If, like me, you’ve been in the unenviable position of reviewing footage of Briscoe Cain, the Republican state representative who chairs the House Elections Committee and author of one of the most far-reaching voter suppression bills since Jim Crow, you may have been...
Opinion
back to archiveOp-Ed: The voter fraud myth behind Republican ‘election integrity’ bills
Over the course of the 87th Texas Legislative Session, Democrats have been working overtime to protect our voter rights. Texas Republicans have introduced many “election integrity” bills, but these bills merely limit early voting and increase penalties for election...
Op-Ed: Why Biden’s refugee reversal is good for Texas
Ever since the pandemic hit, I’ve been worried about the low-income families I coach and mentor at a municipal social services organization in Houston. For many years, I’ve helped them access educational resources, healthcare and jobs. Now, many have fallen deeper...
Op-Ed: Stop using STAAR to punish children, teachers and schools
Last week was Teacher Appreciation Week. Schools bought lunch for teachers. Students wrote thank you cards. But the gift that teachers really want is time to teach our students — time away from endless practice STAAR tests and test prep. Instead of STAAR prep, our...
Musings: Good Trouble
Before we begin, I would be remiss if I didn’t say that the views below are mine alone, and do not reflect the views of Texas Signal. Now that we got that out of the way… The late and great progressive Paul Wellstone once said “If we don’t fight hard enough for...
Op-Ed: Greater Houston Partnership must support Democracy by opposing HB6 & SB7
Traditionally, the Greater Houston Partnership (GHP) hasn’t shied away from its powerful role and significant responsibilities in Texas politics. It bills its policy team as “advocates for strong public policy at all levels of government.“ In 2017, the organization...
Op-Ed: Partisan and racial gerrymandering aren’t the only threats to fair maps in Texas
When you think of redistricting in Texas gerrymandering also inevitably comes to mind. This isn’t without cause. Since the passage of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, Texas has gained notoriety for its blatant gerrymandering when drawing district lines cycle after cycle...
Op-Ed: Texas is about to ban abortion. And Texas Republicans aren’t done yet.
Texas is about to ban abortion, and while they’re at it, they are emboldening rapists to sue their victim’s abortion providers and family members. SB 8, known as HB 1515 in the House, would ban abortion as early as 6-weeks gestation. Most abortions can’t even happen...
Op-Ed: How four candidates are changing the narrative on education in the San Antonio ISD Trustees Election
Students should always be at the forefront of education policy. A group of candidates running on a shared platform for the San Antonio ISD Board of Trustees are putting action behind those words. Sarah Sorenson, Judit Vega, Luke Amphlett, and Yasmín Parra Codina all...