Parental Rights - Never Give Up!
by Tim Lambert
The battle for restoring or defending parental rights goes on. In April, hundreds of home schoolers met on the steps of the Texas State Capitol to rally for the Texas Parental Rights Restoration Act (TPRRA), and Governor Rick Perry announced his support along with several state legislators. Later that week, well over a hundred showed their support in a public hearing, and on the 29th of last month the bill was voted out of the Human Services Committee on a 5-3 vote.
Open Letter to Texas Legislators -- Your Call
by Donna Garner, SBOE
If you are a caring citizen and are concerned about our Texas public schools, please make your wishes known to your elected Texas Legislators. They cannot read your minds, and they constantly have high-priced vendors and special interest groups breathing down their necks. This is the time to express yourselves clearly to your elected legislators.
Will Party Switching Return Soon in Texas? Observers Skeptical
by Anna M. Tinsley
Former Tarrant County Judge Tom Vandergriff did it. So did Gov. Rick Perry. Even former U.S. Sen. Phil Gramm. These Texans are among the many politicians who have switched parties and survived - maybe even thrived.
Stalled Voter ID Plan Shows Struggle to Find Compromise on Thorny Issue
In a touchy stretch of his 12-year legislative career, Rep. Todd Smith huddled late last month with fellow House Republicans leery of his proposed compromise on a voter identification bill.
House's About Face on SBOE Sunset
by Elise Hu
First it narrowly passed. Then it was narrowly defeated.
Response to Editorial Board's Attacks on the State Board of Education (SBOE)
by Ken Mercer, SBOE
Change in education is hard. Texas has many people who are deeply entrenched - education bureaucrats/lobbyists (a.k.a., "educrats") who make their living off education dollars but who devote their lives to defeating any true education reform involving real change.
Backers of Expanded Texas Gambling Fold 'Em
Lawmakers have folded on their last chance this year to expand gambling in Texas, saying neither a budget crunch nor growing public interest can overcome staunch conservative opposition.
To Help UT, Modify the Top 10% Admissions Law
by Rep. Dan Branch, R-Dallas, Texas Legislature
The House will soon be debating Senate Bill 175, legislation that proposes to modify Texas' top 10 percent automatic admissions policy, or what has become known as the top 10 percent law. The legislation does not propose to repeal the top 10 percent law, nor does it seek to reduce efforts promoting diversity or academic excellence. Rather, it is designed to correct an unintended consequence creating a critical imbalance at one of our state's tier one universities, the University of Texas.
