May 8th, 2008

What role for wind energy?

I'm sure you've had the thought. "The wind blows a lot around here. We don't have to pay anything for it, as opposed to coal or natural gas. What if we were able to a big chunk of our energy from wind turbines instead of fossil fuels?" Is that feasible? Is it even possible? We explore such questions this week with Drew Thornley, natural resources policy analyst at the Texas Public Policy Foundation and author of a soon-to-be-released paper on wind energy in Texas. (MP3 format.)

May 1st, 2008

Bringing teacher compensation into the 21st century

The more things change, the more things stay the same - especially when it comes to public education. Even though the expectations for today's students are rapidly changing, public schools use a 1920s-era model for paying teachers. In this week's episode, we talk to Foundation education policy analyst Brooke Terry about her new paper, "Bringing Teacher Compensation into the 21st Century," which makes the case for tying teacher pay to teacher quality. (MP3 format.)

April 24th, 2008

Close the Texas Youth Commission?

Is it time to do away with the Texas Youth Commission? Senate Criminal Justice Chairman John Whitmire believes so. Almost a year into the restructuring effort at TYC, Whitmire now thinks it makes more sense to do away with that entity and create a new model for juvenile justice in Texas. Marc Levin, Director of the Foundation's Center for Effective Justice, has been a leader in Texas' juvenile justice reforms, and this week, he brings us up to speed on the current discussions. (MP3 format.)

April 17th, 2008

The Left's new attack on Health Savings Accounts

Proponents of a complete government takeover of health care have been hostile to the notion of consumer-driven health care and the emergence of Health Savings Accounts. Now it seems that they are not content to merely argue their case against market-based reforms and individual ownership and control of health insurance and health care, but they also intend to erect barriers that would introduce unnecessary red tape and regulation to tamp out any enthusiasm for HSAs and health care flexibility. To talk about this new attack against HSAs, we have Mary Katherine Stout, Vice President of Policy and Director of the Center for Health Care Policy at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. (MP3 format.)

April 10th, 2008

Category 5 calamity of windstorm insurance

A coastal state at even greater risk for hurricanes than Texas is Florida. During 2005, when Hurricane Rita ripped apart the Texas Golden Triangle, almost every part of Florida was affected by one of four hurricanes. As the former chairman of the Florida House Insurance Committee, State Rep. Dennis Ross has been a staunch advocate of free-market solutions to his state's windstorm crisis. He sat down for this interview following his presentation at the Foundation's 6th Annual Policy Orientation for the Texas Legislature. (MP3 format.)

April 3rd, 2008

Health insurance in Texas

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? We explore these questions with J.P. Wieske, director of state affairs for the Council for Affordable Health Insurance and chair of the Health Reform Working Group of the American Legislative Exchange Council. (MP3 format.)

March 27th, 2008

Checking Texas' electric meter

On January 1, 2007, Texas completed its transition to retail electric competition. Critics of deregulation were vocal during the last legislative session, declaring it to be a failure and barely falling short in their efforts to re-regulate the Texas electric market. But with a full year of competition under our belt, how is competition working out? This week, the Foundation debuted its new project, the Texas Electric Meter, a statistical report that will monitor the health and vitality of the Texas competitive electric market. Bill Peacock, Director of the Foundation's Center for Economic Freedom, compiled the report, and he shares his findings with us this week. (MP3 format.)

March 20th, 2008

Power for Texas' future

Texas is in an enviable position in that we have more than enough mineral resources to meet our energy needs. But environmental activists are tightening the screws on Texas to keep those resources in the ground and out of our power lines. How should Texas balance our growing energy needs with environmental concerns? Dr. Sterling Burnett, a Senior Fellow for the National Center for Policy Analysis and for the Texas Public Policy Foundation, recently wrote a paper entitled, "Power for the Future: The Debate Over New Coal-Fired Power Plants in Texas," and he is our guest on this week's Texas PolicyCast. (MP3 format.)

March 13th, 2008

Texas Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst, part 2

Last week, Texas Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst shared his thoughts on the fiscal issues that the Senate will be studying this year. In the second part of our conversation, he lays out some of his other priorities for this legislative interim. (MP3 format.)

March 6th, 2008

Texas Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst, part 1

Last December, Speaker Tom Craddick issued his interim study assignments for committees in the Texas House. In January, Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst did likewise for the Texas Senate. This week, we share the first part of our interview with Gov. Dewhurst on the Senate's agenda for this year. (MP3 format.)

February 28th, 2008

Cutting the cost of college

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. What is behind these skyrocketing costs and are we getting what we're paying for? We consider these questions with Dr. Richard Vedder, Distinguished Professor of Economics at Ohio University, Director of the Center for College Affordability and Productivity, and a Senior Research Fellow at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. Dr. Vedder's paper, "Cutting the Cost of College," was released by the Foundation last June and is available in the Publications section of the Foundation's website, www.TexasPolicy.com. (MP3 format.)

February 21st, 2008

Eminent domain: Compensate or confiscate?

While Texas was one of the first states to respond to the U.S. Supreme Court's Kelo decision, allowing governments to condemn property for economic development purposes, it has yet to finish the job of protecting property owners. Attempts to protect Texans' property rights last year fell short because of disagreements over blight designations and compensation issues. Discussing those issues with us on this week's edition is Glenn Sodd, a Corsicana attorney whose primary practice is eminent domain litigation throughout the state of Texas. (MP3 format.)

February 14th, 2008

Public schools: Not as good as you think?

The conventional wisdom has been that affluent neighborhoods with well-educated parents also have outstanding public schools. But a new book casts substantial doubt on that proposition. The book, "Not as Good as You Think: Why the Middle Class Needs School Choice," was produced by the Pacific Research Institute for Public Policy and can be downloaded from its website, www.PacificResearch.org. Here to talk about it is one of its authors, Dr. Vicki Murray, a Senior Policy Fellow for Education Studies at the Pacific Research Institute. (MP3 format.)

February 7th, 2008

Competition in health care

While the American health care system is not a single-payer system as in Canada or the United Kingdom, government regulation in the health care industry is substantial. But do these 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? We pose these questions to David Hyman, professor of law and medicine at the University of Illinois and adjunct scholar at the Cato Institute. (MP3 format.)

January 31st, 2008

Clean air and clean energy

Texas is one of many states locked in fierce debates over how to meet its future energy needs. In the last decade, Texas has shifted more towards natural gas as a fuel source for electric generation, but as natural gas prices have soared, so have electricity prices. Recent proposals to diversify our fuel sources by building new coal-fired power plants have met with spirited opposition over air quality and public health concerns. This week, we discuss the present and future of Texas air quality with Joel Schwartz, environmental consultant and a Visiting Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. (MP3 format.)

January 24th, 2008

Shining the light on government spending

The Texas Public Policy Foundation has been a consistent and strong advocate for government transparency, especially when it comes to our tax dollars. The Foundation played an important role in the development of several spending transparency proposals during the 80th Texas Legislature. On the national level, one of the leading champions for fiscal transparency has been Americans for Tax Reform. ATR president Grover Norquist spoke at the 6th Annual Policy Orientation for the Texas Legislature, and we caught up with him for an update on the progress around the country. (MP3 format.)

January 17th, 2008

A conversation with Dallas County District Attorney Craig Watkins

One of the biggest political stories of 2006 was the election of an African-American Democrat as District Attorney in Dallas County, which had traditionally been a Republican stronghold. Since his election, Craig Watkins has received national acclaim for identifying wrongly convicted inmates and increasing the involvement of crime victims and neighborhoods in preventing and responding to crime. Mr. Watkins was a panelist at our 6th Annual Policy Orientation for the Texas Legislature, and he sat down for this conversation on the criminal justice process and the initiatives that he is undertaking in Dallas County. (MP3 format.)

January 10th, 2008

Big government versus free markets in health care

Whether in the United States Congress or at the state level, the trend in health care policy has decidedly in the direction of a larger role for government. Voters say they want that, but should they? Looking at that question with us this week is Mary Katherine Stout, Vice President of Policy and Director of the Center for Health Care Policy at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. (MP3 format.)

January 3rd, 2008

2007: The year in review

2007 was an eventful year in Texas policy. This week, we are pleased to bring you a roundtable discussion featuring the policy team at the Texas Public Policy Foundation looking back at 2007 and ahead to 2008. (MP3 format.)

December 20th, 2007

House Speaker Tom Craddick

The Texas Constitution authorizes the Legislature to meet in regular session for 140 days in each odd-numbered year. So what do they do the rest of the time? Well, when they are fortunate enough not to be called back into special session, they are researching issues in preparation for the next regular session. Last month, Texas House Speaker Tom Craddick issued interim charges to the various House committees, and we sat down with him recently to discuss those charges. (MP3 format.)

December 13th, 2007

Football follies 2007

Last month, many Texas cable customers accustomed to seeing their Dallas Cowboys play couldn't see the game against the Green Bay Packers due to an ongoing dispute between the National Football League and several major cable providers over carriage of the NFL Network. As the two sides remain deadlocked at the negotiating table, they have pressed their cases through vigorous and expensive public relations campaigns. And with this week's Houston Texans game and next week's Dallas game also affected by this dispute, the Texas Legislature is getting involved. On Monday, the House Regulated Industries Committee held a public hearing on this issue. Bill Peacock, Director of the Foundation's Center for Economic Freedom, testified at the hearing, and you can find both his testimony and his latest commentary on the Foundation's website at www.TexasPolicy.com. (MP3 format.)

December 6th, 2007

A conversation with Dr. Wendy Lee Gramm, TPPF Chairman

In October, the TPPF board selected Dr. Wendy Lee Gramm as its new Chairman. The late President Ronald Reagan called her "his favorite economist" and the Wall Street Journal dubbed her "the Margaret Thatcher of financial regulation." She began her career teaching economics at Texas A&M and served in high-level positions in both the Reagan and first Bush administrations - among them, executive director of the Presidential Task Force on Regulatory Relief, and chairman of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Besides her work with TPPF, she is also a distinguished senior scholar at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. We are pleased to bring you a conversation with our new chairman, Dr. Wendy Lee Gramm. (MP3 format.)

November 29th, 2007

Could an old arrest cost you your career?

Millions of Texans have committed a criminal offense at some point in their lives. The conventional wisdom is that an ex-offender can settle his debt to society by paying a fine, maybe serving a little time, and completing probation or parole. But increasingly, ex-offenders in Texas are finding that their state government continues to treat them like criminals, thwarting their ability to make an honest living and positive contributions to their communities. The Foundation's Center for Effective Justice hosted a Policy Primer on November 7, 2007 that addressed this issue - the audio of which is available in the multimedia section on TexasPolicy.com. The Center has also issued a new report on this issue entitled, "Working With Conviction: Criminal Offenses as Barriers to Entering Licensed Occupations in Texas," and its author, Marc Levin, is our guest this week. (MP3 format.)

November 15th, 2007

Education reform, Kiwi style

The Honorable Maurice McTigue had a distinguished career as a member in the New Zealand Parliament, during which he played a key role in the reform and deregulation of a variety of industries and government functions, including public education. When McTigue took office, New Zealand's education system was plagued by bureaucratic micromanagement, outsized administrative costs, and poor student performance. (Sound familiar?) What McTigue and others came up with was the "Tomorrow's Schools" initiative, which broke up the government bureaucracy and gave parents unprecedented control over the operations of their children's schools. We discussed that with him in the second part of our two-part interview. (MP3 format.)

November 8th, 2007

Texas' competitiveness in a global economy

The Honorable Maurice McTigue had a distinguished career as a member in the New Zealand Parliament, during which he played a key role in the reform and deregulation of a variety of industries and government functions. In 1999, Queen Elizabeth the Second bestowed him with the Queen's Service Order, one of the highest honors attainable for public service in New Zealand. Today, he is Vice President and Director of the Government Accountability Project at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, which allows him to communicate the lessons of his practical experience to policymakers in the United States. In the first of a two-part interview, he shares his thoughts on how to create a more prosperous Texas. (MP3 format.)

November 1st, 2007

The Wall Street Journal's Stephen Moore on Texas taxes

The Texas tax system has been a major reason why our economy and population have been booming the last several years. But with a new business tax kicking in next spring, will Texas still look good compared to other states? We explored these questions with Stephen Moore, senior economics writer and editorial board member at The Wall Street Journal, when he was in Austin last week to speak at the inaugural Capital Campus Texas. (MP3 format.)

October 25th, 2007

Improving math and science education

The media frequently reports on math and science shortages, both in industry and in the teaching field. This is no surprise, given that Texas and U.S. students score behind the rest of the world in math and science achievement tests. Over the past two years, the Texas Public Policy Foundation has investigated the state of math and science education in Texas, publishing a series of papers that will soon culminate in a reform agenda for Texas policymakers. Discussing these findings with us this week is Jamie Story, an education policy analyst at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. (MP3 format.)

October 18th, 2007

The private sector's role in infrastructure

Over the last few years, Texas has been on the leading edge of a national debate on how best to meet the infrastructure needs of a growing population and economy. In many countries, the private sector has been given a prominent role in the development and management of major infrastructure projects. But in Texas, proposals for privately built and financed toll projects have met with vehement opposition. We look at these issues in the second part of our interview with Len Gilroy, senior policy analyst at the Reason Foundation and managing editor of the Reason Foundation's Privatization Watch newsletter. (MP3 format.)

October 11th, 2007

Improving government services through privatization

States, counties, and cities across the country are finding that privatization and managed competition can help them provide their citizens with a higher quality of services at a lower cost. We take a closer look at these concepts in the first of a two-part interview with Len Gilroy, senior policy analyst at the Reason Foundation and managing editor of the Reason Foundation's Privatization Watch newsletter. (MP3 format.)

October 4th, 2007

Helping students learn the first time

Too many graduates from Texas high schools are academically unprepared for the rigors of college-level work. A new report from the Texas Public Policy Foundation detailed how the need for remedial education at the college level costs students, higher education institutions, taxpayers, and the economy. Sharing her findings this week is the paper's author, Brooke Terry, an education policy analyst at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. (MP3 format.)

September 27th, 2007

Gore-ing climate science and the Texas economy

On Monday, October 1st, former Vice President Al Gore brings his "Inconvenient Truth" speaking tour to the Frank Erwin Center at the University of Texas at Austin. But in this week's PolicyCast, we talk to Drew Thornley, a policy analyst in the Center for Economic Freedom at the Texas Public Policy Foundation, who viewed his film, researched his claims, and found the truth to be conveniently missing. (MP3 format.)

September 13th, 2007

Texas' new criminal justice laws

Most of the laws passed by the 80th Texas Legislature went into effect on September 1. Reviewing the most significant new statutes in the area of criminal justice is Center for Effective Justice Director Marc Levin. (MP3 format.)

August 30th, 2007

Texas undergraduates failing at civics

This week marked the start of classes for students at many of our Texas colleges and universities. But are these students learning what they really need to know? A paper released by the Foundation earlier this year found that Texas universities are doing a woefully inadequate job of ensuring that their students graduate with a strong knowledge of American history, government, and economics. We bring you a conversation with the author of that paper, Dr. Gary Scott -- a Senior Research Fellow in Civic Literacy at the Intercollegiate Studies Institute and a Senior Research Fellow at the Texas Public Policy Foundation -- to find out what we can do to make sure that Texas undergraduates no longer fail at civics. (MP3 format.)

August 16th, 2007

80th Texas Legislature - Health Care

This week, we conclude our look back at the 80th Texas Legislature with a review of the session in health care. Our guest this week is Mary Katherine Stout, the Vice President of Policy and Director of Health Care Policy at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. (MP3 format.)

August 2nd, 2007

80th Texas Legislature - Economic Freedom

This week, we bring you the fourth in our five-part series on the 80th Texas Legislature. Our guest is Bill Peacock, Director of the Center for Economic Freedom at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. (MP3 format.)

July 18th, 2007

80th Texas Legislature - Education

This week, we continue our five-part series on the 80th Texas Legislature with a look at education policy. Our guests are Brooke Terry and Jamie Story, education policy analysts for the Texas Public Policy Foundation. (MP3 format.)

July 7th, 2007

80th Texas Legislature - Effective Justice

This week, we continue our five-part series on the 80th Texas Legislature by looking at its record on effective justice issues. Our guest is Marc Levin, Director of the Center for Effective Justice at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. (MP3 format.)

June 20th, 2007

80th Texas Legislature - Fiscal Policy

Legislative sessions can be difficult to follow, given the numerous quickly moving parts and the political circus that always seem to accompany. Now that the session is done and the legislators have gone home, what did they wind up accomplishing for Texas? This week, we begin a five-part series on the 80th Texas Legislature looking at its record on fiscal issues. Providing the assessment is Dr. Byron Schlomach, the Foundation's Chief Economist. (MP3 format.)

June 7th, 2007

Protecting your property from Big Government

Perhaps the most contentious veto battle of the 80th Texas Legislature involves your property rights. If allowed to become law, House Bill 2006 by Rep. Beverly Woolley would restore the protections that the U.S. Supreme Court blew to bits in its 2005 Kelo v. New London decision. But cities, counties, and the Texas Department of Transportation are prodding Gov. Perry for a veto, saying that the bill would make it too difficult and expensive for them to exercise eminent domain and take your land. Bill Peacock, Director of the Foundation's Center for Economic Freedom, has been heavily involved in this debate, and we talked to him about it earlier this week. (MP3 format.)

May 17th, 2007

Reforming Medicaid

With less than two weeks remaining, the 80th Texas Legislature is racing to complete action on several major issues - one of them being a revamp of Texas' Medicaid program, which provides health coverage to more than 2.8 million low-income Texans. Medicaid is arguably the main cost driver in state government. During the 2004-2005 biennium, Medicaid accounted for 18 percent of state spending. Today, that figure is 25 percent. States are increasingly realizing that Medicaid will bankrupt them unless major changes are made. To discuss what Texas is considering, we have Mary Katherine Stout, Vice President of Policy and Director of the Center for Health Care Policy at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. (MP3 format.)

May 2nd, 2007

What is the Legislature doing on taxes?

When the state government has a $14.2 billion surplus, your taxes should go down, right? Unfortunately, not every legislator seems to think so. With less than four weeks left in the 80th Texas Legislature, two promising bills that would cut your taxes appear to be stalled, while a bill that would raise taxes may soon be debated on the House floor. We're talking tax bills in the Legislature with former House Appropriations Chairman Talmadge Heflin, now a Visiting Research Fellow at the Texas Public Policy Foundation, and Byron Schlomach, the Foundation's Chief Economist. (MP3 format.)

April 19th, 2007

Reach out and tax someone?

When you open your monthly phone bill, how much of it reflects the actual cost of the service as opposed to the taxes charged on it? Even savvy consumers have a hard time figuring out their bills. The Texas Public Policy Foundation just published a study on that very question, and it turns out that Texas consumers pay some of the highest overall tax rates in the nation on telecommunications services. Discussing the findings with us this week is Bill Peacock, Director of the Foundation's Center for Economic Freedom. (MP3 format.)

April 6th, 2007

An update on the Texas Youth Commission

For the last several weeks, the lead story in just about every newspaper or news broadcast has been about the horrific situation at the Texas Youth Commission. While not aware of the physical and sexual abuses in TYC facilities, the Texas Public Policy Foundation spotlighted several other structural problems with TYC at a Policy Primer we hosted in January -- the audio from which is available in the Multimedia section of our website, www.TexasPolicy.com. Marc Levin, Director of the Foundation's Center for Effective Justice, has been working with our state legislators on an overhaul of Texas' juvenile justice system, and we spoke with him earlier this week to get an update. (MP3 format.)

March 29th, 2007

Electric deregulation: What Texas did right

One of the highest profile issues so far in the 80th Texas Legislature has been electricity. The Legislature has been focused on what they consider the negatives of our market -- consumers paying higher rates than legislators think they should, companies proposing to build new types of generation facilities that legislators don't like, and businesses conducting voluntary transactions that legislators want regulators to intervene and potentially block. Several bills are quickly working their way through the Legislature to reinsert government into what are now marketplace decisions. But a new report from the Texas Public Policy Foundation strongly suggests that not only are these bills not needed, but that their passage would do great damage to Texas consumers. (MP3 format.)

March 22nd, 2007

A conversation with House Appropriations Chairman Warren Chisum

When you get down to brass tacks, the only must-pass bill of a legislative session is the state budget. On Thursday, March 29th, the House's version of that bill goes up for floor debate. The responsibility of shepherding that bill through the House is assigned to the Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, and this session, that person is State Rep. Warren Chisum, who is in his 10th term representing the Texas Panhandle. We visited with him this week about that process. (MP3 format.)

March 14th, 2007

Improving charter schools

There are several forms of school choice: public school transfers, home schools, even virtual schools. One form of school choice that already exists in Texas is charter schools, and it has garnered a lot of media attention of late. Discussing the current state of charter schools in Texas is Jamie Story, an education policy analyst at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. Jamie's policy area of focus in the 80th legislative session is school choice. (MP3 format.)

March 8th, 2007

The challenges in cutting government spending

One of the constant refrains during the election season is that we need to cut government spending - that there is plenty of waste, fraud, and abuse that can be eliminated. So why does it seem to happen so rarely in the legislative process? We put that question to two members of the Foundation's staff who are veterans of the legislative budget fights - Byron Schlomach, the Chief Economist and Director of the Foundation's Center for Fiscal Policy; and the Honorable Talmadge Heflin, a former Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee and 11-term member of the Texas House, and presently a Visiting Research Fellow at the Foundation. (MP3 format.)

March 1st, 2007

CHIP-ping away at fiscal restraint and personal responsibility

During the last four years, the measures taken by the 78th Texas Legislature to tighten the eligibility requirements for the Children's Health Insurance Program -- more commonly known as CHIP -- have come under scrutiny. On Thursday, March 1st, the House Human Services Committee will conduct a hearing at which it will consider approximately 30 bills that would undo several of those changes. To talk about the CHIP program and the 2003 reforms, we have Mary Katherine Stout, the Texas Public Policy Foundation's Vice President for Policy and Director of the Center for Health Care Policy Studies. (MP3 format.)

February 22nd, 2007

Dr. Jim Leininger on school choice

A lot of people talk about helping underprivileged children, but very few put their money where their mouth is like Dr. Jim Leininger. A San Antonio businessman, philanthropist, and Texas Public Policy Foundation board member, Dr. Leininger made his wealth by inventing and marketing revolutionary hospital bed and wound care technologies. But rather than lavishing himself with personal extravagances, Dr. Leininger has donated tens of millions of dollars over the last decade to provide scholarships so that disadvantaged children in San Antonio's Edgewood school district can escape unsafe and failing public schools. In this rare interview, Dr. Leininger talks about how he came to feel such passion for the issue of school choice, and shares some new research on the results from the Edgewood pilot program. (MP3 format.)

February 14th, 2007

Stupid in America: A conversation with ABC News' John Stossel

Last week was the Texas Public Policy Foundation's Fifth Annual Policy Orientation for the Texas Legislature. More than 500 people attended the two-day event, with one of the highlights being the Wednesday evening keynote address by 19-time Emmy Award winner John Stossel. Throughout Stossel's career, he has challenged the conventional wisdom in a matter that is both informative and entertaining. After starting his career as a consumer reporter, he has been on ABC's 20/20 since 1981 and co-anchor of that show for the last four years. Stossel is the author of three books -- the most recent being last year's "Myths, Lies and Downright Stupidity: Get Out the Shovel - Why Everything You Know is Wrong," which included a chapter on the dismal state of American public education. (MP3 format.)

February 7th, 2007

Putting end-of-course exams to the test

For many years, the state of Texas has administered its own standardized test to measure the performance of public school students. Since 2003, that test has been the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills, or TAKS. Students must pass the TAKS in order to advance to the next grade, and they must pass all sections of the 11th-grade TAKS to graduate. But with the TAKS coming under increasing criticism, policymakers are now considering replacing the TAKS with a series of subject-specific, end-of-course exams. TPPF education policy analyst Brooke Dollens Terry recently published a paper on end-of-course exams, and she discusses her findings on this week's Texas PolicyCast. (MP3 format.)

January 31st, 2007

Punishment not fitting the crime?

Texas has long prided itself in being tough on crime -- leading the nation in executions, handing down long sentences to offenders, and operating prisons that will never been confused with day spas. But are we being smart about crime? With more than 1,700 criminal offenses in Texas law, a person increasingly runs the risk of incarceration for what, until recently, had been normal business activities. The over-criminalization of non-violent behavior will be in the spotlight this session, and this week's guest is Marc Levin, Director of the Center for Effective Justice at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. (MP3 format.)

January 24th, 2007

Appraisal reform: Limiting taxes, limiting government

Last summer, Texas Gov. Rick Perry created a task force to review Texas' system of appraising property values. Homeowners, in particular, have complained about skyrocketing local property taxes and what they perceive as arbitrary and unfair appraisal methods. After conducting hearings across the state, the panel issued its report on Tuesday, January 23rd. This week's PolicyCast features Brooke Rollins, president of the Texas Public Policy Foundation and one of the individuals tapped by Gov. Perry to serve on the task force. (MP3 format.)

January 18th, 2007

Electric competition: Balancing affordability and reliability

As of January 1st, Texas completed the final steps toward a fully competitive electricity market in most parts of the state. What will that mean for Texas businesses and consumers? We consider these issues with Bill Peacock, director of the Center for Economic Freedom at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. (MP3 format.)

December 21st, 2006

Prisons and corrections in the 80th Session

With a growing population, Texans are told we should expect an increase in crime, and therefore the number of criminals who need to be locked behind bars. This necessitates not only the initial cost of building the prisons, but the ongoing expenses associated with incarceration. Discussing with us today the issues surrounding this aspect of criminal justice is State Representative Jerry Madden of Plano. First elected to the legislature in 1992, Mr. Madden is chairman of the House Committee on Corrections. (MP3 format.)

December 14th, 2006

Environmental regulations in the 80th Session

Regulations designed to protect the environment have greatly increased over the last several decades. Balancing legitimate concerns of ensuring air and water quality with the importance of maintaining a strong and vibrant economy has fallen to State Rep. Dennis Bonnen, chairman of the Texas House Committee on Environmental Regulation. He was first elected to the Texas House in 1996. (MP3 format.)

December 7th, 2006

Senate newcomer Dan Patrick

Over the last two decades talk radio has emerged as a powerful force in political and policy dialogue. But for many show hosts their involvement in the process ends when the show goes off the air for the day. Love him or hate him, one has to agree that that has not been the case for Dan Patrick. He was involved off-the-air in working for taxpayer protections in Houston and across the state long before deciding to run for the state senate. Winning outright an open primary election this spring, and having just won the general election, he is preparing to represent Senate District 7 in the Texas Legislature. This is another installment in a series of PolicyCast interviews with legislators leading up to the Jan. 9 start of the 80th Session of the Texas Legislature. (MP3 format.)

November 30th, 2006

Education in the 80th Session

Education reform and school finance have dominated headlines for several years. The issue, rightly, will continue to be one that inspires passionate discussion across the state. At the forefront of these discussions has been State Senator Florence Shapiro of Plano in her role as chair of the Senate Education Committee. In this installment of a series of interviews with lawmakers, Senator Shapiro looks at the education issues that will be addressed in the 80th Session of the Texas Legislature, which begins Tuesday, January 9, 2007. (MP3 format.)

November 22nd, 2006

Reforming Property Tax Appraisals

Texans are frustrated with rising property taxes, and indeed with the entire appraisal process. Earlier this fall Texas Governor Rick Perry appointed a special task force charged with developing specific reforms to the system. That task force has now completed a tour around the state, holding hearings in all the major cities, and will soon be releasing a package of recommendations. What kinds of recommendations can Texans expect? This edition of Texas PolicyCast features task force member and Texas Public Policy Foundation president Brooke Rollins. (MP3 format.)

November 16th, 2006

Has deregulation been a success for Texas?

Texas has led the nation in reforming the telecommunications and electricity markets, reducing regulations and allowing competition. At the forefront of those ongoing efforts has been State Representative Phil King of Weatherford in his position as chairman of the House Committee on Regulated Industries. Mr. King was first elected to the Texas House in 1998. This is the first in an ongoing series of PolicyCast interviews with lawmakers as they prepare for the 80th Session of the Texas Legislature, which begins January 9, 2007. (MP3 format.)

November 9th, 2006

Is competition the Rx for health care?

It's become a political cliche to say that everyone is concerned with the quality of health care and the associated skyrocketing prices. While the United States is the indisputable leader in advances in health care, Americans are facing the prospect of less and less affordable health insurance. This has led to recommendations (including from those on the political right) that the United States abandon what's left of the free market in health care and adopt more government controls. Will this solve our problems? GUEST: Mike Tanner, director of health and welfare studies at the Washington, DC-based Cato Institute. (MP3 format.)

November 2nd, 2006

More energy for Texas?

It is popular today to promote new forms of "clean energy," but as technology improves, conventional energy sources are fast becoming clean energy themselves. As a result, pollution has been on the decline for decades. Yet environmental activists continue to push for costly clean energy projects and regulations, even though consumers are frustrated with high energy costs. Do we really need more regulations? Will conventional energy sources meet our needs for both a reliable supply of electricity and clean air? GUEST: Bill Peacock, director of the Center for Economic Freedom at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. (MP3 format.)

October 26th, 2006

Will voters frustrated by big spending take to the polls?

Conventional wisdom has it that Americans, particularly conservatives, have grown weary of big-spending lawmakers. But are they going to take that attitude to the polls? With just weeks remaining before Election Day, we chat with Wall Street Journal and OpinionJournal.com columnist John Fund. He is the author of several books, most recently "Stealing Elections: How Voter Fraud Threatens Our Democracy." He started with the Wall Street Journal in 1984, and served on the Wall Street Journal's editorial board for six years. (MP3 format.)

October 19th, 2006

Waging the War of Ideas

The battle for good public policy rages on both sides of the Atlantic. A key foot soldier in the battles on both fronts has been John Blundell. Director-general of the Institute of Economic Affairs in the U.K., John has had a distinguished career both in Europe and the United States. He was a key lieutenant of Primer Minister Margaret Thatcher, and has written extensively about the importance of policy leaders being well-grounded in sound thinking. In this PolicyCast interview, Blundell discusses the importance of public policy being grounded in the right ideas, and the lessons to be learned from Lady Thatcher. (MP3 format.)

October 12th, 2006

Can property taxes be eliminated with spending restraint?

Earlier this year, lawmakers voted to implement a plan that would reduce school maintenance and operations property taxes by a third by using revenue generated by a new business tax. (A portion of the buy-down was achieved through the use of some of the state's surplus revenues.) A new paper from the Texas Public Policy Foundation's chief economist, Dr. Byron Schlomach, says those same school property taxes could be significantly reduced, or even eliminated altogether, using only fiscal restraint. (MP3 format.)

October 5th, 2006

Does accountability matter?

Government reform must begin with accountability and transparency, argues former New Zealand cabinet member and ambassador, Maurice McTigue. As architect of the policy reforms that revitalized that nation in the 1980s and 1990s, Mr. McTigue says the emphasis on government must be on results, not programs and process. (Mr. McTigue was recently the featured speaker at an event for the Texas Public Policy Foundation's friends and supporters in Midland, Texas.) (MP3 format.)

September 28th, 2006

Race for Governor: Rick Perry

Texans are preparing for an unusual gubernatorial election cycle this year, with five major candidates seeking the opportunity to serve as the state's chief executive officer. Texas PolicyCast invited the candidates to discuss the issues facing the Lone Star State. In this last installment of our month-long series we present a conversation with the Republican incumbent, Governor Rick Perry. Elected to the Texas House in 1984, he was elected to statewide office as the Commissioner of Agriculture in 1990 and then as Lieutenant Governor in 1998. He was sworn in as governor in December 2000, and then elected in 2002. A graduate of Texas A & M University, Perry served as a pilot in the U.S. Air Force. (MP3 format.)

September 21st, 2006

Race for Governor: Chris Bell

Texans are preparing for an unusual gubernatorial election cycle this year, with five major candidates seeking the opportunity to serve as the state's chief executive officer. Texas PolicyCast invited the candidates to discuss the issues facing the Lone Star State. This week we visit with Democratic Party nominee Chris Bell. A former journalist and attorney, he was elected to the Houston City Council in 1997, and then served one term in the U.S. House. He is a graduate of the University of Texas. (MP3 format.)

September 14th, 2006

Race for Governor: James Werner

Texans are preparing for an unusual gubernatorial election cycle this year, with five major candidates seeking the opportunity to serve as the state's chief executive officer. Texas PolicyCast invited the candidates to discuss the issues facing the Lone Star State. This week we visit with Libertarian Party nominee James Werner. With degrees from Vanderbilt University and UCLA, he works in information technology and developmen. (MP3 format.)

September 7th, 2006

Race for Governor: Kinky Friedman

Texans are preparing for an unusual gubernatorial election cycle this year, with five major candidates seeking the opportunity to serve as the state's chief executive officer. Texas PolicyCast invited the candidates to discuss the issues facing the Lone Star State. This week we visit with independent candidate Richard "Kinky" Friedman. A musician and novelist, he graduated from the University of Texas. He gathered 169,574 signatures to garner a position on the November ballot. (MP3 format.)

August 31st, 2006

Upcoming Issues: A conversation with House Speaker Craddick

From education and taxes to health care and property rights, Texas House Speaker Tom Craddick provides a look at the important issues facing the state after the November elections, while reflecting on recent legislative highlights. Serving in the legislature since 1968, Speaker Craddick has led the charge on many important reforms, but he points to the need for more work on a host of critical issues. (MP3 format.)

August 24th, 2006

Can America close the math/science gap?

School bells are ringing in a new academic year across the United States, but American kids are seriously lagging behind their peers in other countries in math and science education. This problem has been well documented both in academic research, and explored in feature articles in the mainstream news media. Put simply, the future of the nation's economy is at stake. With young men and women not possessing the necessary knowledge in math and science, the United States is falling behind in producing the next generation of engineers and scientists we need. How can we turn the tide? Guest: Jamie Story, education policy analyst at the Texas Public Policy Foundation's Center for Education Policy. (MP3 format.)

August 17th, 2006

Must taxpayers build more prisons?

With the state expected to need almost 10,000 new prison beds by 2010, the legislature has little choice but to address the issue when they meet next session. While many hope lawmakers will seek to affect policy changes that reduce the need for so many new beds, most are also realistically considering how the state can meet the need in the most efficient way possible. Should Texas build more prison space, or consider leasing more space from county jails and private facilities? Guest: Marc Levin, director of the Center for Effective Justice at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. (MP3 format.)

August 10th, 2006

Restraining the growth of government

Texas voters in 1978 approved an amendment to the state's constitution, hoping it would limit the growth of government. Several states at that time implemented similar measures, and others have since, but Texas' limit is considered one of the weakest. If lawmakers and the public intend to restrict the growth in the size of government, then the state's spending limitation must be reformed. Guest: Byron Schlomach, Ph.D., chief economist of the Texas Public Policy Foundation. (MP3 format.)

August 3rd, 2006

Turn back the clock on privatization?

In 2003 the Legislature directed the Health and Human Services Commission to bring greater efficiency to the processing of applications for state assistance. Specifically, the Commission was directed to utilize call centers and outsource the work, if true cost savings could be realized. The commission last year signed a contract with Texas Access Alliance, a consortium of firms that would take over routine functions and data collection. This is one of the largest outsourcing projects in the state's history. The contract began phasing in late last year, with the roll-out set to gradually cover the state. However, problems in the transition have stalled the planned implementation. Meanwhile, relentless criticism from advocates of big government have sought to derail the privatization effort altogether. Guest: Albert Hawkins, executive commissioner of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. (MP3 format.)

July 27th, 2006

Battling the bureaucracy... And winning with ideas!

State government operates day-in and day-out at the agency level. Most of the state's $140 billion budget runs through those agencies, highlighting the need for them to be operated efficiently and to the benefit of the taxpayer -- not to simply exist for the purpose of existing. Diane Rath is chair of the Texas Workforce Commission, which has a $1.1 billion budget, employs 3,400 people, and manages 28 federal and state programs. Ms. Rath has developed a reputation for running an agency based on fiscal accountability, and not bureaucratic growth. In this wide-ranging interview, she addresses the important role ideas play in shaping the daily operations of government. (MP3 format.)

July 20th, 2006

Taxing the telephone?

Texans pay the third-highest tax burden in the country on telecommunications services, a significant portion of which are levied by local government as franchise fees. These taxes, which are reflected on your phone and cable bill, were originally designed to cover the costs associated with these companies accessing the public right of way -- beneath and over streets, strung along roads, and through residential areas. Increasingly, Texas taxes on telecommunications are making the state uncompetitive, and -- worse -- could negatively affect access to new technologies. Guest: Bill Peacock, director of the Center for Economic Freedom at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. (MP3 format.)

July 13th, 2006

Can budgets be cut with the right questions?

Setting reasonable fiscal priorities for government is not just an issue of importance for the state of Texas. After all, expanding budgets are a concern for taxpayers at every level of government, from the smallest township to the United States Congress. But is it enough for elected officials at budget-writing time to simply check that bureaucrats are following accounting rules, that they are trying to keep costs low, and being efficient with the tax dollars? Certainly those questions are desirable and necessary... but not enough, argues the former chairman of the Texas House Appropriations committee and the chief economist at the Texas Public Policy Foundation in a paper published this month. Fundamental questions must be asked; questions whose answers lawmakers and program advocates may not like. Guests: The Honorable Talmadge Heflin and Dr. Byron Schlomach. (MP3 format.)

July 6th, 2006

Would universal Pre-K be good for Texas kids and taxpayers?

Universal Pre-K has found vocal advocates around the country who suggest there are positive economic and educational benefits from such a taxpayer funded program. The proposal received a lot of publicity recently as a ballot initiative in California. However, the measure was overwhelmingly rejected, with 61 percent of Californians saying no. Yet advocates are undeterred, working now to advance their cause in Texas. Are the costs of universal Pre-K worth the effects on students? Guest: Jamie Story, education policy analyst at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. (MP3 format.)

June 29th, 2006

Does Texas need more prisons?

With the Lone Star State facing $1 billion in possible building costs for additional prison space over the next four years, many in Texas are looking for more efficient ways to punish non-violent offenders. This is an issue expected to be high on the agenda for lawmakers in the next legislative session. This edition of Texas PolicyCast explores ways the state can cut costs without appearing soft on crime. Guest: Marc Levin, director of the Center for Effective Justice at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. (MP3 format.)

June 22nd, 2006

A year after Kelo, is your property safe?

This week marks a dubious national anniversary: last year, Americans were stunned by the United States Supreme Court's ruling that private property could be taken by local governments from one individual and given to another, all in the name of economic development. Many believe the ruling fundamentally betrays the principles of private property ownership. This edition of Texas PolicyCast explores the problems created by the Kelo v New London decision, and the solutions available to Texas and other states. Guest: Bill Peacock, director of the Center for Economic Freedom at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. (MP3 format.)

June 15th, 2006

Can the Texas budget be cut 10 percent?

The office of Texas Governor Rick Perry and the Legislative Budget Board recently asked state agencies to cut 10 percent from current spending as they prepare their budget requests for the legislature. Predictably, the request has sparked outrage from those who support big and growing government. But does the request makes sense for taxpayers? Guest: Dr. Byron Schlomach, chief economist at the Texas Public POlicy Foundation. (MP3 format.)

June 8th, 2006

Does anyone care how much health care really costs?

Not a day goes by, it seems, without a reminder that health care is expensive, and getting only more so. Yet the most basic information regarding the exchange of goods and services -- that of upfront pricing -- isn't something a patient can readily access when making decisions about doctors and hospitals. The "price check" simply doesn't exist, for all intents and purposes. This lack of price transparency in modern health care is an issue some are ready to confront at both the state and federal level. Guest: Mary Katherine Stout, director of the Center for Health Care Policy Studies at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. (MP3 format.)

June 1st, 2006

Shoveling Truth: A conversation with ABC News' John Stossel

From public education to bottled water, popular views affecting culture and policy are often shaped as much by myth as by truth. Busting those myths week-in and week-out is John Stossel, the co-anchor of ABC News' 20/20. An Emmy Award winning journalist and best-selling author, his 'Give Me A Break' segments and hour-long investigative specials are among the most popular on television. Whether it is the excesses of big government or the conventional wisdom of popular culture, John shines light and truth where few others have the courage to go. He has just released his second book, "Myths, Lies, and Downright Stupidity: Get Out the Shovel - Why Everything You Know is Wrong." Guest: John Stossel. (MP3 format.)

May 25th, 2006

Has tort reform helped Texas' economy?

In the early 1990s Texans became increasingly concerned about the drain tort abuse was having on the state's economy. Research conducted by the Texas Public Policy Foundation and others concluded that Texans would benefit economically by reining in lawsuit abuse. Efforts to reform the system came to a head in 2003 when comprehensive tort reform was passed by the legislature and approved by the public in the form of a constitutional amendment. But has "tort reform" paid off? According to a new study by the Pacific Research Institute, those reforms have given Texas the premier tort system in the nation. (MP3 format.)

May 18th, 2006

Tax cuts and school reform? An inside review of the Special Session

Legislators have concluded their work aimed at satisfying a ruling from the Texas Supreme Court declaring the state's school finance system unconstitutional. Lawmakers had to provide meaningful discretion to local school districts in setting their property tax rates by June 1, or face a shut-down of the schools. But did they accomplish the task? And what are the practical implications for taxpayers and teachers? Discussing the tax and education implications of the special session are the Foundation's chief economist, Byron Schlomach, Ph.D., and education policy analyst, Jamie Story. (MP3 format.)

May 11th, 2006

Are corporate profits driving high energy prices?

After a brief respite over the winter, high energy bills are back in the news. Three-dollar-per-gallon gas at the pump and the prospect of skyrocketing electricity bills as summer approaches have grabbed everyone's attention. Is it greedy profits or bad policies that are driving these rates? To discuss the problems created by existing energy policies, and the solutions available to both Texas and the United States, is Bill Peacock, director of the Center for Economic Freedom at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. (MP3 format.)

May 4th, 2006

How can taxpayers be protected?

Taxpayer protection has taken on additional significance during this special session of the Texas Legislature. As lawmakers look to shift tax burdens, and even create new types of taxes, many are worried, perhaps rightly, that without adequate protections taxpayers may be handed even larger bills in the future. This edition of Texas PolicyCast is a conversation with Texas State Senator Kyle Janek. First elected to the Texas House in 1995, and then to the Senate in 2002, he has distinguished himself as a staunch advocate for fiscal responsibility and taxpayer protection. (MP3 format.)

April 27th, 2006

An across-the-board teacher pay raise?

As lawmakers meet in a special session on school finance, there are those in and around the Capitol who are using the occasion to call for across-the-board pay raises for teachers and other public school employees. The proposals range from a thousand-dollar to a six-thousand-dollar across-the-board raises. Some claim these pay raises are needed because Texas teachers are underpaid. But do across-the-board raises help? Will they promote better academic achievement and draw more math and science teachers, or simply preserve the status quo? A discussion with Jamie Story of the Foundation's Center for Education Policy Studies. (MP3 format.)

April 20th, 2006

Unconstitutional tax cuts?

Just hours before the legislature gaveled into special session to consider taxes and the funding of public schools, the Texas Comptroller announced that 8.2 billion dollars in surplus money was available to lawmakers. Many people view the surplus as an overpayment for the cost of government that should be returned to the taxpayers, while others suggest the surplus is not even real. Still others around the Capitol believe that even if the surplus exists, the money cannot be used for tax relief because doing so would violate the spending limitation put in the state constitution in the late 1970s. In this edition of the Texas PolicyCast, John Colyandro of the Texas Conservative Coalition Research Institute and Byron Schlomach of the Texas Public Policy Foundation address these questions. (MP3 format.)

April 13th, 2006

Will school consolidation improve education?

When the state Supreme Court ruled late last year on public school finance, they found that the existing system is inefficient. The court noted that the large number of school districts makes it difficult for them to produce sound educational results without waste, and that no economies of scale can be achieved when districts, particularly small districts, duplicate staffing, facilities, and administration. The ruling, of course, raised the specter of school consolidation, a concept that provokes deeply emotional responses in communities throughout the state. Chris Patterson, the visiting research fellow in the Center for Education Policy, discusses the research behind school consolidation, and suggests a better way to view the issue. (MP3 format.)

April 6th, 2006

Avoiding the Medicaid crisis?

Since it began in 1965 as assistance for the poor and uninsured, Medicaid has grown into a program costing taxpayers around the country more than 300 billion dollars a year. Medicaid surpasses public education as the top budget line-item in many states, including Texas, and threatens to overwhelm other budget priorities. (MP3 format.)

March 30th, 2006

Are Texas taxes regressive?

The Texas Tax Reform Commission has now unveiled their recommendation for consideration by the legislature. But when lawmakers meet in special session, they will have a variety of options to consider, all tagged with the politically charged labels of progressive and regressive. Byron Schlomach, chief economist at the Texas Public Policy Foundation, discusses the relevance of these labels, the impact taxes have on Texas, and the burden everyone must bear. (MP3 format.)

March 23rd, 2006

Is a school finance solution in sight?

The governor has announced he is calling lawmakers back to Austin on April 17 for a special session to once again attempt to fix to the Texas education finance system. This time, the legislature faces a June 1 deadline, with the Texas Supreme Court threatening to shut down the schools unless the issue is resolved. Brooke Rollins, president of the Texas Public Policy Foundation, discusses the likelihood of success, the issues driving the debate, and possible solutions. (MP3 format.)

March 16th, 2006

Does money matter?

Lawmakers are facing a court-ordered June 1 deadline to fix public school finance. As the debate heats up, it is important that lawmakers and the public use facts, not rhetoric, to guide the important decisions ahead. A discussion about school spending facts with Jamie Story of the Foundation's Center for Education Policy Studies. (MP3 format.)

March 15th, 2006

Welcome to Texas PolicyCast!

An introduction to the Texas PolicyCast program by the Texas Public Policy Foundation's vice president, Michael Quinn Sullivan. (MP3 format.)