The Lege This Week: Senators Poke, Prod and Punch Paxton
The attorney general runs the gauntlet before the Senate Finance Committee, and Dan Patrick just wants to make you sing.
The Senate Finance Committee is proposing to slash nearly $90 million–and about 150 staff positions from Paxton’s budget request. It’s a stark rebuke to the former state senator. Photo/Patrick Michels, Illustration/Sunny Sone
The attorney general runs the gauntlet before the Senate Finance Committee, and Dan Patrick just wants to make you sing.
The Senate Finance Committee is proposing to slash nearly $90 million–and about 150 staff positions from Paxton’s budget request. It’s a stark rebuke to the former state senator. Photo/Patrick Michels, Illustration/Sunny Sone
Enter your number to get our free mobile app
Just about everywhere you look it seems as though the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine has been, if not a disaster, not handled well by many states and cities. It s been so bad in some cities that Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick last week said the process may need to be revised. There are reports in Dallas of the vaccine not being available and some cities in Texas that have received very few doses.
Given all of that, I must say that I ve been impressed with how the City of Lubbock has handled vaccination clinics. Sure, there were a few days where phone lines went down and people were frustrated trying to get in. But that happened across the state. Once the City of Lubbock launched a ticketing system, things have seemed to run smoother.
Enter your number to get our free mobile app
Just about everywhere you look it seems as though the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine has been, if not a disaster, not handled well by many states and cities. It s been so bad in some cities that Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick last week said the process may need to be revised. There are reports in Dallas of the vaccine not being available and some cities in Texas that have received very few doses.
Given all of that, I must say that I ve been impressed with how the City of Lubbock has handled vaccination clinics. Sure, there were a few days where phone lines went down and people were frustrated trying to get in. But that happened across the state. Once the City of Lubbock launched a ticketing system, things have seemed to run smoother.
Will the 87th Texas Legislature Expand Access to Medicinal Marijuana?
Past sessions have not been promising, but advocates are hopeful that patients with a wider range of diagnoses will be eligible.
By Will Maddox
Published in
Healthcare Business
January 26, 2021
4:43 pm
The 87th Texas Legislature began this month, and COVID-19 related budget deficits are hemming in spending. But marijuana advocates are hoping for Texas to expand its legality to improve the state’s coffers. Past sessions suggest that a significant expansion is still unrealistic.
In pre-pandemic years, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick put a stop to any significant marijuana legislation from moving forward. Chances are that he will again reject legislation that asks for recreational use, such as SB 140, which allows open distribution to Texans over 21, and was filed by state Sen. Roland Gutierrez, a Democrat from San Antonio. There are more than 20 bills that have been filed this session related to cannabis.