News

For the past decade, Texas Republicans have refused to expand Medicaid while filing a waiver to receive federal funds. That waiver, which was always intended to be a temporary measure as states prepare an actual Medicaid expansion program, has been abused by Republicans who always planned on taking...

February 2, 2012

Rep Canseco Calls Planned Parenthood A “Front For Mass Murder”

Accountability

Health Care

On Monday night at a town hall meeting in Fair Oaks Ranch outside of San Antonio, Congressman Francisco "Quico" Canseco, who represents Texas' 23rd district, called Planned Parenthood a "front for mass murder" that "needs to be abolished." These...

February 2, 2012

The STOCK Act Needs Our Support

Accountability

Ed. note: This post has been updated to reflect additional co-sponsors in recent days. Part of President Obama's state of the union focused on what should be a completely non-controversial idea, holding Congress to the same rules as everyone else. The...

February 1, 2012

The Progress Texas Monthly

Hot Topics

Today is our organization's first anniversary and we want to thank you for a terrific first year!   In 2011, we set ambitious goals to hire staff, mobilize Texans and lay the foundation for a progressive movement in our communities. We beat all our...

January 27, 2012

We Won! HHS Denies Texas Waiver Request on 80-20 Rule

Health Care

The U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) agency is going to protect better health, not bottom lines, and you are the one who made it happen! In December, 2,775 of you joined us and Texas Well and Healthy to sign a petition demanding HHS deny the Texas...

January 25, 2012

President Obama Calls for Up-or-Down Vote on Judges

Justice

During his State of the Union address , President Obama called on the Senate to cease their unprecedented obstruction of judicial nominees. With 32 judicial emergencies across the country, including 5 here at home, the time has come to put the qualified,...

January 24, 2012

A Compromise on Medicaid Expansion?

Health Care

Texas Senator Jane Nelson (R-Flower Mound), head of the Health and Human Services Committee has come out and said that Texas may not say no to federal Medicaid expansion funds as part of the Affordable Care Act after all. This seems like quite the change...

January 20, 2012

Perry Spent $2.7M of taxpayers' dollars on campaign

Accountability

Perry's 160-day vanity trip is now regarded as one of the three worst presidential campaigns in history, and we are the ones stuck footing the bill. Rick Perry is just another cut and spend conservative. He cut out public sector jobs and told corporations...

January 19, 2012

Rick Perry’s Taxpayer-Funded Security Costs

Accountability

MEMO: Rick Perry’s Taxpayer-Funded Security Costs SUMMARY: Estimates show Governor Perry owes $2,651,429.14 to Texas taxpayers for security-related travel costs incurred during his 160-day presidential run. With $2.47 million in his state account as of...

January 18, 2012

Update on the Medical Loss Ratio

Health Care

In December 2011, we joined with Texas Well & Healthy to launch efforts to protect better care for Texas taxpayers. Our petition called on the U.S. Health and Human Services agency to deny the Texas Department of Insurance’s waiver request about the...