Many of these involve proposed legislation - it might be worth thinking about these in terms of public policy. Do we want a government to do these things?
A select handful:
Texas House Bill 427 proposes a constructive adjustment to state transportation funding. Lawmakers would be remiss not to make it. The bill would establish an annual fee, in addition to registration, for electric and hybrid vehicles — $200 for electric and $100 for hybrid. The fee would boost state transportation revenues somewhat in the near term, but the long-term significance is far greater given the seismic changes underway in how we get around.
- Austin American-Statesman: Why Texas schools didn't see a big funding boost from the federal CARES Act.
The Texas Education Agency received $1.27 billion last summer from the CARES Act, the first coronavirus relief bill approved by Congress, and 90% of that money was distributed to school districts. Most of the remaining 10% was put into an agency discretionary fund, and a small portion went toward agency administration. The agency distributed CARES Act money through the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund, using the money to maintain school districts’ funding despite lower attendance. Texas' school funding formula is tied to students’ average daily attendance.
- Houston Chronicle: 25 beds left: Harris County Jail population again at dangerous levels.
As Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo sees it, the pandemic has caused the region and country to come to grips with being “so centered on incarceration as if that was some silver bullet.” The vast majority of inmates are awaiting their day in court and presumed innocent.
“There has long been a bias toward just keeping everybody locked up,” Hidalgo said, noting she believes that some judges don’t have an “appetite” for reform even if data shows that it coincides with better outcomes. Gonzalez is hoping Rosenthal will push officials to do everything in their power to free up room at the jail. His request came as a result of stakeholders inaction on people his office identified who were eligible for release releases on state jail felony and third-degree nonviolent felony charges.
