For 2301's look at federalism this week. 2302s should read these through to get an idea of the range of executive agencies that exist on all levels of government and what they do:
- The revenue streams of local governments in the DFW area may be limited by the end of the Barnett Shale boom. Lower natural gas prices might be benefiting consumers, are hurting local governmental revenues.
- The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) warns that the state's electricity grid (click here info on the grid from ERCOT) will be, once again, under severe stress this summer. The National Weather Service is predicting another brutal summer, which will lead to more AC use, and more drain on the grid. ERCOT says it is working with the Public Utility Commission of Texas to avoid blackouts.
In case you did not know this, Texas has its own grid - click here for why, and here for what the grids in the US look like. Because Texas has its own grid, it is "exempt from most regulation by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission,
the Beltway agency that governs the transmission of electricity from
state to state—say, by mandating transmission standards, or requiring
that prices be listed in public forums."
- A Texas legislator argues that the traditional curriculum does not reach all students. Instruction in math and sciences ought to take this into consideration. She argues in favor of additional funding for vocational programs and the Texas Workforce Commission seems to agree.
- There are disputes in San Antonio over how transportation funds approved by a 2004 election ought to be spent.
