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April 22, 2021      10:21 PM

In House budget debate, flashpoints include Medicaid expansion and COVID funds for ISDs

Chairman Coleman falls short again in pushing for increased coverage; culture war issues briefly simmer to the top

Texas House Democrats took major stands on two high-profile issues in Thursday’s budget debate – Medicaid expansion and the release federal COVID funds to school districts – but the actual impact on the final budget was minimal. The House suspended all necessary rules just after 10pm to give final approval to SB1 and send it back to the Senate.

Speaker Dade Phelan waded through dozens of amendments during the early hours of budget debate – some of which were pulled down and many sent off to Article XI – during the budget discussion.

The most emotional moments came with Rep. Garnet Coleman, D-Houston, at the microphone and surrounded by colleagues, asked his colleagues to begin the work on a state solution to expand Medicaid coverage.

By Kimberly Reeves

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