July 30, 2010 5:22 PM
FULLY A THIRD OF SCHOOL CAMPUSES GET AN ACCOUNTABILITY RATINGS BUMP FROM TEXAS PROJECTION MEASURE
House Pub Ed Chairman Rob Eissler says the growth projection measure appears "a masking agent" for school district performance
Education
Commissioner Robert Scott focused on
the validity and accuracy of the state’s new projection measure at a news
conference this afternoon, but his agency’s own data shows the use of the
Texas
Projection Measure has skewed the state’s current accountability system
almost beyond recognition.
The effects of
the measure, once predicted to be moderate, are overwhelming. A third of the
state’s campuses – 2,728 out of 7,663 schools – owe their rating to TPM,
a statistical regression model that gives schools credit if it can predict,
with some certainty, that failing students will pass the high-stakes Texas
Assessment of Knowledge and Skills years into the future.
Scott noted, in
his defense of TPM, that the fraction of schools that failed to
meet the state’s Academically Acceptable rating would agree the current system still
has rigor. He added that exceptions can only bump, or “gate up,” schools by one
ratings category. And Scott insisted, rather vigorously, that school districts
that use TPM were not given a pass on providing appropriate student
interventions.
The rest of the story, subscribers only
By Kimberly Reeves
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Copyright July 30, 2010, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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July 30, 2010 4:10 PM
WHITE CLAIMS THAT PERRY CUT CORNERS IN GIVING ENTERPRISE FUND MONEY TO SINO SWEARINGEN
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An investor in Sino Swearingen, Doug Jaffe, was business partner to the man who purchased Perry's lakeside lot in Horseshoe Bay for $1.15 million
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bill White today
said that the Governor’s Office could provide no documents showing that they
did a proper vetting of Sino Swearingen Aircraft Corp’s
application for $2.5 million from the Texas Enterprise Fund.
White said the lack of documents showed that the Governor “cut corners” in
awarding the grant (the award was announced in 2006) and implied a connection
between the grant and the purchase of Gov. Perry’s Horseshoe Bay
lakeside lot a year later by a business partner of a Sino Swearingen
investor.
And while he could provide no tangible proof of a quid pro
quo at this afternoon’s press conference (“If you’re saying, do we have tape
recordings? No,” White said), he said that at the very least, someone should be
looking at how the state awards money from the TEF. “I’m calling
today, once again, for an independent audit of each of the loans of the Texas
Enterprise Fund,” White said.
The rest of the story, subscribers only
By John Reynolds
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Copyright July 30, 2010, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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July 30, 2010 10:49 AM
CLARIFICATION ON YESTERDAY’S JOHN SHARP POST: STILL INTENDS TO RUN WHEN TIME IS RIGHT
Announced five months ago that he was suspending campaign
Yesterday’s story left the impression that John Sharp
had ended his campaign for Senate. Actually, nothing has changed. Five months
ago, he announced that he was suspending his efforts until the seat was open
and that there was no point spending money in the meantime. But he says he
fully intends to run.
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Copyright July 30, 2010, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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July 29, 2010 9:07 PM
GAUNTLET THROWN ON ARIZONA STYLE LAW?
Patrick and Gallegos sparring may set tone for session to come
Sen. Dan Patrick’s office is highlighting an exchange
between Patrick and his Democratic counterpart, Mario Gallegos Jr., this
morning at Houston’s Fox television affiliate on the prospects of an
immigration bill next session akin to what was recently passed in Arizona.
Interesting for sure that Patrick raises the possibility of making another
exception to the Senate’s traditional two-thirds rule, this time for
immigration legislation. If anything, the exchange points to how high Texas
lawmakers on both sides of the aisle see the stakes on the issue.
Here’s the excerpt circulated by Patrick’s office:
Gallegos: “Number one we have 12 votes to block in
the Senate and that’s a fact.”
Patrick: “Are the Democrats
going to lock down and block any law, is that what you are saying today you
have already made a decision to block any bill that protects Texas citizens?”
The rest of the story, subscribers only
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Copyright July 29, 2010, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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July 28, 2010 3:31 PM
NCSL: POLLSTERS REPORT BOTH PARTIES IN PERIL TO ANTI-INCUMBENT SENTIMENT
Voter intensity with GOP but Obama's numbers could improve as he builds record
LOUISVILLE, KY. – Nearly six in 10 Americans would rather
have a new person in Congress than re-elect the incumbent but Republicans who
hope to take advantage of the anti-incumbent national mood must also be aware
that voter discontent cuts across the partisan divide. Also, the recent
controversy over Arizona’s new immigration law is leading to an erosion of
Hispanic support for the GOP, complicating Republican chances for winning
elections over the long-term.
Overall, the mood of the electorate across the nation is one
of anxiety, spurred mainly by concerns about the state of the economy,
according to two pollsters who presented their takes on the national mood this
morning at the National Conference of State Legislatures.
Democratic pollster Peter Hart said that at the
outset of President Obama’s term, the wrong track/right track split was
44 percent to 41 percent. By June, the split between those who think the
country was on the wrong track and those who think it’s on the right track had
widened to 62 percent to 29 percent.
The rest of the story, subscribers only
By John Reynolds
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Copyright July 28, 2010, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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July 28, 2010 2:56 PM
WENTWORTH SAYS HIS DEAL WITH A&M WILL PROBABLY BE DONE SOON
Still anticipates resigning after the election
LOUISVILLE, Ky- Sen. Jeff Wentworth, as has been
reported here and elsewhere, looks more and more likely to be gone as soon as Election
Day comes on Nov. 2.
Passed in the
convention center at the National Conference of State Legislatures
in Louisville this afternoon, a relaxed Wentworth sounded fairly confident that
his ongoing negotiations with the Texas A&M University system
would put him out of the running to start his seventh term in the Texas
Senate come January.
The rest of the story, subscribers only
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Copyright July 28, 2010, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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July 28, 2010 2:48 PM
JUDGE BLOCKS KEY ELEMENTS OF ARIZONA LAW
"...the injunction would apply to the portion of the state law that requires police to try to determine the immigration status of a person they arrest, stop or detain while enforcing other laws if they reasonably suspect the person is in the United States illegally."
The Washington Post story.
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Copyright July 28, 2010, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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July 28, 2010 2:42 PM
BIRDWELL STATEMENT ON ALLEGATION OF VOTING TWICE IN 2004
Says it appears Tarrant County confused him with
his brother
have never, ever voted twice in the same
election, and that charge is particularly offensive to a soldier who holds the
voting process as honored and sacred.
Basically, this news story would have people believe that on Election
Day in 2004, I voted in Virginia, then got on a plane and flew to Texas so I
could cast a second vote for George W. Bush.
I did not.
“The reports mention that my full name is Brian
Douglas Birdwell, and my brother’s name, which appeared right after mine on
the voter roll inTarrant County, is Douglas Todd Birdwell. Because of the similarity of our names, I
believe there was an incorrect coding of which brother actually voted in person
in Texas on November 2, 2004. My
brother knows that he did vote in the general election in 2004 but the reports
indicate that he did not.
“The truth is that, despite the implication that
today’s story presents ‘new’ information, this false claim concerning my voting
record was presented to the Texas Secretary of State nearly four months ago
when my candidacy was initially challenged, then certified. The allegation was
false then and it's false now.”
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Copyright July 28, 2010, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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July 28, 2010 10:10 AM
WASHINGTON POST MOVES TEXAS GOVERNOR RACE TO TOSS UP STATUS
Brief blurb cites White' cash on hand and close polling
From the Washington Post's piece in The Fix:
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Copyright July 28, 2010, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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July 28, 2010 10:05 AM
RACE TO TOP FUNDS SPURRING QUIET REVOLUTION IN EDUCATION SAYS ARNE
48 States join in state led common standards
Secretary of
Education Arne Duncan had high praise
for the 19 finalists in the second round of Race to the Top yesterday
afternoon, saying those who applied for the competitive grant program had
pushed education innovation further, and faster, than anyone in the Obama
administration might have imagined a year ago.
Texas refused to pursue Race to the Top or the Common
Core math and English curriculum standards. Last January, Gov. Rick Perry said it would be
foolish to put the future of the state’s education reform in the hands of
unelected bureaucrats. Education Commissioner Robert Scott said a one-time payment from the federal government
would put mandates on Texas that would last decades.
Duncan, in a
speech at the National Press Club yesterday, said Race to the Top had created
a quiet revolution in education reform. States around the country, regardless
of the results of the grant awards, had created road maps for the future.
The rest of the story, subscribers only
By Kimberly Reeves
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Copyright July 28, 2010, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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July 28, 2010 9:52 AM
NCSL: UNCERTAINTY WEIGHS ON ECONOMIC GROWTH
Stimulus stopped hemorrhaging, changed business attitudes says Federal Reserve economist
LOUISVILLE, Ky -
Numbers on unemployment and economic growth have started to turn in the first
two quarters of the year, but economist
William Strauss expects at least two more years of slack spending before a
full economic turnaround.
Strauss, out of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, has addressed about 100
business groups a year the last three years, taking the pulse on leading
companies’ interest in spending and expansion. While new numbers in job growth
are encouraging, especially out of the manufacturing sector, Strauss said
companies and lenders are still holding onto money they could invest in the
economy.
“We’re showing a
moderate path for economic growth,” Strauss said. “It’s very much like a tennis
ball. The harder you throw it, the higher it should bounce back. Right now, we
should be expecting growth rates in excess of 6 percent. We’ve got growth
that’s about half of that.”
The rest of the story, subscribers only
By Kimberly Reeves
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Copyright July 28, 2010, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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July 28, 2010 9:06 AM
COLEMAN RESPONDS TO NCSL DOWNBEAT DEMO FORECAST
"No one ever thought Texas House Democrats could get this close."
State Rep. Garnet Coleman (D-Houston) provides
this counterpoint to our post from yesterday afternoon in which NCSL’s
Tim Storey said that the chances of a Democratic takeover in the Texas
House and the Kentucky Senate were “close on paper, but those are probably
difficult for Democrats.” The R’s have a 77-73 advantage currently in the Texas
House.
“We are still moving forward on the path to victory,”
Coleman told QR. “People are always declaring Democrats dead and
then we surprise them. No one ever thought Texas House Democrats could get this
close. Remember, the campaign has not fully started.”
In addition to his duties at the statehouse, Coleman is a
board member of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee.
That national group works to advance Democratic candidates in the statehouses
and is the legislative equivalent of the Democratic Governors Association.
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Copyright July 28, 2010, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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July 28, 2010 8:31 AM
NEW BILL WHITE INTERNET AD-- RICK PERRY: CASH FOR FAVORS
Reprises TV and print reports on Horseshoe Bay land deal
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Copyright July 28, 2010, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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July 27, 2010 4:22 PM
NCSL: STATE HOUSE ELECTION GURU PAINTS GRIM PICTURE FOR DEMS
Current enthusiasm gap has big potential ramifications for redistricting next year
LOUISVILLE, KY. – It’s generally thought that Democrats
during these midterm elections are facing a steep uphill climb or leaning into
a stiff headwind or whatever other adverse sounding cliché pops to mind. But
with less than 100 days to Election Day, the question nagging all involved
parties is, how bad could it get?
Tim Storey, the statehouse elections guru at the National
Conference of State Legislatures, must be a great teller of ghost
stories because he came up with a nightmare scenario at a panel talk this
afternoon on the midterm elections guaranteed to frighten the socks off any
Democrat.
The rest of the story, subscribers only
By John Reynolds
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Copyright July 27, 2010, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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July 27, 2010 3:40 PM
NCSL: UNCLEAR WHO WINS AFTER CITZENS UNITED SUPREME COURT DECISION
"...the decision upheld disclosure requirements and corporations are still shy about putting their names on those ads"
LOUISVILLE, KY. – Six months after the blockbuster Citizens
United decision – which OK’d corporate independent expenditures in
elections – states are rushing to align their laws with the Supreme Court
ruling.
Less clear is the long-term implications of the ruling. The
Court left intact prohibitions on direct contributions by corporations to
candidates but allowed for all sorts of scenarios under which corporate money
can find their way into elections. A trio of election law experts tried to hash
out those scenarios this afternoon at a panel discussion at the National
Conference of State Legislatures.
The initial reaction to the ruling from politicians on the
left was that Citizens United would clear the path for Corporate
America to dominate elections. But Kenneth Gross of Skadden, Arps,
Slate, Meagher and Flom said it’s far from clear as to who the
immediate winners are. So far, he said unions have been spending more than
corporations.
“It’s been sort of a wash,” he said. “I don’t see a
political winner yet on Citizens United.”
The rest of the story, subscribers only
By John Reynolds
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Copyright July 27, 2010, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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July 27, 2010 3:34 PM
NCSL: TEXAS-CENTRIC TALES
Parliamentarian smackdown and celebrating next NCSL in San Antonio
LOUISVILLE, KY. – A couple of Texas-centric odds and ends
from NCSL…
--- Many different kinds of wonks work in the typical
Legislature. There are policy wonks, political wonks and then that most
rarified breed, the procedure wonk. This morning at the National
Conference of State Legislatures, those procedure wonks got to strut
their stuff, answering queries like:
“When an appeal is made from a ruling of a presiding
officer, is the question to put to a vote to sustain the appeal or the ruling?”
Or whether this statement is true or false, “On rare
occasions, the casting vote has been given to a presiding officer who is a
regular member who may first vote as a member and then may vote against to
break a tie.”
The rest of the story, subscribers only
By John Reynolds
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Copyright July 27, 2010, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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July 27, 2010 3:22 PM
NCSL: NUTS AND BOLTS ON BENDING THE HEALTH CARE COST CURVE
Ideas range from bundling payments per disease to eliminating payment to hospitals for preventable events
LOUISVILLE, KY. – The underlying thought behind health care
reform has been that bringing more Americans into the tent of the insured
should allow more people to get coordinated care instead of on an ad hoc
basis at the local ER. The thinking is that in turn that would lead to lower
health care costs.
But for the time being, it’s not at all clear exactly how
that will work out in the real world. This morning at the National
Conference of State Legislatures, lawmakers and health analysts shared
ideas on how to “bend the cost curve.”
Massachusetts state Sen. Richard T. Moore defended
his state’s visible attempts to expand access to care. While that state has
lowered the medically uninsured rate to the 2.6 percent range, some critics
have chided Massachusetts for not focusing enough on cutting costs. Moore said
it was “a wild exaggeration” to say that. “We did a great deal to contain
costs,” he said, pointing to initiatives like smoking cessation programs that
are already yielding savings.
He added that the next iteration of reform in Massachusetts
would take a closer look at end of life care. He said the cost of care during
the last six months of life in Boston was often more expensive than comparable
cities and the quality of care was usually not as good, to boot. He said his
state was planning to release recommendations soon on what can be done to
manage care better during end of life.
The rest of the story, subscribers only
By John Reynolds
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Copyright July 27, 2010, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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July 27, 2010 3:20 PM
SBOE MOVE TO FINANCE CHARTER SCHOOL FACILITIES REIGNITES LEGISLATIVE REACTION
Howard seeks to create non-ideological investment fund; Bradley responds
Rep. Donna
Howard promised to
re-file her bill next session to give voters the chance to turn the management
of the state’s $22 billion Permanent
School Fund over to an appointed investment council.
The State Board of Education, of course,
currently manages the fund. Last
session, Howard’s HJR 77 carried Chair
Rep. Rob Eissler (R-The Woodlands) as a co-author and passed out of
committee on a unanimous vote. It passed out of the House at the end of April
with just over 100 votes but never made it through the Senate committee.
Howard, the
former Eanes school board member, one-time State Board of Education candidate and two-term House Democrat, has not been shy about
her desire to rein in the board. Member David Bradley, godfather of the
board’s current conservative bloc and chair of the committee over the PSF,
called Howard’s numerous SBOE-related bills sour grapes. Howard brushes
Bradley’s criticism aside.
The rest of the story, subscribers only
By Kimberly Reeves
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Copyright July 27, 2010, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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July 27, 2010 2:55 PM
PHILLIP MARTIN: RICK PERRY WILL BE A DRAG ON THE REPUBLICAN TICKET
The ever provocative Phillip Martin makes an interesting and controversial argument about the November election.
Phillip Martin is a
Communications Specialist for the Texas
Democratic Trust and a
longtime contributor to the Texas political blog, Burnt Orange Report.
Rick Perry’s hopes to win this November rest on his ability
to convince enough voters that protesting Washington is more important than
solving problems he’s created here at home. Perry’s anti-Washington propaganda
is an obvious attempt by a twenty-five year career politician to distract
voters from the fact that – under Perry’s watch – state debt has doubled,
state spending has nearly doubled, and the state of Texas is facing a potential
$18
billion budget deficit.
Perry’s rhetoric-over-reality performance played well
against Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison in the Republican primary, but
Perry has hit a brick wall running against Democrat Bill White. As University
of Texas professor Jim Henson told the Austin
American-Statesman recently, “I haven’t seen Perry lose this
many news cycles since he’s been Governor.” Last week’s fundraising numbers
were no help to Perry, either, with White showing a $3 million
cash-on-hand advantage over Perry.
Bill White is giving
Rick Perry the race of his political life and that gives down-ballot
Republicans reason to be afraid for theirs. There are three key reasons why
Rick Perry will be a drag on the Republican ticket: Democrats have built
straight-ticket advantages over Republicans that a competitive race atop the
ticket can exploit; Perry’s anti-Washington message is useless in down-ballot
races; there’s no precedent, even in 1994, of any national political wave
affecting Texas.
The rest of Phillip Martin's column can be found in today's R&D Department.
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Copyright July 27, 2010, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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July 27, 2010 2:50 PM
BILL WHITE RUNS NEW TV AD IN SAN ANTONIO
Talks about investing in the future
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Copyright July 27, 2010, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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July 26, 2010 5:09 PM
TEXAS ENERGY REPORT: BP REJECTS TEXAS REQUEST FOR $25M
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Copyright July 26, 2010, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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July 26, 2010 5:06 PM
NCSL: WHILE BUDGET SITUATION REMAINS DIRE, SMALL REVENUE IMPROVEMENTS HAVE BEGUN
Bad news, states are $83.9B in the hole for next year; Good news? Its better than $174B shortfall last year
LOUISVILLE, KY. – The states’ fiscal picture is slowly
brightening after several dismal years although budget gaps will continue to
persist for at least the next few years. The reason for optimism? Evidence is
emerging that declines in state revenue are either starting to moderate or
reverse.
The states face a collective budget gap of $83.9 billion
next fiscal year, according to the most recent data from the National
Conference of State Legislatures. The new figure represents information
obtained from state fiscal directors in late June and early July and reflects
an improvement from the spring when NCSL forecast an $89 billion
budget gap.
State fiscal directors, though, said they expect significant
budget gaps in the out years, which NCSL analysts attribute to
the disappearance of federal stimulus funds as well as continued spending
pressures. In fiscal year 2012, the states project a $72 billion collective
gap. The shortfall drops slightly to a projected $64 billion in the following
fiscal year.
The most immediate fiscal pressure on the states is the
stalled effort in Congress to extend by six months an enhanced match on federal
Medicaid aid to the states, commonly referred to as FMAP. The
original enhancement of the matching money was included in the federal economic
stimulus package. NCSL estimates that failure to extend the FMAP
enhanced match will add $12.3 billion to the collective budget gap for next
year.
The rest of the story, subscribers only
By John Reynolds
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Copyright July 26, 2010, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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July 26, 2010 4:57 PM
NCSL: PELOSI URGES LEGISLATORS TO PRESSURE GOP SENATORS FOR FMAP REAUTHORIZATION
McConnell warns of free money
LOUISVILLE, KY. – Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi asked
state lawmakers attending the National Conference of State Legislatures
for their help in pressuring GOP Senators to vote for a six-month extension of
additional federal Medicaid aid to the states.
An extension of the enhanced federal match on Medicaid
money sent to the states, commonly referred to as FMAP, is something on which
most state legislatures can agree. Pelosi said that 30 states have budgets
already incorporating the better match rate under the assumption that Congress
will act.
The extension is currently on hold because Democrats have
been unable to round up the 60 votes necessary to clear procedural hurdles to
bring the bill up for a vote. Republicans have been opposed to the FMAP
extension, saying Democrats haven’t come up with a good way to pay for it.
Texas lawmakers are watching the debate on FMAP closely. Texas stands to lose roughly $1 billion if the FMAP extension fails, something that would increase next year's budget shortfall that is already estimated at $18 billion.
The rest of the story, subscribers only
By John Reynolds
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Copyright July 26, 2010, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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July 25, 2010 5:28 PM
NCSL: LAWMAKERS TOLD THAT TO CONTROL THEIR STATE'S HEALTHCARE REFORM, THEY MUST BEGIN IMMEDIATELY
If a state starts work close to 2010, “(the exchange is) done by you,” she said. Wait a year or two, “it’s done with you.” Wait until the final year before implementation, she said, and “it’s done to you.”
LOUISVILLE, KY. – The clock is ticking for states to begin
the process of implementing the changes called for under national health care
reform. That was the message sounded again and again by lawmakers and state
health administrators during a daylong health summit at the National
Conference of State Legislatures.
The year 2014 is the big year for implementing the biggest
change called for by health care reform – the establishment of the health
insurance exchanges that will allow for the seamless sign up of uninsured
citizens for either Medicaid or for subsidized offerings from
private insurers.
While that year might seem far off, representatives from
Massachusetts and Utah – the only states so far to establish an insurance
exchange – warned participants that the process of setting up an exchange would
take up much of the intervening time. To wait for the results of a governor’s
election in the fall before beginning work would be to wait too long, they
said.
Cheryl Smith, who helped set up Utah’s exchange, said
that based on her states’ experience, it takes at least two legislative
sessions to start up the exchange – one for authorizing language and a second
session for corrective measures. “Do not wait,” she said. “Let that work begin
now.”
The rest of the story, subscribers only
By John Reynolds
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Copyright July 25, 2010, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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July 23, 2010 5:54 PM
SD22 COUNTY CHAIRMAN UNANIMOUSLY CHOOSE BRIAN BIRDWELL FOR NOVEMBER BALLOT
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Whether Democrats will challenge eligibility remains an open question
The Republican Party of Texas just issued a
press release announcing that Senator Brian Birdwell was the unanimous
choice of the eight GOP county chairs for the SD22 November ballot.
From the release:
“By a vote of 8-0,
state Sen. Brian Birdwell has been nominated by the Senate District 22
executive committee to appear as the Republican Party's nominee on the November
ballot. Republican Party of Texas Chairman Steve Munisteri called
Friday's meeting in Waco.
The rest of the story, subscribers only
By Harvey Kronberg
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Copyright July 23, 2010, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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July 23, 2010 5:50 PM
PRESS RELEASE SECTION HEADLINES
Sharp elbows in the Governor's race and
BW: RICK PERRY'S SAN ANTONIO SECRET
RP: PASADENA POLICE OFFICER’S UNION PAC ENDORSES
GOV. PERRY FOR RE-ELECTION
RP: ICYMI: “ONE-FOURTH OF WHITE'S CAMPAIGN
DOLLARS FROM D.C.”
UNEMPLOYED TEXANS WILL BE PAID BENEFITS FOR PAST
WEEKS LONG-TERM UNEMPLOYED WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR ADDITIONAL WEEKS OF BENEFITS
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Copyright July 23, 2010, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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July 23, 2010 5:17 PM
KXAN REPORTING REP. DUKES SUED OVER CREDIT CARD BILLS
Lawsuit claims two deficiencies totaling $32K, Dukes says actual deficiencies closer to $10K
The KXAN story can be found here.
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Copyright July 23, 2010, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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July 23, 2010 4:22 PM
WITH STATE REVENUES LAGGING BEHIND PROJECTIONS, WILL STATE BE ABLE TO COVER TRAN PAYMENTS?
Comptroller is confident she will have $2.75B needed for July and August payments but can borrow from dedicated funds and Rainy Day fund if necessary
Sales tax collections have shown some signs of rebounding in
recent months, but the theme this year when talking about state finances has
been an impending revenue shortfall. House budget writers this spring talked
about revenue shortfalls in the $3 billion to $4 billion range (as opposed to
the anticipated $18b budget shortfall in the next biennium), a development that
complicates lawmakers’ job next year when they write the budget.
In recent days, there’s been a little bit of buzz that
lagging revenue could produce a more immediate effect. Every year, the state
borrows several billion dollars to smooth out a peculiarity in how the state
pays for public education. Expenses for public ed tend to be frontloaded in the
school year while the tax revenue arrives in the latter part of the school
year. Every August the state takes out what are known as Tax and Revenue
Anticipation Notes (TRANs), short-term debt that helps the state manage
cash flow.
The state owes two more payments on this year’s TRAN series
– a $1.375 billion payment on July 30 and another $1.375 billion payment on Aug.
24.
When it took out the TRANs last year, the Comptroller
projected that the state would run a $2.1 billion cash balance at the end of
this fiscal year. But with revenue lagging consistently behind forecast through
much of the year, a few observers who closely follow revenue matters doubt the
original cash projection will hold.
The question, then, is what happens if the state doesn’t
have the necessary cash flow to pay off the TRAN series.
The rest of the story, subscribers only
By John Reynolds
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Copyright July 23, 2010, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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July 23, 2010 12:05 PM
WFAA REPORTS FORMER GOVERNOR BILL CLEMENTS RECOVERING FROM STROKE
93 year old former Governor suffered stroke last month
The WFAA story can be found here.
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Copyright July 23, 2010, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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July 23, 2010 11:46 AM
SBOE REVERSES POSITION ON CHARTER SCHOOL FACILITIES FUNDING WITHIN PSF ALLOCATION, LIKELY DRAWING IRE OF LAWMAKERS
Agosto mysteriously absent from the 7-6 vote, strategy would be contingent on AG opinion or legislative authority.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This post has been revised and expanded
from the original version.
The State Board of Education moved forward
with the possibility of a landlord-lessee arrangement between the Permanent
School Fund and charter schools in a final vote on investment
strategies this morning.
The strategy would move $100 million out of the $22 billion Permanent
School Fund to underwrite charter school facilities. Despite warnings
from state Sen. Royce West (D-Dallas) not to move forward with
action on the measure and some concerns expressed by outside counsel, SBOE
chose to tentatively include charter school facilities as part of its real
estate portfolio. David Bradley, who championed the motion, called it “a
matter of being fair” to charter schools, which don’t benefit from the state’s
guaranteed bond program.
West is not simply a ranking Democrat on the Senate Education Committee.
He’s also an attorney who serves as bond counsel to a number of public-sector
clients.
Bradley was joined in his support for charter school
facilities funding by the conservative bloc, including outgoing SBOE
member Cynthia Dunbar, who said the decision was financially prudent,
would have due diligence and would meet the mission and vision of the
board to support public education. She said the allocation mix that included
the charter school facilities showed the highest rate of return with the
lowest risk.
The rest of the story, subscribers only
By Kimberly Reeves
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Copyright July 23, 2010, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved
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