From KEYE, April 6, 2009...
Texans who love their cheesy enchiladas and chicken-fried steak, take heart.
Lawmakers who want to ban trans fats in Texas restaurants say there's no need to worry about losing any flavor in their favorite foods if healthy oils and ingredients are used instead.
Sen. Eliot Shapleigh of El Paso and Rep. Carol Alvarado of Houston, both Democrats, introduced legislation that would phase in bans of trans fats in restaurants. They say the move would help fight the obesity epidemic and help reduce health insurance costs.
Read more...
Showing posts with label Texas Legislature. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Texas Legislature. Show all posts
Monday, April 13, 2009
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Plastic bags would be taxed under Texas bill
From WFAA, February 28, 2009...
Rep. Rafael Anchia thinks he has the 7-cent solution to plastic bags.
The Dallas Democrat wants Texas to join two other states pondering the problems, pollution and politics of taxing each of the ubiquitous sacks that start at groceries, hardware stores and retail shops but often end up in sewer systems, landfills, parking lots, riverbeds, up against fences and blowing down highways.
"If people know that there's an added cost to doing plastic, they're either going to use paper, which is biodegradable, or they're going to bring their own bag," Anchia said.
Under his bill, a small part of the 7 cents charged on each plastic bag would go back to the retailer while the rest would help cities run their recycling programs.
Read more...
Rep. Rafael Anchia thinks he has the 7-cent solution to plastic bags.
The Dallas Democrat wants Texas to join two other states pondering the problems, pollution and politics of taxing each of the ubiquitous sacks that start at groceries, hardware stores and retail shops but often end up in sewer systems, landfills, parking lots, riverbeds, up against fences and blowing down highways.
"If people know that there's an added cost to doing plastic, they're either going to use paper, which is biodegradable, or they're going to bring their own bag," Anchia said.
Under his bill, a small part of the 7 cents charged on each plastic bag would go back to the retailer while the rest would help cities run their recycling programs.
Read more...
Keep tabs on Texas lawmakers by turning on the TV
From KEYE, March 3, 2009...
Soon the entire state of Texas can keep tabs on state lawmakers by flipping on their television.
Currently, the Texas Cable Association and its members are ready to work with the Texas House to televise its floor proceedings statewide.
Todd Baxter, TCA general counsel and vice president, testified at the Texas House Administration Committee on Tuesday.
Read more...
Soon the entire state of Texas can keep tabs on state lawmakers by flipping on their television.
Currently, the Texas Cable Association and its members are ready to work with the Texas House to televise its floor proceedings statewide.
Todd Baxter, TCA general counsel and vice president, testified at the Texas House Administration Committee on Tuesday.
Read more...
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Toll road, Trans-Texas bills head to committee
From Austin Business Journal. February 12, 2009...
Two bills with implications for Texas highways were referred to the Transportation Committee of the state House on Thursday.
House Bill 11, co-authored by Reps. David Leibowitz, D-San Antonio, and Dwaye Bohac, R-Houston, would repeal the authority to establish and operate the proposed Trans-Texas Corridor, a favorite of Gov. Rick Perry.
Read more...
Two bills with implications for Texas highways were referred to the Transportation Committee of the state House on Thursday.
House Bill 11, co-authored by Reps. David Leibowitz, D-San Antonio, and Dwaye Bohac, R-Houston, would repeal the authority to establish and operate the proposed Trans-Texas Corridor, a favorite of Gov. Rick Perry.
Read more...
Friday, February 6, 2009
School finance back on the table?
From statesman, February 5, 2009...
It usually takes a judge to compel Texas lawmakers to tackle the thorny issue of school finance reform.
But several key legislators say there is no reason to wait for a lawsuit to fix the well-known flaws in how Texas pays for its schools.
"I would like to get off that treadmill," Senate Finance Committee Chairman Steve Ogden, R-Bryan, said Wednesday.
Read more...
It usually takes a judge to compel Texas lawmakers to tackle the thorny issue of school finance reform.
But several key legislators say there is no reason to wait for a lawsuit to fix the well-known flaws in how Texas pays for its schools.
"I would like to get off that treadmill," Senate Finance Committee Chairman Steve Ogden, R-Bryan, said Wednesday.
Read more...
Bills aim to remove distractions from behind the wheel
From KVUE, February 4, 2009...
New bills at the Capitol to crack down on distracted driving may force Texas drivers to keep their hands on the wheel and their eyes on the road.
At least eight bills this session target people who talk on the phone or text message while driving. Lawmakers say they'll go far in preventing accidents.
Read more...
New bills at the Capitol to crack down on distracted driving may force Texas drivers to keep their hands on the wheel and their eyes on the road.
At least eight bills this session target people who talk on the phone or text message while driving. Lawmakers say they'll go far in preventing accidents.
Read more...
Friday, January 23, 2009
Texas lawmakers approve $1,000 a month pay increase
From KEYE, January 15, 2009...
House members' office budgets just got a boost. Representatives overwhelmingly approved a monthly increase, even as Texas deals with billions less to run the state.
On Thursday, state representatives voted 128-11 to pass the measure, which gives each member's office an extra $1,000 a month right away. That comes a day after the governor urged state lawmakers and agencies to be careful with taxpayers' money in the down economy.
Read more...
House members' office budgets just got a boost. Representatives overwhelmingly approved a monthly increase, even as Texas deals with billions less to run the state.
On Thursday, state representatives voted 128-11 to pass the measure, which gives each member's office an extra $1,000 a month right away. That comes a day after the governor urged state lawmakers and agencies to be careful with taxpayers' money in the down economy.
Read more...
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Bill targets retailers using plastic bags
From Austin Business Journal, January 14, 2009...
Texas legislators may go after plastic grocery bags — and the retailers who use them — if they approve a bill that would require stores to be more environmentally friendly.
Read more...
Texas legislators may go after plastic grocery bags — and the retailers who use them — if they approve a bill that would require stores to be more environmentally friendly.
Read more...
Legislators to consider nurse ratio bill
From KEYE, January 14, 2009...
Healthcare will take center stage at the capitol on Wednesday morning.
The goal of new legislation being filed is to staff more nurses at hospitals so they aren't overworked and can take better care of patients.
Proponents of nurse-to-patient staffing ratios say they will introduce the Texas Hospital Patient Protection Act of 2009 at a press conference on Wednesday morning. The bill would establish minimum staffing levels.
Read more...
Healthcare will take center stage at the capitol on Wednesday morning.
The goal of new legislation being filed is to staff more nurses at hospitals so they aren't overworked and can take better care of patients.
Proponents of nurse-to-patient staffing ratios say they will introduce the Texas Hospital Patient Protection Act of 2009 at a press conference on Wednesday morning. The bill would establish minimum staffing levels.
Read more...
Texas should be thrifty with $77 billion budget, comptroller says
From KEYE, January 12, 2009...
When the gavel falls to open the new session of the Texas Legislature on Tuesday, lawmakers will already be facing a $9 billion challenge. That's how much less money is available for the upcoming budget, compared to the last legislative session.
A slowdown in consumer spending, a drop in oil and gas prices, a struggling housing market - all bringing in less taxes, and that's part of the reason Texas has less money to work with.
Read more...
When the gavel falls to open the new session of the Texas Legislature on Tuesday, lawmakers will already be facing a $9 billion challenge. That's how much less money is available for the upcoming budget, compared to the last legislative session.
A slowdown in consumer spending, a drop in oil and gas prices, a struggling housing market - all bringing in less taxes, and that's part of the reason Texas has less money to work with.
Read more...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
