By William Lutz on
9/28/2011 10:42 AM
I’ve heard this refrain before ... I maintain the real purpose of this committee is to scuttle conservative reforms to higher education proposed by Gov. Rick Perry and the Texas Public Policy Foundation. This committee is about preserving the sacred cows in higher education – such as nonstop tuition increases and the ability of faculty members at flagship universities to get away with teaching a mere two courses a semester. And the committee was stacked for that purpose.
That’s why I’ve nicknamed this committee the Select Committee to Preserve Cost Explosion and Left-Wing Bias in Higher Education. When all is said and done, that’s what this committee is designed to do, and every Texas conservative ought to be concerned.
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By William Lutz on
9/27/2011 11:11 AM
Your tax dollars at work. More than 100 school districts have announced intention to sue the state, challenging the equity of the school finance system. The aim of such lawsuits -- as usual -- is to prompt the Legislature to put more money into the school system by raising the prospect of a school shutdown.
The main basis for the lawsuit is likely the "target revenue" system added to school finance in 2006.
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By William Lutz on
9/22/2011 5:04 PM
Lots of political news happening in the past few days. Here’s a run-down:
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By William Lutz on
9/20/2011 9:15 AM
Tomorrow, the Select Committee to Promote Cost Explosion and Liberalism in Higher Education will have its first meeting. Basically, the committee will hear from a bunch of leaders of trade associations in higher education who will talk about the need to involve faculty in decision-making, probably clouded in a bunch of lofty rhetoric complete with veiled attacks on Gov. Rick Perry and the Texas Public Policy Foundation. In other words, the committee will defend the status quo and discourage regents from rocking the boat.
Already, the defenders of the cost explosion in higher education are pointing to a letter from Robert Berdahl, at the time president of the Association of American Universities, to then-A&M Chancellor Mike McKinney as a “smoking gun” that conservative higher education reform would damage state universities ...
I was a student at the University of Texas when Berdahl was president there. He was an activist liberal then who regularly attacked Texas values, and he hasn’t changed much since. His 1997 departure to an institution that better reflects his values – the University of California – Berkeley – was welcomed by Texas conservatives.
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By William Lutz on
9/20/2011 9:05 AM
Sen. Steve Ogden (R-College Station) told radio station WTAW that he will not run for re-election to the Texas Senate, and this time, he means it. The Eagle (Bryan-College Station) wrote a full story on this topic.
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By William Lutz on
9/20/2011 8:22 AM
Sen. Florence Shapiro (R-Plano) announced that she will not seek re-election to the Texas Senate in 2012. Her announcement ends a distinguished, decades-long career in elective office. As a Senator, Shapiro passed the bill requiring parental notification prior to abortion and numerous education bills. As a former teacher, she had credibility on education issues but – unlike most in education – she also kept careful watch over the purse strings. She also was active in transportation policy, and chaired the Senate State Affairs Committee (which had jurisdiction over transportation when she was in charge of it) and the Senate Education Committee. Rep. Ken Paxton (R-McKinney) and Scott O'Grady have announced for the Senate seat.
"My parents came to the United States in search of the American dream, and I lived it,” said Shapiro.
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By William Lutz on
9/16/2011 3:12 PM
Lots of campaign and political news this week in Texas Politics. Here’s what we’ve received:
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By William Lutz on
9/15/2011 10:51 AM
It's now official. The computerized textbook bill -- Senate Bill 6 -- is an attack on conservative Christians, the elected State Board of Education, and Republican values.
I've warned for some time that this bill does not comply with the Republican Party of Texas Platform, but now the misnamed Texas Freedom Network -- an organization that seeks to reduce the influence of conservative Christians in the public policy process -- has issued a report lauding Senate Bill 6. Specifically, TFN has issued a "how-to" guide, encouraging school districts to use the bill to avoid books and materials approved by the elected State Board of Education. That means the board has less authority to enforce the new patriotic social studies standards that ensure students learn about the Founding Fathers, and it has less authority to keep fuzzy math out of the classroom.
This controversy is yet another example of how the politics of education has nothing to do with kids and everything to do with which adults get to spend money and in what amounts. SB 6 and its predecessor bill House Bill 4294 (2009) are about increasing sales for computer companies and software manufacturers like Microsoft.
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By William Lutz on
9/10/2011 2:51 PM
A few days ago, former Dallas mayor and Republican U.S. Senate candidate Tom Leppert called me to discuss his jobs plan that he released recently. Leppert's plan provides a detailed description of where he stands on the key fiscal issues facing the nation -- including entitlements and tax policy. The plan is posted on the Internet here.
I interviewed Leppert, discussing both his plan and his record as Mayor of Dallas. I am in the process of calling the campaigns of the other serious candidates (those who have held significant elective or appointed office) to offer equal time.
A few highlights:
* Leppert proposes restructuring the corporate income tax to lower the rate and reduce loopholes.
* Entitlement reform is a key issue, including moving back the social security retirement age and creating personal accounts.
* In addition to the proposals mentioned above, Leppert said he wants to reform the culture of Washington, including a 10-year revolving door ban for former members of Congress and capping congressional benefits at the private-sector average. His proposals include biennial budgeting, a Texas-style sunset process at the federal level, and national right-to-work.
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By William Lutz on
9/7/2011 1:26 PM
State Sen. Dan Patrick (R-Houston) declined to enter the open U.S. Senate race. Instead, he is seeking re-election to the Texas Senate with an eye toward possible statewide office in 2014. Patrick does not intend to endorse a candidate in the upcoming GOP primary. We'll publish statements from the other candidates when we get them. In the mean time, Patrick issued the following statement:
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