Higher Education

Think the U.S. Constitution ‘Subverts Democracy’? Think Again

For roughly the past fifty years, higher education reformers have been warning about the decline in civic education in this country. National polling consistently shows that Americans, even college graduates, are growing increasingly civically illiterate. A recent survey found that only 36% of respondents can identify the three branches of American government. A mere 27% know that...

August 28, 2018

Economy

Let People Prosper by Deregulating Occupational Licensing

2018 08 Testimony Deregulating Occupational Licensing CEP Ginn by texaspolicy on Scribd

August 28, 2018

Criminal Justice

Watch: Right on Crime Director Derek Cohen on Texas’ Criminal Justice Overhaul

Right on Crime Director Derek Cohen walked through the history of Texas’ criminal justice overhaul with Judy Maggio of KLRU. The Lone Star State has been called the birthplace of criminal justice reform, but it wasn’t too long ago that it was known for its “lock em’ up” approach. In 2015, Texas “got to the point...

August 28, 2018

Taxes & Spending

Of The 5 Big States, Texas #1 For Growth, California #1 For Poverty

USA Today published a piece from 24/7 Wall St. on the best and worst state economies. The Drudge Report linked to the piece, likely multiplying its readership manifold. Unfortunately, the ranking is fundamentally flawed for two key reasons which will be explained below. Colorado, Utah, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Washington captured the top-5 in the ranking. Among the...

August 27, 2018

K-12 Education

Dallas ISD’s high grade proves the new A-F school rating system is fair

After months of vocal criticism, Dallas ISD Superintendent Michael Hinojosa suddenly gave credit to Texas’ new A-F school accountability system for “moving in the right direction.” Hinojosa changed his tune about the new system after learning that, for the 2017-18 school year, Dallas ISD — one of the most beleaguered urban school districts in the nation...

August 27, 2018

K-12 Education

Why Texas’ A-F school accountability system is working

The most important obligation of our schools is to ensure our students are reading. In Texas, 58 percent of our third-graders are reading below level, and we rank 46th nationally in fourth-grade reading skills. We have an early reading crisis on our hands — a concern because reading success in the early grades strongly correlates...

August 26, 2018

Energy & Environment

Markets, not ‘renewable energy’ magic, ensure the affordable supply of electricity

California is the home of the original Magic Kingdom — and magical thinking. The California legislature is deliberating whether to mandate 100 percent renewable energy for its electric grid by 2045. In a recent op-ed, the Manhattan Institute’s Robert Bryce points out that simple math demonstrates the futility of this effort. Bryce explains that to fill all of...

August 25, 2018

Economy

How Politicians’ Résumés Drive California Fires And Texas Freedom

Experience informs and shapes perspective. This is true for all people, including lawmakers. A military veteran or business owner will approach problems differently than a community organizer or trial attorney. California’s deadly and destructive wildfires have been blamed on global warming by dozens of politicians and journalists, from Governor Jerry Brown to the editorial boards of the Sacramento Bee and...

August 23, 2018

Criminal Justice

Do ex-cons ever really finish serving their debt to society?

Over the past two months there have been some exciting movements in the right direction regarding prison reform. But in America, overcoming the stigma of prison remains a real issue. The United States has had a long-held history of Judeo-Christian beliefs that has helped guide our Country’s moral compass. “Give me your tired, your poor,...

August 22, 2018

Energy & Environment

100% Renewable? Event Recap

The city of Georgetown made international news when it claimed that it moved to 100% renewable energy. But was that claim a reflection of reality? Not quite. Around 100 people from the Georgetown area gathered at the local library to discuss this claim and understand the situation deeply. Experts from Rice University, the Partnership for...

August 21, 2018

Economy

Film Incentives Continue to Perform Poorly Everywhere

The Beacon Center of Tennessee just released a policy brief on Tennessee’s film incentive program. The report—Calling Cut on Film Incentives—highlights how the program is a poor investment for Tennessee taxpayers. Many of the projects financially supported by the film incentive program with taxpayer money performed poorly commercially. According to the report, 40 percent of...

August 21, 2018

Economy

California Commands The Intellectual Property Landscape — High Taxes And China May Dethrone It

California dominates America’s intellectual property creation landscape, with 45,683 patents granted to California-based people or firms in 2017, 27.3% of the patents assigned in the 50 states and D.C. In 1992, California accounted for 15.5% of the patents granted in America. California accounted for 12.1% of the nation’s population in 1992, so, its 15.5% share...

August 20, 2018