers appear likely to move up the date of their primary this week, Texas Republicans may soon approve changes to their primary as well.
(View complete article here.)
Supreme Court keeps sonogram injunction
The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to overrule a federal judge’s preliminary injunction preventing Texas from enforcing a strict abortion sonogram law scheduled to take effect Saturday.
(View complete article here.)
Shrinking Texas school payrolls add to unemployed
The $4 billion in cuts to Texas public schools this summer might be starting to hit Gov. Rick Perry where it hurts most — his record on creating jobs.
(View complete article here.)
Comptroller’s office: Texas should expect slow economic growth next year
Texas has emerged from the recession, but economic growth will continue to be slow, in part because of hesitant consumers, the state comptroller’s top revenue estimator told lawmakers Wednesday.
(View complete article here.)
Poll: 81% unhappy with government
A record-high number of Americans say they are dissatisfied with the way the nation is being governed, a new poll says.
(View complete article here.)
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