Nelson's social programs efficiency bill breezes through Senate

A bill that would squeeze nearly $500 million of savings out of social programs such as Medicaid over the next two years passed the Senate 31-0 Thursday.

Garrett: http://dallasne.ws/k3CiWB

Nelson's panel urges $4.5 billion of eased cuts in social services

 Mental health services would be restored. Child Protective Services would actually gain, not lose, front-line staff. Current rates would be kept, not cut, for paying foster care providers. And Medicaid fees would be cut only by 1 percent for doctors and 3 percent for hospitals, "over where reimbursement rates are today," said Sen. Jane Nelson, describing a list of recommendations her subpanel of Senate Finance approved Thursday.
Garrett: http://dallasne.ws/f7nmYW

Dewhurst, Senate propose their own health care overhaul for Texas

 AUSTIN — Texas’ government and private health insurance plans need new methods of paying caregivers, Senate Republican leaders said Wednesday. Doctors and hospitals should not be reimbursed for volume but for quality and good results for patients, said Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound.

Garrett was busy today: http://dallasne.ws/dXw9Jk

Flower Mound lawmaker wants repeat DWI offenders to lose driver's licenses forever

AUSTIN – A leading legislator is vowing to change state law so offenders convicted of two drunken-driving charges will permanently lose their driver's licenses.


Currently, Texas provides only that licenses can be suspended for a maximum of two years.

Sen. Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, said she was prompted by the Easter-morning accident in which a man with three DWI convictions was involved in a collision that killed an Argyle mother and daughter.