Tag Archives: John Zerwas

House considers a bigger ask from the Rainy Day Fund

Posted on March 18, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Needs must, as they say. The proposal from state Rep. John Zerwas, a Richmond Republican and the House’s chief budget writer, would withdraw about $2.4 billion from the Rainy Day Fund as part of a supplemental budget to pay bills … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Bill to restore some budget flexibility filed

Posted on March 13, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

Call it the Law of Unintended Consequences Act of 2017. The Texas House’s chief budget writer filed legislation Friday that would allow lawmakers to claw back billions of dollars that voters approved for state highways, freeing them up for other … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Bill to restore some budget flexibility filed

Zerwas proposes using Rainy Day Fund

Posted on March 7, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

We’ll see if this goes anywhere. The chief budget writer in the Texas House on Friday proposed using $1.4 billion from the state’s savings account to pay bills coming due for a wide array of the state’s health and human … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Precinct analysis: Fort Bend State Rep districts

Posted on December 13, 2016 by Charles Kuffner

Following on from yesterday’s post, here’s a look at the vote in Fort Bend from the perspective of the State Rep districts. Office Rep Dem Rep % Dem % =============================================== President 35,005 31,558 52.59% 47.41% CJ, 1st CofA 40,047 28,336 … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2016 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Precinct analysis: Fort Bend State Rep districts

House approves limited medical marijuana bill

Posted on May 19, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

And there it is. On a 96-34 vote, the House passed Senate Bill 339, from state Sen. Kevin Eltife, R-Tyler, which would legalize oils containing CBD, a non-euphoric component of marijuana known to treat epilepsy and other chronic medical conditions. … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on House approves limited medical marijuana bill

Call to action: DREAM Act repeal hearing set for Monday

Posted on April 3, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

You know the drill. The push to repeal a 2001 law that allows some undocumented students to pay in-state tuition at public colleges and universities is returning to the legislative spotlight, but on an unusual stage. On Monday, the border … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 20 Comments

Texas Obamacare enrollments top 850K

Posted on January 19, 2015 by Charles Kuffner

And counting. Officials at the Department of Health and Human Services Wednesday announced nearly 860,000 Texans so far have enrolled in health insurance marketplace coverage with a month left still left to go until the 2015 open enrollment period ends. … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Texas Obamacare enrollments top 850K

What’s the Lege going to do with the revenue?

Posted on December 9, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Not as much as it should, of course, because the Lege never comes close to doing as much as it should. It’s a question of whether they’ll try to address some real problems, or just engage in an orgy of … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on What’s the Lege going to do with the revenue?

It’s still not Medicaid expansion

Posted on December 3, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

The Legislature may do something that could sort of be called “Medicaid expansion”, if only for lack of a better term, but we would all do well to remain deeply skeptical of what they might consider. The once taboo subject … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on It’s still not Medicaid expansion

Expand Medicaid or else

Posted on November 13, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Turns out the federal government has more leverage over Texas than you might think. If Texas wants to keep receiving billions of federal dollars to help hospitals care for uninsured patients, state lawmakers may have to look again at expanding … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

LVdP for Medicaid expansion

Posted on August 24, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

No surprise here. Democratic state Sen. Leticia Van de Putte vowed to overturn Republican opposition to expanding the state’s Medicaid program under the Affordable Care Act if elected lieutenant governor, saying the state should act to protect poor, uninsured adults. … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2014 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on LVdP for Medicaid expansion

Don’t sweat that court ruling on Obamacare tax credits just yet

Posted on July 23, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

It’s too soon to say what effect, if any will be felt in Texas. Opposing rulings from two federal courts Tuesday left unclear the future prospects of federal financial aid to Texans who qualify for assistance to purchase health insurance … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Don’t sweat that court ruling on Obamacare tax credits just yet

More on Texas Left Me Out

Posted on February 10, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

The Observer reports on the launch of Texas Left Me Out. Members of the coalition pointed to two different studies that estimate that thousands of uninsured Texans with chronic conditions are likely to die as a result of not expanding Medicaid. A Harvard … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on More on Texas Left Me Out

Arkansas will expand Medicaid

Posted on October 12, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

If they can do it… [Friday], the Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services notified state officials in Arkansas that it has approved the states’ Medicaid expansion plan. And this is not any old expansion plan: Arkansas will be the only … Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Arkansas will expand Medicaid

Texas really needs Obamacare

Posted on August 7, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

We’ve always known that Texas would be a huge beneficiary of the Affordable Care Act because of our huge volume of uninsured people, but this quantifies it in a way that really brings it home. Texas is home to more … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Medicaid expansion is now double secret illegal

Posted on May 23, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Whatever. In a surprise turn in the House on Monday evening, a bill to reform Medicaid long-term and acute care services became a vehicle for the GOP’s platform against Medicaid expansion. “Many of us are very weary of Medicaid expansion,” … Continue reading →

Posted in Technology, science, and math | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Maybe I buried Medicaid expansion too soon

Posted on May 14, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

I still think it’s dead, but I could be wrong about that. The fate of Medicaid reform in Texas could rest solely on an up-or-down vote on the 2014-15 budget. State Rep. John Zerwas, R-Simonton, a member of the conference … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Medicaid “expansion” likely dead

Posted on May 8, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

The calendar is a harsh mistress. The House’s lead health care budget writer says his bill to force Gov. Rick Perry’s administration to explore the potential for a “Texas solution” on Medicaid expansion is dead. Rep. John Zerwas, R-Richmond, said … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Medicaid “expansion” likely dead

Weekend legislative threefer

Posted on April 27, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

That sound you heard on Friday was Rick Perry stamping his feet if he doesn’t get his way. Gov. Rick Perry is warning state legislators that it could be a long, hot summer in Austin if they don’t pass his … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget ballyhoo | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Medicaid “expansion” bill passes out of House committee

Posted on April 25, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Forgive me for tempering my excitement about this, but it’s not that much to be excited about. Despite opposition from conservative Republicans, the House Appropriations Committee on Tuesday advanced a proposal that would reform Medicaid by allowing the state to … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Medicaid “expansion” bill passes out of House committee

What Obamacare will do for Texas

Posted on April 19, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Even without Medicaid expansion, the Affordable Care Act will help millions of Texans get access to health care. Nearly 2.6 million Texans could qualify for tax credits to purchase health insurance in 2014, according to a report released Thursday by … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

House discusses Medicaid expansion

Posted on April 17, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Sounds like a sincere effort, though whether it can get anywhere is an open question. Amid hours of testimony from advocates in support of Medicaid expansion on Tuesday, state Rep. John Zerwas, R-Simonton, described his proposal to create an alternative … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Williams’ “Medicaid” plan

Posted on April 4, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

I’m really not sure what to make of this. State Sen. Tommy Williams, R-The Woodlands, is crafting a Medicaid reform plan that would use premium tax revenue to subsidize private health plans for uninsured Texans, his office confirmed on Tuesday … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

The limits of the Arkansas option

Posted on April 1, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

I’ve mentioned the Arkansas option for expanding Medicaid several times, under which the state uses Medicaid money to buy private health insurance for those who would be eligible for Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. It’s not my preferred solution, … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The politics of refusing Medicaid expansion

Posted on March 27, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Ron Brownstein posits that by his stubborn and increasingly isolated resistance to Medicaid expansion, including via the Arkansas option, Rick Perry is putting Republicans in electoral danger in Texas. Brownstein runs through the economic arguments and touches on the legislative … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

You can present that “Texas solution” any time now

Posted on March 22, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

State Rep. John Zerwas takes to the op-ed pages to assure us that yes, the Republicans really truly do want to do something about the vast number of uninsured people in this state if only they are given the freedom … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on You can present that “Texas solution” any time now

Straus wants someone to do something on Medicaid

Posted on March 10, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Don’t we all, Joe. Don’t we all. Seeking to light a fire under fellow Republicans to provide health care to more uninsured Texans, House Speaker Joe Straus said Wednesday that it is time to “get our heads out of the … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

You can’t undo the damage to women’s health

Posted on March 4, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

At the very end of this story, in which Rep. John Zerwas and Sen. Charles Schwertner, both of whom are physicians in real life, say that they (mostly) stand with Rick Perry on not expanding Medicaid, they also say this: … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Medicaid expansion pressure is having an effect

Posted on February 20, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Despite the mountains of evidence in its favor, I still can’t say that I see a path to Medicaid expansion in Texas. But stories like this do give me some hope. Adamantly opposed to expanding Medicaid coverage under President Barack … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Medicaid expansion pressure is having an effect

January finance reports for area legislative offices

Posted on January 29, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

Just to complete the tour of semiannual finance reports, here’s a look at the cash on hand totals for area legislators. First up, the Harris County House delegation. Patricia Harless, HD126 – $308,221 Dan Huberty, HD127 – $69,058 Wayne Smith, … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

“Collateral damage”

Posted on August 19, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

How’s that war on women going? In the year since deep cuts to family planning funding took effect, the impact has become apparent. An Observer review of state records has found that 146 clinics have lost state funds, clumped mainly … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

What will Texas do now?

Posted on July 1, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

Now that the Affordable Care Act has been upheld by the Supreme Court, there are two big issues that Texas will have to face. (*) One is the health care exchanges, and the other is Medicaid expansion, now that there’s … Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The feds will run Texas’ health insurance exchange

Posted on February 21, 2012 by Charles Kuffner

That seems to be where we’re headed. Texas is almost alone among the nation’s largest states in failing to start work on a key piece of the Affordable Care Act, as legislators and state agencies follow Gov. Rick Perry’s wish … Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The feds will run Texas’ health insurance exchange

All abortion, all the time

Posted on June 23, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

In-fight all you want, Republicans. The clock is ticking. Abortion-rights opponents in the House have threatened to scuttle a comprehensive health care savings bill if negotiators don’t add prohibitions against abortions at public hospitals in cases of severe fetal abnormality. … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on All abortion, all the time