As GOP Ponders Medicad Expansion, Hispanic Support Hangs In The Balance

Texas GOP's Latest Problem With Hispanics
In this July 12, 2012 photo, Andrea Gallegos holds a photo of her husband Jose, who died of cancer in 2006, in Brownsville, Texas. Gallegos, who is without health insurance, is battling breast cancer. Texas already has one of the nations most restrictive Medicaid programs, offering coverage only to the disabled, children and parents who earn less than $2,256 a year for a family of three. Without a Medicaid expansion, the states working poor will continue relying on emergency rooms _ the most costly treatment option _ instead of primary care doctors. The Texas Hospital Association estimates that care for uninsured patients cost hospitals in the state $4.5 billion in 2010. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
In this July 12, 2012 photo, Andrea Gallegos holds a photo of her husband Jose, who died of cancer in 2006, in Brownsville, Texas. Gallegos, who is without health insurance, is battling breast cancer. Texas already has one of the nations most restrictive Medicaid programs, offering coverage only to the disabled, children and parents who earn less than $2,256 a year for a family of three. Without a Medicaid expansion, the states working poor will continue relying on emergency rooms _ the most costly treatment option _ instead of primary care doctors. The Texas Hospital Association estimates that care for uninsured patients cost hospitals in the state $4.5 billion in 2010. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

For Republicans nationally, the big takeaway from the 2012 presidential election was that, as a party, they have to get right — or at least do better — with Hispanic voters.

With the opening of the 83rd legislative session, the lessons of the 2012 election seemed to have taken here as well.
No provocative emergency items like in the last session, on sanctuary cities or voter I.D., issues that roused the

Republican base but lacerated Hispanic sensibilities.
But on one issue, Gov. Rick Perry did draw a line in the sand.

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