What Happened and What Work Remains?

Health Care and the 2011 Texas Legislature

February 16, 2012 | Anne Dunkelberg & Stacey Pogue

Providing affordable, quality health care for all is a tough challenge for our state and nation. Health care costs have grown far faster than inflation, and despite spending more than all other industrialized nations, nearly 50 million Americans—one in four Texans—lacks health coverage. Slowing health care cost growth depends on reforms to private insurance, Medicare, and Medicaid.

This year, Texas’ health challenges were worsened by a deep revenue shortfall from the global recession and an outdated state tax system. Still, we are in a time of great possibility, with market reforms underway and expanded coverage in 2014 under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) health reform law.

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Texas Jobs Snapshot for November: Will Congress be the Grinch that Stole Christmas?

December 20, 2011 | Leslie Helmcamp

Although Texas’ unemployment rate dropped to 8.1 percent in November 2011, jobs are still scarce, and more than 100,000 Texans will begin to lose federal unemployment benefits in the New Year if Congress fails to extend federal unemployment insurance.

Undermining the Texas Economy: The 2012-13 Texas State Budget

December 19, 2011 | Eva DeLuna Castro

This report analyzes our state’s new budget, focusing on areas that are especially important to low- and moderate-income Texans. The report looks at both “General Revenue” spending (revenue that is primarily from state taxes) and “All Funds” spending (which also includes federal revenue, general revenue that is statutorily dedicated to a specific program, and “Other” legally earmarked revenue such as State Highway or Property Tax Relief funds.)

McCown: PolitiFact PANTS ON FIRE for UI Column

December 19, 2011 | F. Scott McCown

Executive Director F. Scott McCown on the Austin American Statesman’s PolitiFact: