In a recent op-ed published in Wall Street Journal Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) recognized the need for federal prison reform but cautioned against sentencing provisions that have been discussed in recent weeks as possible additions to the House-passed FIRST STEP Act. While we do not know what these sentencing provisions will end up including in the final legislation,...
When a Michigan police officer arrested an 80-year-old woman for possession of marijuana with an expired medical exemption license, the backdrop was set for a debate. But are we framing this debate properly? Some will point out that the officer’s actions seemed excessive, almost punitive. Others will point to marijuana laws in general and question their...
In the run-up to President Bill Clinton’s transformation — not simply reform — of welfare, opponents predicted dire consequences such as people dying in the streets of starvation, low-income families driven deeper into poverty, low-wage individuals, especially single mothers, never finding jobs, healthy children turned sickly and driven into foster care. These warnings made great headlines, sold...
TPPF Judicial Confirmation Letter 08-16-18 by texaspolicy on Scribd
The Austin city council looks like it will put a massive $925 million bond package in front of voters in November which would be “the largest in Austin’s history.” If approved, the near-billion dollar proposal would raise the city’s property tax rate by another 2 cents per $100 of value, further putting the squeeze on...
According to Prison Policy Initiative, on July 18, 2018, the New York City Council passed legislation that requires the city to provide telephone services free of charge to individuals in the custody by the Department of Corrections saving their families nearly $8 million per year. The new law also prohibits the City or DOC from receiving or retaining...
Federal prison reform has received mounting support from President Donald Trump since initial meetings at the White House last September. For nearly a year, the President has urged Congress both publicly and behind the scenes to take action, particularly in regards to reducing the nation’s 70 percent recidivism rate. In his first State of the...
It’s 2018, and the days of warm, evening sun setting on scenic Texas plains are gone for some rural areas like Comanche County. Folks accustomed to unencumbered views will have to look elsewhere. Now, those views are pierced by the sharp teeth of a wind turbine. Summer breezes have transformed into the cyclical swooshing—and occasionally...
Wisconsin is confronting a skilled labor shortage and a state prison system operating above capacity. Neither of these problems have popped up overnight. The causes of these two phenomena are likely not related, but a partial solution can be. A recent Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel feature highlighted Wisconsin’s efforts to expand worker training and education as part of their...
Answer: Yes! A quick look at the data shows that there’s plenty of reason to support a third-party efficiency audit of the city of Austin’s finances. For fiscal 2018, the city’s budget totals almost $4 billion, which ranks on the high side compared to its peers. Of the big cities in Texas, only the city...
2018-08-Testimony- HouseCommittee on Public Education – CIE -Sass by texaspolicy on Scribd
California’s wildfires continue to burn out of control, with the Mendocino Complex Fire near Clear Lake in Northern California, at 283,800 acres, now considered the largest fire in modern California history. As of sunset Monday, it was only 30 percent contained and had burned 75 homes. More than 14,000 firefighters, including some from as far...