Category Archives: Budget ballyhoo

Now that the possibility of a funding veto reversal has been floated, community college leaders hope that the state hurries up and acts, because they have budgets to plan. [Lt. Gov. David] Dewhurst has indicated that legislative budget leaders could … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Back in June, I noted that the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) was gearing up to hire a replacement for Accenture to do basically what Accenture had been doing so well before we terminated their contract. Judging from … Continue reading → Continue reading →

You never know sometimes what will turn into a big political issue. In the wake of the 80th Lege, one of the bigger controversies has turned out to be Governor Perry’s veto of $154 million in health benefits for community … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Yesterday, I posted about the brewing battle over S-CHIP funding between Congress and the President. I suggested that maybe just this once, it might be a good idea to try to lobby our two Senators about this, since CHIP has … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Here’s an important message from the CPPP: Take Action: Texas’ CHIP Funding in Jeopardy at the Federal Level The 2007 Texas legislative session saw important health care victories for Texas children through the Children’s Health Insurance Program. Now it’s up … Continue reading → Continue reading →

The effect of the dollar-a-pack increase in the cigarette tax has been more or less as expected, but it’s still early to say what trends may exist. The state sold about 484,000 tax stamps, which must be affixed to every … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Back in April, a settlement was reached in the Frew v. Hawkins lawsuit, which had to do with the state of Texas failing to meet its Medicaid obligations. Yesterday, that settlement was approved by the judge, which brings this long … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Today’s story on the pension deal fills in a few blanks. The city’s annual financial contribution, which increases with the liability, had been a source of contention in recent weeks. White has defiantly stated that the city couldn’t afford a … Continue reading → Continue reading →

This is a very good article on the needs of dyslexic students in Houston and how they are not being met by HISD, but I have the nagging feeling that something is missing. Can you tell what it is? Hundreds … Continue reading → Continue reading →

As we know, the state of Texas terminated its contract with Accenture to operate call centers to determine benefits eligibility back in December. While the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) is trying to bring back former employees to … Continue reading → Continue reading →

What can you say when the budget gets passed and that’s nowhere near the biggest news of the day? The Texas Legislature approved the $152.5 billion state budget after midnight, with supporters defending it as fiscally responsible and critics calling … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Rep. Robert Talton, the biggest bill-killer this session, has apparently called a point of order on the budget bill, HB1. He was one of a few anti-Craddick Republicans to complain about pork in the budget, and it looks like he’s … Continue reading → Continue reading →

We may finally get to some budget debate today, too. If you want to know where things stand, the CPPP, in particular Scott McCown, says: “While the budget will spend almost 95% of General Revenue on education, health care, and … Continue reading → Continue reading →

With all the craziness in the House yesterday, the news that a CHIP deal was reached by Senate and House conferees got overlooked. Which is too bad, because it looks like it’s a pretty good deal. Under the agreed-to plan, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Capitol Letters says the recently-passed CHIP bill HB109 is still being monkeyed with by the Senate and David Dewhurst. After collecting kudos Tuesday from the Texas Network of IAF Organizations (Dallas Area Interfaith, Valley Interfaith and so on), Mr. Dewhurst … Continue reading → Continue reading →

With all the other legislative activity going on as the session winds down, I’d almost lost track of the one thing the Lege must do, which is pass a budget. They’re almost there, according to the conference chairs. Senate Finance … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Well, HB109 passed yesterday and that’s a good start, even if there’s room for improvement. The Texas Senate on Tuesday agreed to loosen some enrollment restrictions for children in the state’s low-cost insurance program for working poor families, allowing their … Continue reading → Continue reading →

I sure hope so, that’s all I can say. It’s taken way, way too long. Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst said that a plan to expand the Children’s Health Insurance Program will clear the Senate today. “Of course this bill is … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Still not the best we can do, but better than what we’ve got. Budget negotiators agreed Thursday to spend as much as $89.5 million to expand CHIP, which is for children in families that don’t qualify for Medicaid and can’t … Continue reading → Continue reading →

From the CPPP: SB 407 by Eltife would permit cities and counties to levy an additional 1/4% sales tax each to offset property taxes. These sales taxes could be in addition to the state sales tax of 6 1/4% and … Continue reading → Continue reading →

State Rep. Garnet Coleman explains why legislative policies aren’t the only reason why CHIP enrollment drops. Administrative directives are policies that govern the administration of CHIP. These policies are not state laws, which must be established by the Texas Legislature, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

I’ve been told that the best way to deal with someone who finally comes around to your way of thinking after resisting for a long time is to pretend he’s always agreed with you. With that in mind, let me … Continue reading → Continue reading →

CPPP: Today the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) announced that 17,078 fewer children will be covered by the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) in May than in April. This is the second largest number of children ever to be … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Behold how the world works. The House’s second most powerful member inserted a provision in the budget last month that would all but guarantee a state contract for a company run by a former state official. The lawmaker, House Appropriations … Continue reading → Continue reading →

He had to overcome a Talton point of order, but Sylvester Turner is one step closer to getting the System Benefit Fund restored. Public interest groups hailed the tentative passage of House Bill 551, sponsored by Rep. Sylvester Turner, D-Houston. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

The following is an email from the Texas State Employees’ Union (TSEU) regarding the Office of the Inspector General’s report on TIERS. It was sent to me by an HHSC worker. It’s long, so I’ve put it beneath the fold. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Boy, does this ever raise a bunch of red flags. Former state Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn more than a year ago asked Attorney General Greg Abbott for a legal opinion on whether the state’s expanded business tax amounts to an … Continue reading → Continue reading →

I received a copy in the mail of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission’s official response to the Office of the Inspector General’s report about the abject failure of the TIERS software system. It’s uploaded here (PDF) for those … Continue reading → Continue reading →

This article about how convenience stores just on the other side of the Texas border – especially those in Louisiana – are doing a landmark business since the state cigarette tax went up by a dollar isn’t surprising. This is … Continue reading → Continue reading →

I’ve spilled plenty of electronic ink arguing for a full restoration of CHIP funding in Texas. Among the many reasons for this is the fact that not doing so has cost Texas millions of dollars in federal matching funds. If … Continue reading → Continue reading →

As you know, the state of Texas recently cancelled its contract with Accenture to run call centers to determine eligibility for benefits like Medicaid. But the call-center deal was only part of what Accenture was doing for the Health and … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Back in June, the Edd Hendee group CLOUT filed a lawsuit that claimed that the constitutional spending cap was illegally exceeded by the Legislative Budget Board (LBB) during the 2006 special session on school finance. That suit was thrown out … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Of all the things the Lege does, none is quite as awe-inspiring and stomach-churning as the joint committee to reconcile the House and Senate budgets. Basically, everything that’s happened so far – in particular, all of the victories by the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

As expected, the Senate approved its budget today. What was not expected was the fireworks that accompanied it. Attacking from the right, Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, said he’s concerned that state budgets keep growing but Texas keeps trailing in rankings … Continue reading → Continue reading →