I should have started this a while back, but here's what's on tap today in the Texas Legislature, and what's been topical for the Texas media.
Committee meetings mostly. Click here for a list of committee hearings for the House, and here for Senate committee meetings.
- The DMN reports on a debate within the House Elections Committee about the low level of voter turnout in the state. There seems to be disagreement over whether it is a problem, and whether it is a consequence of suppression or of voter satisfaction. Texas ranks 45th in voter turnout.
- Quorum Report reports on debate in the Senate Health and Human Services Committee on debate over SB 7 and SB 8, both which deal with Medicaid - an increasingly large part of the state budget.
- The Senate may reject Eleanor Kitzman's recess appointment to the Texas Insurance Commission. Democrats argue that she is biased towards the insurance industry at the expense of consumers.
- The House Elections Committee considers legislation that addresses voter fraud that allegedly occurs through the mail. The bill would "make it a state jail felony to carry more than two ballots to the
mailbox in any election cycle, with exceptions for family members and
employees of state licensed nursing facilities."
- Texas House members are been told what the full impact of sequestration is likely to be on the state. Half of the cuts will affect public schools and the Texas Education Agency. In all, 13 state agencies will be affected. The total will be just short of $340 million according to the Legislative Budget Board.
Links to more:
- First Reading
- Texas Observer.
