To maximize the productivity of Texas’ workforce in a tight labor market, we must fully utilize the skills of the 20 percent of Texans with a criminal record. While ex-offenders who are employed are three to five times less likely to re-offend and more likely to pay restitution and child support, Texas law precludes some of them from entering over 100 licensed occupations. Through targeted reforms such as provisional licenses, licensing authorities can expand economic opportunity for ex-offenders seeking to turn their life around while still protecting the public.
Local Government
Small Towns, Big Tax Increases
The city of Whitesboro ignited a firestorm recently when officials suggested adopting a tax rate that would have skyrocketed the average homeowner’s property tax bill by 61 percent. The initial public hearing to discuss the matter drew hordes of angry Whitesboro residents who voiced their discontent. So much so, in fact, that city councilmembers tabled...
September 17, 2025