Legislature Takes Next Step in Budget Dance
House and Senate leaders announced their budget “targets” last week, the first step in producing a complete budget. These figures establish the spending for each area, though not the specific details for programs. The Republican-led legislature proposes considerably less spending, especially in Health and Human Services programs.
Federal Health Care Reforms a Subject of Continued Skirmishes
Proposals moving through House and Senate committees that would impair or prohibit implementation of the federal health care reforms continue to cause significant controversy. A bill to prohibit the use of state funds for implementation of the ACA took its next steps, and questions over the authorization of state Health Insurance Exchanges dominated several committees.
Autism Task Force Bill Moves Forward
A bill to reestablish the state’s Autism Spectrum Disorder Task Force passed its first committee and will continue onward. The proposal is the first of several autism-related bills to receive a hearing during this legislative session.
