2007 Policy Orientation Panel Summaries
The Texas Health Insurance Market: Balancing Consumer Choice and Regulation While Expanding Coverage
(Presenters: Rep. Larry Taylor, Jennifer Ahrens, J.P. Wieske. Moderator: The Honorable Arlene Wohlgemuth.)
From mandates on health insurance coverage to rate bands that govern the price of insurance, state legislatures and state insurance regulators wield considerable power in the marketplace. What is the impact of government regulation on health insurance and what does it mean for affordability and accessibility of coverage? This panel will examine Texas' health insurance regulations and compare them with other states, as well as explore past efforts to reduce regulations, consider the proper role of regulators, and discuss options to expand access and improve affordability of health insurance.
Who's Best Suited to Judge? Judicial Restructuring in Texas
(Presenters: Rep. Dan Gattis, Guy Choate, Lee Parsley, Fred Raschke. Moderator: Drew Thornley.)
Recent reforms to Texas' civil justice system have made Texas a more attractive place for business and industry. In particular, the 2003 medical malpractice reforms have led to a marked increase in the number of practicing physicians in Texas and in the number of medical malpractice insurance carriers. Even with the success of tort reform, there is room for improvement in Texas' judicial system. This panel will examine the future of the judicial system in Texas, including possible changes to jury selection, guidelines for expert testimony, judicial selection, and court reorganization.
Health Care Delivery in Texas: Expanding Competition or Compromising Patient Care?
(Presenters: Rep. Dianne White Delisi, John Graham, John Hawkins, Dr. David Hyman. Moderator: Mary Katherine Stout.)
Do federal and state regulations on the practice of medicine and the business of health care protect patients and consumers, or hurt innovation and competition in the marketplace? Issues surrounding specialty hospitals and physician-owned facilities, scope of practice battles between providers, and the emergence of retail clinics in health care delivery continue to be debated in Washington and in Austin. Panelists representing the provider community, along with legal experts and policymakers, will explore these and other issues related to the changing face of health care delivery.
The Solution for Pollution: Keeping Texas Skies Blue & the Economy in the Black
(Presenters: Rep. Dennis Bonnen, Dr. Sterling Burnett, Joel Schwartz, Mike Sloan. Moderator: Bill Peacock.)
Regulation of the environment continues to have an impact on our ability to supply the energy needs of Texas' growing economy. This panel will look at the tremendous progress Texas has made in cleaning up its environment, examine the effects of federal and state environmental regulations on Texas' economy, the facts about global warming, and ways to minimize regulatory costs on energy production while maintaining a healthy environment.
Raising the Bar on Higher Education in Texas
(Presenters: Rep. Geanie Morrison, Dr. Gary Scott, and Dr. Richard Vedder. Moderator: Jeff Sandefer.)
The cost of higher education is climbing. Whether measured by the rising cost of tuition or the state’s appropriation for higher education, it seems that Texas colleges and universities require increasingly more money. Why is the cost of higher education increasing so rapidly? What are students getting in return? This panel discussion will explore the trends in higher education in Texas and what the state and its students get for their money.
Homeowners and Hurricanes: Modernizing the Insurance Marketplace
(Presenters: Rep. John Smithee, Florida State Rep. Dennis Ross, Rod Bordelon, Seth Chandler. Moderator: Drew Thornley.)
A modernized regulatory approach focusing on fairness and solvency in lines such as auto and homeowners' insurance creates a healthier and more stable industry. For example, since reforming their insurance industries, South Carolina and Illinois have seen more companies enter the market, stabilized rates, and smaller residual markets. For Texas to see the same results, change is needed. This panel will focus on the problems facing the Texas insurance markets, including windstorm insurance, and discuss options for improving the system.
Immigration & Citizenship: From the Founders' Vision to the Front Lines
(Presenters: Dr. Edward Erler, Michael Flynn, Matt Mayer, Dr. Pia Orrenius, John Trasvina. Moderator: Mary Katherine Stout.)
Immigration policy has become one of the hottest topics on talk radio, in the presidential race, in Congressional deliberations, and in state houses around the country. This panel of experts brings different perspectives to the discussion of immigration and citizenship, including the Founders' philosophy on citizenship, immigration policy as it overlaps with national security, and the economics of immigration.
Is It Any of Your Business? Budget and Spending Transparency
(Presenters: Comptroller Susan Combs, Rep. Mark Strama, and Grover Norquist. Moderator: The Honorable Talmadge Heflin.)
Texas has become a national leader in making government spending more transparent to the public. In 2007, the Legislature passed landmark transparency legislation resulting in the "Where the Money Goes" feature on the Comptroller's website, which provides a searchable database of state government spending. What are the next steps in bringing greater transparency to the state budget and spending? Panelists will discuss this initial step toward greater transparency, what it means for Texas and the rest of the country, and what more can be done.
Texas Public Schools: Top of the Class, a Few Rotten Apples, or Mired in Mediocrity?
(Presenters: Rep. Scott Hochberg, The Honorable Ron Wilson, Dr. Vicki Murray, and Dr. Bruce Shortt. Moderator: Jamie Story.)
From school finance reform in Texas to No Child Left Behind at the federal level, policymakers have tried to improve public schools by implementing new testing requirements and accountability measures, along with efforts like incentive pay to reward the best teachers. This panel will explore past and current efforts at public school reform and where we stand today. Are these reforms enough and are they working? How are Texas public schools performing? Do public schools need wholesale reform like school choice, or is more funding enough to improve public schools? Who should take the lead on these reforms?
Eminent Domain Reform: Compensate or Confiscate?
(Presenters: Rep. Beverly Woolley, James Mann, Glenn Sodd. Moderator: Bill Peacock.)
While Texas was one of the first states to respond to the U.S. Supreme Court's Kelo decision, it has yet to finish the job it started. Attempts to protect Texans' property rights last legislative session fell short because of disagreements over blight and compensation issues. This panel will discuss what needs to be done to restore Texas to its place of national leadership on property rights issues.
Bilingual Education vs. English Immersion
(Presenters: Rep. Jodie Laubenberg, Kathleen Leos, Dr. Christine Rossell, John Trasvina. Moderator: Brooke Dollens Terry.)
As Texas' Hispanic community continues to grow, state policymakers need a sound policy for how to best teach English to students. This panel will explore whether bilingual education or English immersion is the best way to ensure student achievement.
Better, Faster, Cheaper? Privatization in Texas
(Presenters: Rep. Carl Isett, Leonard Gilroy, Jason Turner. Moderator: Mary Katherine Stout.)
From privately owned and operated toll roads to the state's health and human services privatization effort, privatization is a familiar topic in Texas. Yet critics often argue that privatization compromises state control of assets and services, and fails to effectively deliver services due to focus on generating profits. Privatization's supporters claim that private sector operation and management can handle things better, faster, and cheaper, but is this true? This panel discussion will consider the record of privatization and whether privatization continues to show promise for Texas.
Repairing the Broken Windows and Social Fabric: How Texas Can Empower & Restore Crime Victims & Communities
(Presenters: Craig Watkins, Dr. Michael Gilbert, Dr. Glen Kercher, Dr. Marilyn Armour. Moderator: Marc Levin.)
Too often, crime victims are overlooked in the criminal justice system. Yet most crimes should not be seen as an offense primarily against the state but rather an offense against an individual victim and then against a neighborhood. Panelists will highlight policies designed to give victims and neighborhoods a greater stake in the criminal justice system while also reforming offenders through tools such as victim-offender mediation, neighborhood citizen sentencing boards, and victim participation in plea bargaining.
Boom or Bust? The Texas Margins Tax
(Presenters: Sen. Dan Patrick, Rep. Dan Branch, Stephen Moore, and Tom Pauken. Moderator: The Honorable Talmadge Heflin.)
In 2006, lawmakers passed a new business tax in an effort to reduce property taxes for Texas homeowners. Since then, the business tax has come under continued scrutiny as business leaders and policymakers have wrestled with the implications of the new tax. With 2008 upon us, businesses across the state are concerned about what this means for them, and many elected officials have expressed interest in revisiting the new tax. Join our panel as they examine the new business tax and whether it is the right tax policy for the Lone Star State.
Thinking Outside the Cell: Can New Diversion Policies Arrest the Growth in Prison Costs Without Unleashing a Crime Wave?
(Presenters: Sen. John Whitmire, Rep. Jerry Madden, Susan Reed, Dr. Tony Fabelo. Moderator: Marc Levin.)
The 80th Legislature enacted historic reforms to place a greater emphasis on alternatives to incarceration for non-violent offenders instead of simply building more prisons. Panelists will examine the early evidence on the impact of these changes. Are better public safety outcomes being achieved by diverting misdemeanants and low-level drug offenders away from prison? What should the 81st Legislature do to reduce crime while limiting costs to taxpayers?