The Weekly TribCast: Episode 76
In this week's jam-packed episode, Evan, Ross, Reeve and Ben discuss higher education reformers, data security at the Comptroller's office, redistricting, the budget, and birthdays. Full Story
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Ogden Proposes Taking Additional $3B From Rainy Day Fund
Senate Finance Chair Steve Ogden, R-Bryan, has dropped the news many have been waiting to hear: He wants to attach a contingency provision to the 2012-13 budget that would withdraw $3 billion from the Rainy Day Fund. Full Story
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![Sen. Steve Ogden R-Bryan during Senate Finance Committee hearing on April 19th, 2011]()
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Wrongful-Conviction Bill Moves Toward Passage in House
The House got closer Wednesday to locking in measures to reduce the number of wrongful convictions in Texas. Full Story
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House: Foster Kids Must Get Records Faster
Responding to a Texas Tribune article about young adults who age out of foster care being denied their records, House lawmakers passed a bill today to require the prompt release of case files following a child's discharge from foster care. Full Story
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House Tentatively Passes TEXAS Grants Bill
The House tentatively passed a bill to provide students who have demonstrated college readiness with priority access to TEXAS Grants, the state's primary need-based financial aid program. Full Story
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Cornyn Won't Take "Nickel Tour" of Planned Parenthood
Sen. John Cornyn will not be “taking the nickel tour” of any Planned Parenthood branch, his office said Wednesday, in response to an offer by one of the organization’s Texas branches to arrange an informational visit. Full Story
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Representatives Move Back Redistricting
House lawmakers will get another day to pore over redistricting maps, after Democratic members vehemently opposed an effort to change the deadline for submitting amendments. Full Story
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Lawmakers Consider Resuscitation Bill
House lawmakers considered a bill this morning that would direct emergency services personnel to perform life-sustaining treatment on a patient without reviewing a written directive or living will first. Full Story
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Data Exposure a Political Setback for Combs?
A new phone scam has highlighted the possible trouble ahead for Texans who had their personal information exposed — and, as Ben Philpott of KUT News and the Tribune reports, for Comptroller Susan Combs, whose office mistakenly leaked the data. Full Story
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Annotated Documents: Superintendent Contracts
We’ve annotated the contracts of the 10 highest-paid school superintendents, along with those who lead the state’s 10 largest districts, so readers can view their pay in the context of retirement benefits, performance incentives, and perks like automobile and cellphone allowances. Full Story
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Guest Column: Don't Mess With My District!
Partisan redistricting aimed to protect or harm politicians only hurts the voters and their ability to participate in the political process. At its core, this is not about me or my party affiliation. It's about the people of Senate District 10. Full Story
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Physical Therapists Fight Mandatory Referrals
Physical therapists are pushing a bill to allow them to treat patients without a physician referral. The measure faces stiff opposition from physician groups, which say it could present a health risk to patients. Full Story
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![Chase Bearden hopes to convince lawmakers that he, and other's needing physical therapy, should be allowed to go to a physical therapist without getting a doctor's referral first.]()
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House Tentatively Approves Salvia Ban
The House gave early approval today to a ban on salvia, a legal hallucinogen most often sold online and in head shops. Full Story
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Senators Look for Money Without Saying "Taxes"
State senators have unveiled a list of almost $5 billion in cash-flow tricks, property sales and fees that could be used to ease cuts in the state budget, but it's not enough to completely close the gap between what they have available and what they hope to spend. Full Story
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![Senate Finance Committee Chair Sen. Steve Ogden and Sen. John Whitmire listen during committee meeting on April 19th, 2011]()
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Senate OKs "Strategic" Energy Exploration Council
The Senate today approved creation of the Texas Energy Policy Council, which would be in charge of planning a long-term strategy for potential exploration and production of both renewable and nonrenewable energy. Full Story
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Update: El Paso Hospitals May Be Allowed to Hire Docs
A bill passed by the Senate today would let the El Paso County Hospital District directly employ medical professionals to compensate for the severe shortage in the area. Full Story
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Small Brewers Ask Lawmakers to Open the Tap
Craft beer brewers came back to the Capitol today to ask lawmakers to grant them another way to get their beers in the hands of customers. But the chairman of a House committee said they may have to wait until next year. Full Story
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Senate Passes Reforms on How Police May Restrain Mentally, Physically Disabled
Two bills passed the state Senate today that would change the way mentally and physically disabled people and children are restrained and cared for by law enforcement officers. Full Story
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On the Records: A GOP Map Protects the GOP
A proposed map for redrawing Texas House district boundaries could help fortify the Republicans' majority in the lower chamber in 2012. Full Story
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Senate Budget Takes Aim at Hospitals
It doesn’t include a “sick tax.” But the Senate version of the state’s 2012-13 budget still takes direct aim at hospitals, in an effort to find hundreds of millions of dollars in cost savings and narrow the state’s revenue gap. Full Story
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Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
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