2/3/2014::Leftovers from yesterday

Brain-Dead Texas Woman’s Family May Have To Pay For The Cost Of Keeping Her On Life Support

On Sunday, Marlise Machado Muñoz — the brain-dead women who was forced to remain on life support against her family’s will because she was pregnant — was disconnected from a respirator after a months-long battle with the hospital that was caring for her. John Peter Smith Hospital finally agreed to relinquish her body to her family after a judge ordered it. Now, her husband Erick is finally beginning the process of saying goodbye to Muñoz and her unborn child, who he named Nicole.

But in the aftermath of the family’s personal tragedy, there are still some unanswered questions. It’s not guaranteed that Texas will actually change the arcane state law that allows hospitals to override women’s end-of-life wishes if they are pregnant. And it’s unclear who exactly will be responsible for paying the medical bills that resulted from Muñoz’s hospital stay, which stretched on for about nine weeks.

In an interview with CNN’s Anderson Cooper, Erick Muñoz acknowledged that he has been receiving medical bills at his home — although he’s not sure exactly what he will be expected to pay.

Watchdog: California Republican trying to kill rail project that could devalue family farmland

A congressional ethics watchdog has again called for an investigation of a California lawmaker who criticized a high-speed rail line that could reduce the value of property he owns.

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) renewed its request Monday after Rep. David Valadao (R-CA) testified earlier this month in opposition to the rail project during a hearing of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

The ethics watchdog said Valadao failed to inform his colleagues that he has a financial interest in the rail line, which would run through property owned by the lawmaker’s family.