On May 7, the Colonial Pipeline was subjected to a cyber attack. This resulted in one of the nation’s largest pipelines being shut down for five days, causing gas shortages along the Eastern Seaboard. While there has been a string of serious hacking incidents in...
Policy
back to archiveTexas loses chance to send stimulus checks to residents (unlike California)
Low-income residents in California have until October of this year to receive their “Golden State Stimulus,” a one-time payment of $600 for residents making under $30,000. A similar proposal in the Texas Legislature to deliver between $1,000 to $2,500 to...
Texas legislature votes down even studying Medicaid expansion
Like an 80’s horror villain, legislation in the Texas Capitol has a habit of coming back to life after it seems dead. However, in the case of Medicaid expansion, it does appear that any hope of passing in this legislative cycle is officially kaput. An amendment to the...
Op-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...
Texas lawmakers request funding for Ike Dike in Biden infrastructure plan
Several Houston-area Congress members are urging congressional leaders in charge of infrastructure to fund the Texas Coastal Spine — better known as the “Ike Dike.” In a letter penned this week, Houston area lawmakers urged Committee on Transportation and...
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...
Themes and Schemes: what this session’s voter suppression bills have in common
I used to love themes. I was an English major! While my friends studied employable skills like finance or engineering, I sat around drinking coffee, wearing scarves, and waxing poetic on what the green light in Gatsby represents. I’m your annoying friend who wants to...
Are genetically engineered mosquitoes coming to Texas?
Right now, the release of millions of genetically-engineered mosquitoes in the Florida Keys is sparking controversy. The trial, which seeks to curb the population of the Aedes aegypti mosquito, is the first of its kind in the United States. Reports have suggested that...