Economy

I Saw Firsthand How China Attempts To Interfere In Internal U.S. Government Affairs

On Sept. 23, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo delivered a speech to the Wisconsin State Senate warning of the Chinese Communist Party’s influence operations targeting state and local officials. Pompeo began by highlighting an odd incident from February when Wisconsin Senate President Roger Roth received an email from an official in China’s Chicago consulate. The email included language...

September 24, 2020

Health Care

Medicaid Expansion: The Wrong Prescription

At a time when Texas officials are talking about trimming the state’s budget to deal with serious revenue shortfalls, one medical organization is instead pushing the state to expand Medicaid, via the Affordable Care Act. But that’s the wrong prescription for what ails America’s health care safety net for the poor. Instead of expanding Medicaid’s...

September 24, 2020

K-12 Education

My generation is being raised to hate America — it’s time to stand up for our history

I gathered with the entire student body of Wyoming Catholic College on Sept. 17, 2019, for a mandatory celebration of Constitution Day. We began with the Pledge of Allegiance, witnessed a lively panel discussion between professors on the history and modern relevance of America’s founding principles, and concluded by singing patriotic songs. If you are a student at...

September 23, 2020

Criminal Justice

Will playing politics with public safety backfire on Austin?

The Austin City Council is playing politics with public safety. Now some are calling for the statehouse to step in. In a bid to appease far-left radicals, City Hall last month cut millions from the Austin Police Department’s budget and redistributed the money to other social justice causes, such as easing abortion access ($100,000), boosting urban trails...

September 21, 2020

Local Government

When Spending Billions Isn’t Enough

The city of Austin wants voters to approve a massive bond proposition this November to help fund a $7 billion transportation plan that features a downtown subway system, light rail, and more. But some recent remarks have Austinites asking whether the plan will even work. The controversial comments came from Zach Baumer, the city’s climate...

September 17, 2020

Local Government

North Texas Tax-and-Spend Continues On

Despite the suffering and sacrifice of ordinary taxpayers, it seems that some North Texas governments are continuing to tax and spend like normal. For example, Tarrant County officials just approved a budget with “3 to 6 percent salary increases” for county employees. Elsewhere, Fort Worth and Arlington ISDs are asking voters to support massive tax...

September 17, 2020

Economy

Report Shows Big Declines In Poverty In 2019, But California Leads The Nation – In Poverty – With Austin, Texas Trying Hard To Catch Up

The Census Bureau’s annual reports on poverty in America were released on Sept. 15. The reports provide three salient observations. First, that the largest reductions in poverty in the past 10 years occurred in 2019, as American employment and wage growth was particularly strong in minority communities in the wake of President Trump’s economy-boosting tax cuts and...

September 17, 2020

Criminal Justice

What happens if the thin blue line is erased?

There are competing goals in the rioting and protesting we see all over the country. The prevailing narrative remains the peaceful expression of outrage against perceived injustices committed by the police. However, it has become clear that protests have been hijacked by those whose intent is anything but peaceful. Some media networks are desperate to cling to...

September 11, 2020

Local Government

Will This Superintendent’s Supersized Salary Spark Calls for Reform?

Talk about adding salt to the wound, especially since Austin was just rated the “least affordable U.S. city for minimum-wage workers.” Last month, the Austin Independent School District hired a new superintendent, and that official’s starting salary has just been revealed. For her first year, she’ll rake-in a whopping $334,000—more than double what the Texas...

September 11, 2020

Criminal Justice

Prioritize mental health treatment as part of criminal justice reform

Prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic and the nationwide unrest of the summer months, local, state, and federal authorities are taking a fresh look at significant reforms to how the criminal justice system engages with those in its charge. One important area, affected by both the aforementioned crises, is the need to address how to maintain...

September 10, 2020

Family

Community care best for foster kids

A recent report highlighted the desperate need for more foster families in rural communities west of San Antonio. Historically, the Department of Family and Protective Services, or DFPS, has struggled to recruit in rural areas — a problem exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. These rural communities surrounding Bexar County are a part of Region 8b,...

September 8, 2020

Economy

Government should support workplace safety — then get out of the way

As the economy continues to reopen and gain strength amid the COVID-19 pandemic, a common concern is how to ensure the safety of the public and the workers at businesses around the country. Government certainly has a role in providing information, guidance and support. But ultimately its best approach is to serve as a partner...

September 8, 2020