Own an electric car? A black box connected to your odometer could be in your near-future to make up for all the gas tax you haven't been paying.

On Thursday, Rep. Linda Harper Brown (R-Irving) filed a bill, HB 1669, to begin a two-year Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) taxing method pilot program for all electric cars registered in Texas.

The Senate approved SJR 1 today, by a 24-7 vote, which calls for a balanced federal budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

If the U.S. Congress does not act to amend the Constitution within a year, the resolution says, it calls for Texas to join states in calling for a Constitutional Convention. Two-thirds of the states would have to make such a call, according to the U.S. Constitution. ... But for the most part, the "con-con" language is intended as a threat, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst said.

After four hours of public testimony and debate, the House State Affairs committee sent an ultrasound bill to the floor, 9-3.

Of the two bills heard in committee today, HB 15 by Rep. Sid Miller (R-New Braunfels) was selected, with some modifications inlcuding removing penalties for abortion providers who do not comply.

Rep. Geanie Morrison's (R-Victoria) HB 201 was discussed but not sent to the floor. ... The committee substitute, according to Miller, makes an exception for medical emergencies.

Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst announced today the formation of the Senate Select Committee on Open Government, charged with reviewing issues regarding transparency, public information and open records. [...]

The members include: Sens. Jeff Wentworth (R-San Antonio, chair), Wendy Davis (D-Fort Worth, vice chair) Rodney Ellis (D-Houston), Kevin Eltife (R-Tyler) and Florence Shapiro (R-Plano).

The Texas Public Policy Foundation, backed up by Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and Rep. Lois Kolkhorst (R-Brenham), rolled out a plan in a press conference this morning to use the free market to counteract the rising cost of Medicaid.

TPPF’s proposed "TexHealth" plan aims to "reform Medicaid along free market principles, converting the program in Texas from a defined benefit to a defined contribution for the purchase of health insurance," a press release said.

Two bills proposed by Senate leaders this week aim to distinguish preventation-based health care from the current state of "sick care."
 
Years in the making -- but now expedited due to federal health care reform -- are two bills, SB 7 and 8. Two similar bills were proposed in the 81st session. The goal is "to cut waste, fraud, and abuse" and "reward providers who are efficient and who are achieving healthy outcomes for their patients," said Sen. Jane Nelson (R-Flower Mound) in a press conference Feb. 16.

We look at what the bills set out to do below. ...

Crusading against animal cruelty -- particularly cockfighting -- is not solely the domain of left-oriented activists, a conservative House leader said today.

The Humane Society of the United States hosted a press conference today in support of HB 1043, sponsored by Rep. Wayne Christian (R-The Center). The bill, which hopes to put the clincher on those who fight roosters and other fowl in secluded arenas for gambling and sporting purposes, would align the state's anti-cockfighting laws with existing anti-dogfighting laws.

A periodic report titled "Texas On the Brink" stands against much of the optimistic view put out by conservatives of the Lone Star State.

The liberal-leaning report compiles several rankings which place Texas down at the bottom regarding several issues. ...

Gov. Rick Perry is at the lectern at the 2011 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), lambasting record-level federal spending and advocating state-level budget-cutting. And that's consistent with his State of the State Address Feb. 8.

During the State of the State, Perry identified several possible avenues by which the state of Texas can save money -- an estimated $65 million in savings by consolidating and suspending several departments. We list them below:
 

House Speaker Joe Straus released his list of committee assignments for the 82nd Legislature a few minutes ago. Straus said he took into consideration seniority, geography and demographic diversity.

"As you know this process is not an exact science," Straus said, before having the House clerk read the list. "... Like you, I am eager for committees to begin work ..."

Staus also created the Select Committee on Voter Identification and Voter Fraud, the Joint Committee on Oversight and HHS Eligibility, and Select Committee on State Sovereignty, as well as continuing the Election Contest Committee. Below is a list of the committee chairmen, followed by a link to a full list of committee members.