Rep. Donna Howard (D-Austin) maintained her slim margin of victory in her House District 48 race against Republican Dan Neil. Once the recount was complete, Howard led by 12 votes. Neil says he is considering filing an appeal which would be heard by the Texas House of Representatives when they convene in January.
On Tuesday, Gov. Rick Perry, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and House Speaker Joe Straus sent a letter directing each state agency to identify savings of 2.5 percent of their original general revenue and general-revenue-dedicated appropriations for the remainder of the 2011 fiscal year. These savings, along with those previously identified for the current fiscal year, will be part of the supplemental appropriations bill for fiscal year 2011.
In response to legislation carried by Rep. John Zerwas (R-Houston) last session, the Texas Department of Insurance and the Texas Health and Human Services Commission issued a joint report titled “Impact On Texas If Medicaid Is Eliminated.” A link to the report can be found here: http://www.hhsc.state.tx.us/HB-497_122010.pdf
Rep. Mike “Tuffy” Hamilton (R-Mauriceville) is recovering from triple bypass surgery after suffering a heart attack earlier this week.
As committees in the Texas House and Senate wind up their hearings on redistricting around the state, it looks like Texas will gain at least three and possibly four seats in the reapportionment of Congress, the process of redistributing the 435 Congressional seats according to population growth every 10 years. Louisiana is predicted to lose one congressional seat, as are Illinois, Iowa, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. Ohio could lose as many as two seats.