Medicaid: What will it take to resolve the Issue?




The Medicaid issue that has hit Texas in the couple of years is similar to a relationship between two people, there is not any compromise. Yes, Texas has a double-digit billion dollar deficit that it will have to fight to come back from, but at what risks will the state’s government take to see that this will happen.

Texas is at the top of the charts as states with uninsured people that is leaving their state’s boundary. There are also many statistics about who these Medicaid cuts will affect, but that is all on paper. State legislators do not have to walk down the city hospitals and senior homes to get a realistic view of who their decisions will actually hurt. By making these cuts, Texas is clearly making a statement saying lives are less important than saving money.

On the other side of the spectrum Medicaid is one of the major state-funded programs that Texas is providing. By slimming it down or eliminating Medicaid, could this really be the answer to a better tomorrow. It could possibly offer a better solution to past plans that have failed. Without Medicaid, doctors could actually get the appropriate reimbursement that they deserve.

Whatever the solution may be, both sides of the spectrum would have to sit down and discuss the pros and cons to each other. At the same time, both sides would have to give a little to gain a lot for the future. Yes, it will be difficult at first, but it will give our children for tomorrow a jumpstart in life.

Texas health-care advocates protest cuts to children's Medicaid

Johnny Fobbs

Medicaid Cuts Will Effect More Than the Children and Elderly


Just the thought of a significant cut to the Medicaid budget has people all over Texas in fear that they will not receive the proper care and attention they need from doctors. Reporternews.com reports that if the cuts are to be finalized then it is estimated that $7.6 billion will be cut from the total spending a year, which is about a third of Medicaid spending in Texas. Medicaid is provided to 3.1 million people in Texas. It is a state-funded program that is given to children, pregnant women and adults with disabilities.


Another problem that will arise is that the Texas Legislature believes that it will save the state money but at the same time, it will produce layoffs and put so many people live in danger because of lack of attention.

State Representative Susan King(R), said, “Budgets cuts will affect many of the services provided through the state. Budget cuts aren’t aimed at the people who received the benefits but rather at medical providers”. (Reported by reporternews.com)

Rep. King might be right about the cuts being aimed at the medical providers, but in reality the people will still be effecting in some kind of way. Medicaid has increased rapidly in the last 10 years, but the funding for other priorities like public education, public safety and transportation has taken a hit in the last decade also.

The government of Texas will have to put their minds together, republicans and democrats, will have to work together so that people lives and jobs will not be in any type of risk



Johnny Fobbs

History of Gambling Push and Social Concerns

Legalizing gambling in Texas isn’t a new issue to legislative discussion. During times of economic hardship throughout our state’s history, the issue of expanding gaming laws has always been discussed, and, for the most part, shut down. Traditionally opposed to gaming expansion, Texas first expanded its gaming policy in 1986 to allow a vote for para-mutuel betting in a 1987 referendum. Simply put, this allowed for the creation of horse and dog tracks. Opponents of legalized gaming in Texas, specifically Texans Against Gambling, are quick to note that para-mutuel betting has not delivered the revenue its proponents promised. According to the Texans Against Gambling website, they view para-mutuel gambling as a “dismal failure.” In 1991, Texans again voted to allow the creation of the Texas Lottery. Since then, all initiatives to expand gaming in Texas have been shut down in Legislature.

The legalization of gambling may be a way to raise revenue streams, but on a personal level it can have devastating consequences. I have a family member, who lives in a state where gambling is legal, that struggled with gambling addiction. I was around 10 years old when it happened, so I wasn’t told the specifics of the situation, but from what I overheard and was told he lost somewhere around $50,000 over a 6 month time-span. It started with trips to casinos with friends, and over time evolved into him going alone to the casinos to try and regain what was lost. The situation almost tore his marriage apart, as well as his financial situation. He made the choice to start attending Gamblers Anonymous meetings, and save his marriage and family, and overcame his urges to gamble. Talking about it recently, he put it into perspective, in that “the thought of losing [his] family was 100 times worse than any amount [he] could lose while gambling,” which motivated him to stop. It has been over a decade since he last gambled, and is still happily married. This is not to say that everyone who gambles will become addicted, but there are some people with personality types that are more vulnerable to this sort of addiction.

For more information about the pros and cons to legalizing gambling in Texas, check out this link:  http://www.beaumontenterprise.com/default/article/PRO-CON-Should-Texas-Legislature-legalize-casino-747623.php

-Ian Cannon

Pros and Cons of CHIPs Program

The health care debate is a hot button topic in the government. It is especially relevant now with all of the hospital budget cuts looming in the future. After researching the different sides opinions on the issue, it appears that the media is making it bi-partisan issue. In reality, this issue should not be decided through political party preference. Both sides obviously agree on the same issue. Children should be able to receive proper medical treatment. The only issue is how they should go about supplying these children with the finances to achieve this goal.

Although the idea of CHIPs and Medicaid in general is derived as negative, a 2011 study from The Kaiser Family Foundation shows that these types of programs are “surprisingly popular.” 39% of the people polled said that Medicaid is very important for their family. I can see both sides of each argument. Middle to lower income children are in need of medical assistance, but many are not willing to give out more dollars to the government.

Since the United States and Texas are in such a deep budget crisis I feel that this is the time when it is important to make sure that these programs which are doing good for our society are sustained. The current financial situation does call for "cutting- back" but it shouldn't be at the expense of meaningful programs that are assisting children.

To ease the mind of those against CHIPs, they could instill stronger background reports of the families and children involved in the program. They are also talking about making families re-apply every six months instead of yearly which could also monitor the families that are involved.

-Liane Michnoff

Other States Can Help TX Change Nutrition

A recent article in the Star Telegram brought attention to several educational issues outside of budget cuts that have become "hot topics" in the 82nd Texas Legislature. While "anti-bullying" and "truth in grading" bills have become central to the current debate surrounding public education, bills regarding changes in nutrition and physical education programs have lost attention in Texas.

These nutrition bills are however still progressing through the session and details on each can be found at the following links:

• HB 127: relating to the types of beverages that may be sold to students on public school campuses; referred to Public Health.

• HB 280: relating to requiring a health credit for high school graduation; referred to Public Education.

• HB 281: relating to physical education credits required for high school graduation; referred to Public Education.

• HB 643: relating to summer nutrition programs in school districts; referred to Agriculture and Livestock committee.

• SB 185: relating to physical activity requirements for students in public schools; refereed to Education.

• SB 225: relating to including in public school campus improvement plans and in local school health advisory council reports to school district boards of trustees certain goals and objectives or information in order to promote improved student health; referred to Education.

While the debate over nutrition in public schools has lost attention in Texas, it does remain an important topic of discussion and efforts to alter nutritional standards in many other states, including Pennsylvania and New York.

A recent New York Times article highlights steps being taken by schools, such as William D. Kelley, in Philadelphia. In 2003, a special project developed in Philadelphia to better nutrition in the area’s public schools. The project is sponsored by the Food Trust Mission—a nonprofit organization founded in 1993 to “develop a comprehensive approach that combines nutrition education and greater availability of affordable, healthy food.” Their Comprehensive School Nutrition Policy Initiative is an attempt to give America’s youth “the skills, social support and environmental reinforcement needed to adopt long-term healthy eating habits.” Recent studies show that the project is working and has reduced “the incidence” of childhood obesity” by 50 percent in Philadelphia Schools. It is interesting to note that, in Philadelphia, one non-profit organization was central in changing nutritional standards in the city's schools. Rather than simply push legislative change, the Food Trust Mission worked directly with and in schools to implement their program.

This video, from ABC, explains the program and highlights its successes: http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/obesity-america-school-community-fights-back-9805810 

Likewise, in New York City, successful school nutrition programs have helped students become more educated about healthy food choices. Jorge Collazo, the executive chef for the Department of Education, explains in a New York Times article that the system operates like a restaurant: the children are the “customers.” This attitude helped the system begin improving about seven years ago. According to the article, today schools in New York do not serve fried food, trans fat, or artificial ingredients to students. Also, it is worth noting that, while meals and nutrition in Texas schools are controlled by the Department of Agriculture, they are controlled by the Department of Education in New York. 

Both of these successes show that nutrition standards in public schools can be altered. In Texas, where the childhood obesity rate is 30 percent, addressing current nutritional issues in youth is critical to the future well-being of the state. Studying existing programs in other states where public school meal standards have been altered to provide better nutrition for students can help Texas politicians develop programs to implement change. 

-Kathryn Waggoner

Three bills proposed to boost efficiency of higher education

Republican Dan Branch has filed three bills to maximize the funds invested in higher education. With budget cuts affecting everyone, legislators must observe how money has been used in the past in order to make changes for the future.

The first bill, the Higher Education Outcomes-Based Funding Act (House Bill 9), would change the funding for higher education. Previously, funding for institutions has been rationed according to the number of students enrolled. With this bill, the state would tie a portion of the funding to outcomes produced by each institution, such as graduation rates.

House Bill 10, the TEXAS Grant College Readiness Reform Act, would give priority access to students who have met certain performance criteria in high school. In the past, students have been awarded financial aide on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Finally, the Higher Education Productivity Act (House Bill 1460) would require that students earn at least 10 percent of their college credits through something other than typical classroom courses, such as summer and online courses as well as internships. In addition, the bill would require faculty to spend more time in the classroom.

The first two bills would modify existing procedures for allocating funds and financial aide for higher institutions. The third bill would require a shift in the way students view their college education since they would need to consider non-traditional ways of receiving college credits. House Bill 1460 may experience more opposition, but House Bills 9 and 10 are expected to win the support of the governor.

-Carissa Cotner

Teach For America’s impact on higher education

Before students apply for higher education or financial aide, they must first have the confidence and the necessary schooling to enable them to do so. The education gap remains an obstacle for students pursuing a continuing education. The U.S. Department of Education describes the achievement gap as “the difference in academic performance between different ethnic groups.”

One of the contributing factors to the education gap is the lack of resources provided in low-income schools in comparison to more affluent schools. The inaccessibility of resources prevents students in low-income schools from reaching their full potential, therefore hurting the economy. Students who graduate from college will most likely obtain a higher paying job, enabling them to spend more money to support the economy.

Teach For America is an organization that works to close the education gap by providing equal opportunities and education for students in low income schools. By working with these schools, Teach For America hopes to provide more students with the opportunity of higher education and therefore allow students who grow up in poverty to receive the same resources as students who attend more affluent schools.

State budget cuts threaten the future of Teach For America and its mission. Texas House and Senate proposed a bill to cut the $4 million set aside for Teach For America. Click to watch a video  found on KEVO 23 about the impact of Teach For America in the Rio Grande Valley.


According to an article by John Bridgeland in US News and World Report, Teach For America and other organizations face similar blows to their funding on a national level in order to decrease spending and deficit.

Although these proposed budget cuts intend to decrease the deficit in the short term, the legislators should take into account the long term effects of their budget cuts and focus on the future of education and its impact on the economy.

-Carissa Cotner