UNDER THE ROTUNDA
House members are anxiously awaiting their chair and committee assignments from House Speaker, Joe Straus (R-San Antonio) this week. Meanwhile in the Senate, Sen. Jane Nelson, (R-Flower Mound), Senate Finance Committee chair, will hold hearings on Senate Bill 2 through Thursday. Sen. Charles Schwertner, MD (R-Georgetown), Senate Health and Human Services Committee chair, is holding his first hearing Wednesday. Senator Schwertner is the first physician to chair the Senate Health and Human Services Committee.

TMA IN ACTION
First Tuesdays at the Capitol promises an action-packed day tomorrow. First Tuesdays Chair Susan Todd, TMA PresidentAustin I. King, MD, and TMA Alliance President Angela Donahue kick off activities, followed by an advocacy tutorial from TMA’s lobby staff. Then TMA and alliance members descend on the Capitol to meet with their hometown legislators for the day. TMA also is hosting a news conference at the Capitol asking state leaders, and Texas senators and representatives to improve physicians’ Medicaid payments, cut red tape and administrative hassles, and hold Medicaid HMOs accountable for adequate physician networks. This week’s Legislative News Hotline video will capture the action. Stay tuned.

Austin emergency physician Chris Ziebell, MD, will represent TMA and the Texas Public Health Coalition to support a statewide ban on texting. Sen. Judith Zaffirini (D-Laredo) and Rep. Tom Craddick (R-Midland) have joined forces again to pass legislation to ban texting while driving. Each has filed Senate Bill 25 and House Bill 80 in their respective chamber. Senator Zaffirini and Representative Craddick are hosting a media and staff briefing on the bill. TMA strongly supports the legislation to ensure the safety of all Texans, particularly young Texans.

PHYSICIAN OF THE DAY
The physician of the day at the Capitol is Luis Benavides, MD, of Laredo. Dr. Benavides graduated from The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. He is a member of TMA and the Webb-Zapata-Jim Hogg County Medical Society.

WHAT WE ARE READING
Paddie files bill to ban e-cig sales to kids― Longview News-Journal
Video Series: State of Mind: Community Concerns Come to the Capitol ― The Texas Tribune
Patrick assembles grassroots advisory group ― San Antonio Express-News
Perry Attorneys File New Request to Dismiss Indictment ― The Texas Tribune
Cost of Care: The U.S. health care system is bleeding green ―The Dallas Morning News
Medicare to Publish Physician-Payment Data Yearly ― The Wall Street Journal