31.   Fourteen years ago, the state got a waiver from federal regulations and began requiring all Medicaid beneficiaries to join an HMO.

32.   Further, state agencies are getting more requests from companies to conduct wage and salary surveys, he said.

33.   Hawley said Texas needs a lobbyist in Washington to make sure the state gets the most updated information about issues involving the military and defense industry.

34.   He said the state would be getting more resources today.

35.   He said there are still outstanding questions on how much money the state will get from the federal government for health care costs.

36.   He wondered if the state could get a fair trial.

37.   However, devising such a plan has proved complicated, and the three states still have major differences over how much water each state will get.

38.   How did states get themselves in this fix?

39.   If enough states get behind the ballot-statement idea, Congress will move to OK the requisite amendment.

40.   If a welfare recipient moves to a job or simply ceases to receive aid, the state gets the same credit toward the work requirement.