Galveston County Daily News, Oct. 29, 2008 Several top legislative leaders, led by Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, toured UTMB to view the damage caused by Hurricane Ike. At the end of the tour, the state officials said that layoffs at UTMB were not imminent. From the article: "The Nov. 14 deadline that many employees fear will end their careers at the state's oldest medical school is artificial in terms of legislative leaders' efforts to come up with a plan for the school's future, Dewhurst said. . . .  Whatever is decided will be best for the people of Galveston, medical branch employees and the people of Texas, he said." The article states that, if layoffs are necessary, legislators will make sure employees have sufficient notice to seek employment elsewhere.