Michele Samuelson

A New Landscape for the 83rd Legislature

We still have to get through November, but we already know, we're looking at quite a different landscape in the Texas Legislature in 2013.  For one, the seniority shift means a lot of jockeying for the plumb offices inside the main Capitol.  Why be stuck in the back...

Tuition Creep at Texas Universities

The University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University have both been in the news recently for decisions made about tuition increases.  Neither of the flagship schools will raise tuition for in-state students, but the system schools for both will see...

Spend Wisely, and Save Some for a Rainy Day

Earlier this week, I got a notice that the building in which I attended high school is going to be torn down.  If you believe everything you read, it's possible that the building you envision is a cathedral, a private high school nestled in some ritzy, ivy-plagued...

Political Parties Ask Voters for Input on Education Spending

In addition to the battles for elected offices on the primary ballots, voters from both the Republican and Democratic parties will find several ballot propositions to vote on.  The parties decide on these separately, and put them forward to give voters a chance to...

Why You Should Fight City Hall

Though many local elections were postponed to coincide with the November election to save counties money, there are still plenty of elections taking place across Texas on Saturday, May 12.  Turnout for these elections is always pitifully low, but it seems especially...

Tax “Alternatives” May Still Be Inequitable

Last legislative session, State Senator Robert Duncan proposed a state constitutional amendment to create a statewide property tax for public education.  This idea has been proposed as a “fair” solution to the current property tax system, and seems to sit better with...

Fighting the “Spend More” Rhetoric with a Savings Plan

Can you hear the drumbeat for "spend more" to "save our schools" (and don't forget - it's "for the children")?  It will get a whole lot louder the closer we get to the primary election, which is now a mere 40 days away.  "Spend more" isn't a solution.  Options for a...

Time for the Legislature to be Assertive

Time for the Legislature to be Assertive

Let's just put all the cards on the table: Governor Perry's new Texas Budget Compact represents bold leadership and a commitment to solutions.  The "leadership" in the Texas Legislature has expressed extreme reluctance to back (and therefore enact) the tenets of the...

The Other “Inevitable” Primary Race

As the presidential primary draws to an unspectacular and grudging end, the sideline chorus is already singing about lower primary turnout on May 29, and how that may affect some of the major races left on the ballot.  Let me warn you against the temptation to prove...