Opinion

Paying for my medications twice: Texas law needed to protect patients

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Iwas only 10 years old the first time I went to the hospital with severe head pain, uncontrollable vomiting, and visual disturbances with complete blindness in my left eye. Driving four hours to Dallas from my home in Abilene was my family’s only option if I wanted to see a pediatric neurologist after being diagnosed with chronic migraine. It was a sacrifice of time, but necessary for my health. More than 35 years later, managing this illness, several co-morbid conditions, caring for my family, and working is a lot to juggle, physically, emotionally, and financially. I pay what I owe, but I was livid when I realized that fine print in my insurance contract was causing me to pay my deductible twice.
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Conservation urged as searing heat wave sweeps state

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Texas’ power grid reported record electricity use early last week. Both the Public Utility Commission of Texas and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas are urging residents and businesses to voluntarily reduce electricity use as temperatures soar above100 degrees over much of the state. So far the grid, which administers 90% of the state’s power load, has been able to keep up with demand.

House to provide funding for water projects

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The Texas House of Representatives has taken an important, historic step toward establishing a reliable funding stream to support key water initiatives this year by approving a proposed constitutional amendment to dedicate a set amount of state sales tax revenue each year to support efforts to meet the demands of a growing, thirsty state in the decades to come.
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Abbott vetoes bills; feud with Patrick grows

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Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick claimed last week that Gov. Greg Abbott is sabotaging the Senate’s work because of their ongoing feud over which approach to property tax reform is best, The Dallas Morning News reported. Abbott vetoed three bills by Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, who has been Patrick’s point senator on increasing homestead exemptions in order to provide tax cuts. As of Friday afternoon, he had vetoed 31 bills.