Commentary
School Efficiency Laws Focus on Attendance, Ignore Poor Performances
What does an “efficient system of public schools” mean?
Darnella Wilkerson: A Grassroots Activist Crushed by the Texas Ethics Commission
The TEC must be redirected to enforce the laws against public officials, not private citizens.
Y’All Answered: Republicans Who Break From Caucus Over Speaker Vote
Readers offer their insights and experiences.
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Commentary Archive
Fleck: ‘Whole Child’ Power Grab Sets Up Public Education to Fail
The constitutional basis for public education has been lost in the system’s ill-equipped power grab for the “whole child.” Let’s start with the law. The Texas Constitution, Article 7, Section 1 states: SUPPORT AND MAINTENANCE OF SYSTEM OF PUBLIC FREE SCHOOLS. A...
Dickson: Abilene City Council Violates Charter in Improper Vote on Anti-abortion Ordinance
On the morning of Thursday, April 28, the city council of Abilene, Texas (population 124,407), heard from residents about the possibility of passing an ordinance outlawing abortion within their city limits. The effort was the result of a successful citizen initiative...
Pope: Fix State Obscenity Laws to Protect Texas Kids
Recently, I started a petition to close a legal loophole that’s allowing Texas school kids to be exposed to sexually explicit materials and increasing their risk of being molested. The petition calls on state lawmakers to repeal and rewrite a section of the Texas...
Reject Waste? Look In The Mirror!
It’s a common refrain; I hear it all the time. Well-meaning people think government spending can be brought under control if only there could be an effort to "cut the waste." If only that were so. The bad news is that $300 hammers and bureaucrats’ travel don’t amount...
Dickson: Athens Calls Leaders to Take Action on Ordinance Outlawing Abortion
On Monday, April 25, residents from Athens, Texas (pop 13,121), and beyond gathered together for a rally called the "Our Mayor and Council Might Not Stand For Life, But We Will" Rally. The event was organized as a result of an email Mayor Toni Clay wrote in response...
Dickson: Marquez Becomes 43rd City in Texas to Outlaw Abortion
On Wednesday, the City of Marquez, Texas (population 313), became the 43rd city in Texas (and the 48th city in the United States) to pass an ordinance outlawing abortion. The passage of the measure also made Marquez the fourth city to have outlawed abortion in Leon...
But For Boldness…
On April 21, 1836, the independence Texans declared some eight weeks earlier was decisively achieved. It might not have been, but for boldness. You see, there were those who wanted to continue fleeing the massive Mexican army in search of a better battlefield. Others...
Woolsey: Property Taxes—How They Impact You
Each year, the central appraisal district will send out thousands of notifications informing property owners that their appraisals have increased. It’s easy to understand why many Texas homeowners and businesses are rightfully worried about these appraisal increases...
Illyes: Radical K-12 Reform
What if we just cut through the morass of programs and take all the money being provided at the federal and state level, then put it into individual student endowment accounts? The late 1970s in the United States was a time of surprising deregulation. It was the...