Have you voted? Early voting for the Texas primary elections has begun and continues through next Friday, May 25^th.  Are you curious who else is voting early?  The Texas Secretary of State’s website provides information on the top 15 counties in Texas each day who vote in the Republican and Democratic primaries. Follow this link: http://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/earlyvoting/index.shtml

There was a lot of action in federal court last week regarding the Texas Women’s Health Program.  Under a state rule adopted in accordance with legislative directive, all Women’s Health Program participants had to certify by May 1st that they do not promote abortion or affiliate with organizations that perform or promote abortions. A day before the rule took effect, Federal Judge Lee Yeakel found that the rule violated Planned Parenthood’s First Amendment rights.  Judge Yeakel set a May 18 conference to schedule a trial date to determine whether the injunction should be made permanent.  Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott immediately appealed Yeakel’s order to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, and requested an emergency stay, which was granted by one judge – Judge Jerry Smith – shortly before midnight, when the abortion affiliate rule was to take effect. Then on Friday, May 4, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals lifted the emergency stay, meaning that once again Texas is banned from excluding Planned Parenthood from the initiative.  So the WHP continues as is and the parties will argue their cases on May 18^th.

2012 Texas Women’s Health Champion Award Recipients

 Austin, TX
– The Texas District (XI) of The American Congress of Obstetricians and
Gynecologists (ACOG) is pleased to announce the recipients of its 2012 Texas
Women’s Health Champion Awards. Chosen for the award this year are:  Senator Wendy Davis, Senator Joan Huffman, Senator
Leticia Van de Putte, Senator Jeff Wentworth, Senator Kirk Watson, Representative
Carol Alvarado, Representative Garnet Coleman, Representative Jessica Farrar,
Representative Ana Hernandez Luna, and Representative Armando Walle.

The ACOG Texas Women’s Health
Champion Award is given to lawmakers who have demonstrated an outstanding
commitment to improving women’s health care and promoting the best health
outcomes for women and their newborns.

“While the 82^nd Legislative Session proved to be a difficult one, these
champions did not waiver in their understanding and support of women and their
health care needs,” said Lisa M. Hollier, MD, ACOG District XI chair. “We are
immensely grateful for the time and energy they spent advocating for women and
newborns, ultimately leading to better health care and reduced costs.”

Above: Senator Leticia Van de Putte and Mignon McGarry

Al Armendariz, EPA Administrator for Region 6, a five-state region including Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana, resigned this week after criticism over remarks made two years ago when he used the word “crucify” to describe his approach to enforcement.  Armendariz was appointed to the post by President Obama on November 5, 2009.

Through provisions in the Affordable Care Act, the federal government awarded $61 million to improve and establish new community health centers in Texas. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates the funding for 25 new or improved health centers will serve 78,479 patients across the state.  Most of the services provided by community health centers involve primary care to help patients prevent more serious illnesses.

The state political party conventions will be held next month.  The Texas Democratic Party announced that San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro will present the keynote address at the Party’s state convention in Houston on the evening of Friday, June 9, 2012.  The night before, former Republican Presidential candidate, Senator Rick Santorum will be a featured speaker at the Texas Republican Party’s convention banquet in Ft. Worth.

Texas Education Commissioner Robert Scott announced Tuesday that he will resign in July, on the fifth anniversary of Governor Rick Perry appointing him to the post.

A new report from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shows that although Texas medical schools have increased heir enrollment by roughly 30 percent in the last decade, the slots available for students to complete their medical residencies in Texas have not increased at the same level.  The report found that without an increase in the number of first-year residency positions, at least 63 graduates of Texas medical schools will not be able to enter a Texas residency program in 2014.  By 2014, Texas will need 220 more residency positions in order to have one for every Texas medical school graduate.  The report recommends that the Legislature provide an additional $11.7 million in funding in the 2014-15 biennium to support “10 percent of the cost for new first-year entering residency training positions.”

It is a gorgeous day here in the ATX! Here is a quick picture of the rose garden at the Texas Capitol building. We like to “stop and smell the roses” on our walks to and from the Capitol each day. Have a great Monday, everyone!

It is a gorgeous day here in the ATX! Here is a quick picture of the rose garden at the Texas Capitol building. We like to “stop and smell the roses” to and from the Capitol each day. Have a great Monday, everyone!

Former Sen. Carlos Truan (D-Corpus Christi) passed away at the age of 76. Truan served more than three decades in the Texas Legislature, including 27 years in the Texas Senate. He was a member of the “Killer Bee” movement that brought action in the Senate chamber to a standstill for several days in 1979 over legislation that would have required separate primaries for the presidential race and for the state races.

Alan Steen, administrator of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, is leaving the agency to become executive director of the National Cutting Horse Association.  Steen has served as TABC Administrator since 2003.

Governor Rick Perry has appointed former TCEQ Commissioner Buddy Garcia to the Texas Railroad Commission.  Garcia’s term expires at the end of the general election in November when a new commissioner will be elected.

Judge John Dietz has set the trial date for the consolidated school finance lawsuit against the State of Texas.  The trial will begin October 22nd in Austin.

Gov. Rick Perry appointed four Texans to the Select Committee on Economic Development and named James Epperson Jr. of Dallas presiding officer. Created by House Bill 2785 from the 82nd Legislative Session, the Committee will make recommendations to the Legislature on economic development policies for the state. Epperson is senior vice president of AT&T Strategic and Employee Communications.  The three other members include Stacey Gillman Wimbish of Houston, president of Gillman Companies and chairman of the Texas Automobile Dealers Association; Maher Maso, Mayor of the City of Frisco;  and Carlton Schwab of Austin, president and CEO of the Texas Economic Development Council.

Texas displayed strong sales tax collections in March with revenue increasing to $1.87 billion, a 16.9 percent jump over the same month last year.  The state is now almost 13 percent ahead of last year’s sales tax collections at this time.  Total tax collections from all sources are up close to 15 percent.  The majority of the growth in collections comes from the oil and gas sector as well as retail and restaurant sales.