Austin Interfaith Leverages Republican Support for Medicaid
"Last week, the Travis County Commissioners Court tweaked a Feb. 19 resolution calling for a Medicaid expansion to satisfy its lone Republican member. That bipartisan support was 'absolutely critical,' said Oralia Garza Cortes, a leader with Austin Interfaith, an advocacy group. Sister organizations in Dallas and Bexar counties helped pass similar resolutions.
Read moreCOPS / Metro Wins Bexar County Support for Medicaid
"On a bipartisan vote, Bexar County commissioners Tuesday urged Texas lawmakers to expand the state's Medicaid program and take advantage of federal matching funds under the Affordable Care Act.2014 to 2017, expansion will bring $27.2 billion in federal revenue to Texas for just over $3 billion in state investments," said County Judge Nelson Wolff....
Read moreAustin Interfaith Weighs In on Travis Incentive Decision
"This is an opportunity to create good jobs for our families," said Kurt Cadena-Mitchell, with Austin Interfaith, a coalition of churches, schools and local governments that is an advocate for jobs paying a living wage, among other issues....
The new jobs are believed to be part of the company's plans to hire more technical workers and engineers to support its expanding business. The average annual wage for the new jobs is $65,000, and the lowest-paid 10 percent will make about $40,000."
Read moreValley Interfaith Leverages Hidalgo County Support for Medicaid
"...Valley Interfaith members were at Hidalgo County Commissioners Court to urge commissioners to pass a resolution in support of Adult Medicaid. In a news release, Valley Interfaith said it urges other counties in the Valley to stand also in support. The Rev. Javier Leyva, a Valley Interfaith leader, pointed out that expanding Medicaid would bring over $400 million in Medicaid funds to Hidalgo County and nearly $670 million to the Valley overall."
Read moreAustin Leaders Leverage Bipartisan County Support for Medicaid
"With more than $200 million a year at stake, the Travis County Commissioners Court is urging the Legislature to expand Medicaid coverage to more needy people in Texas, the state with highest rate of uninsured residents. The court spent time Tuesday tweaking the resolution that it passed last week to satisfy its lone Republican member, Gerald Daugherty. It was approved unanimously, 5-0. Austin Interfaith leader Oralia Garza Cortes called the bipartisan support "absolutely critical" and said that sister organizations of the advocacy group in Dallas and Bexar counties helped pass similar resolutions this month."
Read moreCOPS / Metro Alliance Fights for County Support of Medicaid
"Groups seeking expansion of Texas' Medicaid program will plead their case outside the Bexar County Courthouse on Tuesday before Commissioners Court is set to take up a resolution supporting their position....Leading the 9:30 a.m. gathering Tuesday ... will be County Judge Nelson Wolff. Also expected are representatives of the county hospital system community organizations called COPS/Metro Alliance.
Read morePersonal Stories Drive Fight for Medicaid Expansion
"Valley Interfaith leader Rosalie Tristan gave two personal healthcare stories to highlight the need for expanding Medicaid. Tristan...spoke of her 55-year-old brother, David Contreras, a husband and father of two. He has a tumor on the back of his head the size of a melon. He has been told he has to come up with $10,000 in order to see a doctor. He does not have $10,000.
He has also been told he cannot go to the emergency room of his local hospital until the body tissue bursts. He earns too much to qualify for Medicaid...."
Read moreNetwork of Texas Organizations Fights for Medicaid Expansion
"The Network of Texas Organizations, convened 200 leaders from various faith traditions on the steps of the Capitol to call on Gov. Rick Perry and the Texas Legislature to expand Medicaid.
Religious leaders and clergy from throughout the state gathered at the north entrance the Capitol on Wednesday at noon to rally in support of Medicaid expansion..."
Read moreAustin Interfaith Leverages County Support for Medicaid
"At the urging of Austin Interfaith, the Travis County Commissioners Court this week passed a resolution supporting expansion. Dallas County has approved a similar resolution, and Bexar County is expected to do the same next week....
Read moreAustin Leaders Block Lobbyists from Rewriting Land Use Code
After Austin Interfaith leaders took issue with a proposal that "would have allowed registered lobbyists to serve on the citizen committee that will guide the rewriting of the city's land-development code..." the proposal was pulled.
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