Now, I’m all for protecting the rights of minorities to participate in public discourse—that’s why I support the First Amendment, which protects free speech for all. But, according to Baer, supporting free speech for all disenfranchises minorities. Somehow, minorities are not included in “all.”
This commentary originally appeared in The Federalist on April 28, 2017. The age of cell phone video ubiquity treats us with daily outrages over people in authority behaving badly towards the powerless. Unreasoned passion leads to a thirst for justice, or at least the appearance of justice. In 1991, there were no cell-phone cameras and...
Bill analysis by House Bill 3664: A Bouquet of Central Planning
J.D. Rimann's testimony on Senate Bill 845: Creating Value and Deconstructing Economic Barriers
In response to the creeping “Californiazation of Texas,” Governor Abbott called for a “broad-based ban on regulations at the local level.” This week, the House Land & Resource Management Committee responded to that call by voting House Bill 3787 out of committee. The bill, as filed by Representative Cecil Bell, would prohibit cities and counties...
This commentary originally appeared on The Gilmer Mirror on April 27, 2017. Grandma in her wheelchair is back on the ledge. Do we want a new tax pushing her over? Texas’ elder population cannot get the care they need. Resources are insufficient such as: lack of support to avoid institutionalization; inadequate numbers of nurses; lower skill levels...
Currently, it is very difficult for individuals to challenge local licensing laws, which require additional licensing requirements imposed on state-licensee holders by municipalities SB 2178 institutes a judicial relief mechanism to make it easier for state licensees to challenge these types of local regulations and shifts the burden of proof onto local governments to prove...
Organizations with authority over others are vulnerable to any suggestion that they are abusing their power. Further, while corporations must correct bad behavior or risk going out of business, government often just continues with business as usual.
The shortage of primary care providers isn't just a rural issue. Shortages are found in major metropolitan areas and impact Texans of all coverage stripes — those with private insurance, no insurance, CHIP or Medicaid. A recent survey by Dallas-based Merritt Hawkins showed the nationwide average wait time to see a family practice physician in mid-sized cities was up to 122 days. That’s four months to find out if your belly pain is gas, an ulcer or cancer.
Bill Analysis for HB 3287 & SB 2083.
This commentary originally appeared in The Dallas Morning News on April 25, 2017. This column is part of a series of columns and news articles examining President Donald Trump's first 100 days in office. The Dallas Morning News asked Texas conservative thinkers to write on the question: What does it mean to be conservative during the...
Testimony before the House Human Services Committee by Brandon Logan, J.D., CWLS