Speaker Phelan gives interim progress report

For the first time since 2018, state lawmakers across the state have the formal opportunity to take part in a a "robust discussion" with other members and members of the public that could come up in the 2023 session. While committees deal with a multitude of issues during this time -- from money going into the state's crime victims compensation fund, the border and the Sabine-to-Galveston project, among many others -- Speaker Dade Phelan in March tasked them with taking an even closer look at criminal justice and health care. The Enterprise recently sat down with Phelan, who also represents Southeast Texas, for an interim progress update from the Legislature:

Can you give us an update on how preliminary between-session work is going on your priorities, criminal justice and healthcare? "It's going very well. It's a good start to the interim. A lot of voters and constituents might not realize it's a year-round process. The Criminal Justice Committee has already met and had a really important hearing on the Melissa Lucio situation. The hearing really set in motion the stay of her execution. New evidence came to light ... I don't know if she's innocent or guilty, but I know she deserves a fair trial. We have to give people a second chance -- whether that's new information in a trial or someone who committed a non-violent offence many years ago and now they want to get a welding degree in Southeast Texas -- and get a career instead of a job," Phelan said. "The rest of the country needs to look at what Texas did in 2021 and allt he positive changes we made in the law, many of them bipartisan. If Republicans are going to say you can't have the Affordable Care Act in Texas, we have to think of another option. It's become a kitchen-table issue. It's gotten more expensive. I think it's our responsibility to have options. We had a package ... of bills and the Healthy Families, Healthy Texas package. We opened up other health plans. We capped the price of insulin in Texas. We have a prescription drug plan where Texas will be the buyer of record ... we will get the rebates and pass them along to the consumers. The bulk savings will be passed on to the consumer. That program is being written by the state agency. We expanded Medicaid for mothers. Previous to 2021, you lost your Medicaid after two months. The House wanted to go to 12 months. The Senate wanted to do six. That's better than six months. So, I'll take the deal."