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State Rep. Joe Straus, a two term member of the Texas Legislature, and a surprise pick for Speaker of the House is expected to be elected to that office on January 13th in a startling game changer that may move Texas politics in a new direction.
Straus, a San Antonio Republican, who is considered a conservative moderate was chosen last week as a compromise candidate for Speaker by a group of 11 Republicans called the ABCs (Anybody But Craddick) and immediately picked up steam garnering support from almost every single Democrat in the House.
On Sunday, conservative Speaker Tom Craddick, R-Midland, told 55 supporters he did not have the votes to win re-election and released his pledges. Craddick has come under fire for what some see as a heavy-handed governing style. Two other Republican Speaker candidates – State Reps. Dan Gattis of Georgetown and John Smithee of Amarillo -- tried to rally conservative candidates but later dropped out of the race when it became apparent that Straus had the votes to win.
"It has become apparent in the last 12 hours that Rep. Straus carries enough votes to become the next speaker of the Texas House of Representatives, and that any effort to challenge him is not in the best interest of the Texas House,” Gattis and Smithee said in a joint statement.
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“As a result, we are both withdrawing our candidacies for speaker. Our priority is to take the focus off speaker politics and concentrate on how we can best serve the people of Texas in the 81st Legislature."
It is not yet known how it will affect pharmacy if Straus is elected to the post, but his selection will mean numerous changes in committee chairmanships and assignments in the House of Representatives. A brief review of the bills authored or sponsored by Straus do not reveal any pharmacy related issues, but Jacksonville Pharmacist Chuck Hopson was among one of Straus’ early supporters and San Antonio Pharmacist Leticia Van de Putte, a Texas Senator from San Antonio, knows and has worked with Straus on legislative issues.
“We will begin immediately to educate Rep. Straus and his staff to make sure he is brought up to date on important issues facing community pharmacists in the state of Texas,” said TrueCare Government Relations Director John Heal. “The job of educating legislators on our issues continues to be one of the top priorities for our legislative council."
Texas legislators will be sworn in on January 13th and will then elect a Speaker of the House and pass rules that will govern the House for the 81st Legislative Session. |
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Pharmacists get a chance in February to hear the latest up-to-date information on pharmacy benefit managers and how they could affect their business in the future. They will also get an opportunity to enjoy the most visited city in Texas, including its fun attractions and exciting nightlife.
The CE Winter Conference will be held February 18 through 21 in San Antonio, just a week too soon for the 2009 openings of the city’s famed SeaWorld and Six Flags Fiesta theme parks, but still in time to visit some of the greatest attractions in Texas.
Three of the country’s leading experts on PBMs will come together at the conference to give Texas pharmacists a first-of-its-kind peek into what we might expect for pharmacy in the new Barack Obama administration.
Headquartered at the festive Omni La Mansion del Rio located right next to the Riverwalk, the conference lineup includes such national luminaries as David Balto, Robert Garis, and Gerry Purcell. These extraordinary experts will share inside views on the impacts of the PBM industry on the business of pharmacy.
But the deadline is fast approaching. To receive the promotional pricing at the Omni La Mansion del Rio, pharmacists need to make their reservations by January 18th. For reservations call 1-888-444-6664 or contact John Heal at the Texas TrueCare office at (512) 476-8288. |
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In addition to all the events and places to go listed below, conference participants will head to one of the country’s top Mexican food eateries – La Fogata, famed for its margaritas, salsa and tangy enchiladas verdes. The restaurant has been named to the “One of the 1,000 Places To See Before You Die” list as well as receiving numerous other accolades for its popular dishes.
And if that isn’t enough to get motivated, just think of all the great information you can get on Thursday in the CE conference which will take a hard hitting look at the issues surrounding the PBM industry. This year’s conference speakers have been closely linked to groups helping President elect Barack Obama define his health care policy as it relates to pharmacy and other issues and their insight will prove invaluable to Texas pharmacy in the coming weeks.
Part of the discussion will focus on how independent pharmacies can educate plan sponsors on the intricacies of their plans, and how this will work to benefit pharmacies and their patients. |
Additionally, during the conference luncheon, attendees will hear from the PBA Health / TrueCare Legislative team, including national Lobbyist Jorgen Schlemeier, Texas TrueCare’s legislative director, John C. Heal, Jr.; lead lobbyist Robert Culley and TrueCare Texas public affairs liaison Steve Ray.
Registration is $189 for a single registration and $349 for a double. The registration fee includes opening night cocktail reception and banquet, and five CE contact hours, with breakfast, lunch and refreshments provided on the day of the CE sessions. For anyone attending only one day, the day rate registration is $99.
For more information on the Winter CE Conference call PBA Health at 816-245-5700 or 800-333-8097.
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DON’T MISS OUT ON ALL THESE
FUN ACTIVITIES IN SAN ANTONIO
There are lots of fun activities for pharmacists and their families in San Antonio. In fact, there are way too many to list, but here are some of our favorites:
The Alamo
The 300-year-old Mission San Antonio de Valero was the site of the most famous battle during the Texas Revolution in March of 1836. It was here that 189 Texas defenders held off Mexican General Santa Anna's 4,000 soldiers for thirteen days and is one of the country’s most recognizable attractions.
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• SAN ANTONIO LIVESTOCK SHOW
The San Antonio Live Stock Show and Rodeo is considered among the best in the nation and it kick off Feb. 5th and last through Feb. 22 so pharmacists looking to extend their stay or find fun things for their family to do can put this on the list. One of our favorite events is Xtreme Bulls which is back for its 5th year. Xtreme Bullriding fans can enjoy two nights of the most intense bullriding competition in professional rodeo – but pharmacists in for the conference will only get the chance to see it on the final Saturday (February 21). Plus you’ll get to hear top Country performers like Cross Canadian Ragweed at 1 p.m. and Montgomery Gentry at 7:30 p.m.
For more information go to www.sarodeo.com. |
• THE RIVER WALK
The famed San Antonio River Walk was built around the heart of the country’s oldest and most extensive Spanish-colonial water system. The river still winds its way through the city but the three-mile long River Walk in downtown San Antonio has become world famous for its cobbled walkways, bridges, restaurants shops and extensive nightlife along the river’s edge.
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• SAN ANTONIO MISSIONS NATIONAL HISTORIC PARK
This eight-mile Bike and Hike Trail leads you to four out of five San Antonio missions from the Spanish colonial era including Mission San Jose, the largest mission in the city which was built by members of the Coahuiltecan tribe in the late 1700s using Texas limestone and brightly colored stucco. The mission church holds a Mariachi Mass on Sundays and has a rose window in the sacristy. |
• TOWER OF THE AMERICAS
Originally built for the1968 World’s, the Tower of the Americas provides a panoramic view of San Antonio from 750 feet in the air. Recent renovations to the observation deck and rotating restaurant at the top now features upscale dining and a bar area. A glass elevator takes visitors to the Flags Over Texas observatory and the Skies Over Texas 4-D ride, a swooping, spectacular tour of life in the Lone Star State.
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• SAN ANTONIO ZOO
This is the third largest zoo in the U.S. and has been in operation in San Pedro Park since the 1800s. The zoo features more than 3,500 animals and spreads out over 56 acres.
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• KING WILLIAM HISTORIC DISTRICT
The oldest historic district in Texas, the houses here were built by German merchants in the late 1800s, and include elegant mansions, quirky bed and breakfasts, art galleries and restaurants.
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• MUSEUMS
Witte Museum. Mummies and dinosaurs mix with Fiesta gowns, an EcoLab with live creatures and other exciting activities in one of the state’s top family-oriented museums that is geared to history, natural science and technology. There is a circus collection and especially for all the kids, a H-E-B Science Treehouse that provides hands-on science exhibits.
McNay Art Museum. This was the first museum of modern art in Texas and is world renowned for its collection of 19th- and 20th-century European and American art.
San Antonio Museum of Art. Containsthe most comprehensive collection of Latin American art in the country and huge collections of Egyptian, Greek and Roman antiquities, European and American paintings, and Asian and contemporary art.
Buckhorn Saloon & Museum. One of the most fun museums in the state, the 120-year-old saloon is a repository for cowboy and Old West history. It also includes an extensive horn, fin and feather collection.
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• GOLF
If you want to take a break after the conference for some of the finest golf in Texas, San Antonio is the place. The Hyatt Hill Country Resort opened in 1993 and recently added nine holes. The Westin La Cantera entered the golf scene in 1995 and won national honors as the Best New Resort Course of the Year. In 2001, golf legend Arnold Palmer designed the adjacent par-72 Palmer Course. And just a short distance from San Antonio in Boerne is a mid-1980s era golf course designed by Bill Johnston in a scenic valley hidden from the Interstate. Johnston later added a new, steeper nine holes of golf, the Ridge, giving the resort a total of 27 holes.
For more information on San Antonio events, click on to www.visitsanantonio.com. |
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