Rick Perry likes to say that the reason the Texas economy performs so well is because of the quality of the state’s work force, the reasonableness of regulations pertaining to business, and the passage of tort reform in 2003. I’ll grant him his evaluation of the work force and the
Governor Perry’s decision to fund the opening of a new Charles Schwab office in El Paso (and another in Austin) is a classic example of what is wrong with the governor’s economic development funds. Charles Schwab is a national firm that needs no subsidy from the state to succeed. The
Michael Quinn Sullivan, the Texas Ethics Commission, and the federal courts.
It is one thing to institute a DPS “surge” on the border; it is quite another to send the National Guard there, a thousand strong, as Perry intends to do. What is the purpose of sending the Guard to the border? The National Guard is a military force. Is its
Are we on the way to becoming Alabama?
In the July issue of the magazine, several writers—myself included—assessed the legacy of Governor Perry. One of the stories reviewed eight critical areas Texas Monthly believes the governor is responsible for, and we gave him a letter grade for each. Some readers thought we were too
My favorite place.
One of two candidates, both of whom are outstanding choices. They are:Richard Fisher, the President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of DallasorAdmiral William H. McRaven, a 36-year Navy Seal and the UT commencement speaker at June’s graduation ceremony.
I have generally been impressed by UT regents’ chair Paul Foster’s ability to smooth the waters concerning the Bill Powers controversy. But Foster was out of line when, a day after the University of Texas System announced that Powers would step down in June 2015 — ending a standoff that
My colleague Skip Hollandsworth has written a timely story for the upcoming August issue that was posted online this morning. Titled “Is This the Most Dangerous Man in Texas?” it’s about UT Regent Wallace Hall, the impeachment process, and the resignation of William Powers, the president of UT-Austin.
Leticia Van de Putte on what happened last summer—and what might happen in November.
What does his resignation really mean?
The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas is going to reopen the redistricting case left over from 2011. The first phase of the case involves the maps for the Texas House of Representatives; the second involves the U.S. House maps for 2011. The case comes at an
Texas Tech's gain is the Legislature's loss.
Wendy Davis is asleep at the switch again. The Obama administration has opened a new front on the battle over Medicaid expansion. By 2016, says the White House, states that have adopted expansion will have saved $4.3 billion. In addition, expansion states would have experienced 3.3 million annual physicians’ visits,
Wendy Davis wins a round over Greg Abbott.
Why Texas is stuck with its transportation policy.
The list of recipients of Emerging Technology Fund grants in particular is replete with Perry’s longtime friends and campaign contributors. The Dallas Morning News has reported on who received some of these grants, and have contributed large sums to his campaigns. The list includes: •$2.75 million to Terrabon Inc., a
How not to solve the problem on the border.
I’m stunned that Rick Perry allowed himself to be drawn into a discussion of homosexuality in an appearance before the Commonwealth Club of San Francisco, in the nation’s most gay-friendly city. I thought he was far too seasoned a politician to make that kind of blunder. Apparently not.
The Democratic nominee will have the money. Will she have the talent and the staff?
A frank conversation about the accomplishments and the missteps over a fourteen-year gubernatorial career—from tort reform to his executive order on HPV—with the man who can claim the longest, and most powerful, tenure of any governor in Texas history (and also what’s next in 2016).
How did he perform in eight areas that are critical to the state? The grade book is now open.
Sizing up our five-time cover boy.
The GOP platform is divorced from reality.
What does his schedule suggest about his role?
A fight over immigration looms at the Republican state convention, which begins tomorrow in Fort Worth.This alert went out to Republicans attending the convention, from leaders opposed to immigration reform: “If you haven’t been paying attention, [Speaker] John Boehner and his “leadership” team (that includes Pete Sessions) have
Rick Perry's presidential ambitions have run into a formidable obstacle in his home state: fellow Texan Ted Cruz.
Rick Perry and the House appear to be on a collision course. The chatter is increasing around the Capitol that if the Transparency Committee continues on its course to impeach Wallace Hall, the governor will call the Legislature into a series of special sessions this summer, presumably on transportation.I don’t
In short, he never had a constituency.
The tea party is in total control of the state, and the consequences are going to be staggering.
Why moderate Republicans should run as moderate Republicans.
If this is the worst election season in recent memory, what does that mean for Texas in 2015?
Plan a summertime weekend of hiking and horseback riding using this guide with tips on what to do, where to eat, and where to stay.
A father-daughter duo chase history in Texas’s grand Canyon.
I watched the debate on immigration between Dan Patrick and Julian Castro last night. Erica is also going to write about it today, but in my mind it didn’t really settle anything though it did raise a long-lingering issue. During the course of the debate, Patrick said that
RIP Robert Strauss.
UPDATE: This post has been edited to correct errors related to the candidates’ position on pre-K and public education. I regret the error.Why does pre-K matter? The answer is that professional educators wouldn’t be so gung-ho about pre-kindergarten instruction unless they saw the huge value – both in terms of
The ongoing lawsuit regarding the state’s public school system is expected to come to a head in May, when Travis County district judge John Dietz could issue his ruling. The question is whether Texas’s funding of public schools is inadequate, and, therefore, violates the Texas constitution’s imprimatur in Article VII
Are they the final nail in the coffin for the lieutenant governor?
Can high-speed rail ever work in Texas?
A key member of LBJ's administration tells the inside story behind Johnson's decision not to run in 1968.
Wendy Davis and the Democrats are on the attack about the Lilly Ledbetter Act, but would the bill have addressed the problem?
A look back at the 1994 campaign for governor.
The passing of a political legend.
Will Rick Perry get his man? Will the Board of Regents go its own way? It's a question worthy of Shakespeare.
What Texas Monthly had to say about the former governor in 1976.
The university's chancellor wars.
A candid look at the popular governor as she faced reelection in 1994--and struggled with the limitations of her office.
The voters have spoken (loudly) in the primary election. Where do we go from here?
