Capital Highlights

House lawmakers defy Abbott on vouchers A key House education committee adjourned last week without voting on a school voucher bill that is Gov. Greg Abbott’s top priority this session, the Houston Chronicle reported.

Danger— Government Digital Currency

President Joe Biden and the media are excited about something new: a Central Bank Digital Currency, or CBDC. It's a currency like Bitcoin, except controlled by the federal government. Not everyone is a fan.

OnYour Payroll

President Joe Biden, 1600 Pennsylvania, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20500 (202) 456-1414. U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, Russell Senate Office Bulding 404, Washington, D.C. 20510. (202) 224-5922. Dallas office: LB 606, 10440 North Central Expressway, Suite 1160, Dallas, TX 75231-- 2223. (214) 599-8749. U.S.

Capital Highlights

Fort Hood renamed after Korean, Vietnam war hero It’s official. Fort Hood, named for a high-ranking Confederate officer in the Civil War, has been renamed Fort Cavazos, in honor of native Texan Richard E. Cavazos, the country’s first Hispanic four-star general.

Capital Highlights

Clock ticking on moving bills The clock is ticking on getting bills out of the House and to the Texas Senate, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick warned last week in a story in the AustinAmerican-Statesman.

Why Turkey's May 14 Election Really Matters

by Austin Bay Turkey's May 14, 2023, national elections are critical, foremost for Turkish citizens. Their democracy is at stake. But that isn't the only reason Turkish and European media call next week's vote the most important in 100 years.

Letters

To the Editor: Editor: Great letter by Joe Randolph and we agree completely. Many of our major oil companies have left town or have downsized. Our dryland farmers are facing their third year of drought with little or no chance of harvest again this year.

Moochers and Looters

There's a socialist wave in Latin America. Mexico, Chile, Peru, Bolivia and Brazil recently elected leftists. These politicians at least distance themselves from thugs like Hugo Chavez and Fidel Castro, but all propose socialism-lite policies giving government more control over more people.

Capital Highlights

House OKs $4.5 billion for teacher pay raises The Texas House last Thursday passed two education- related bills, one that allocates $4.5 billion for teacher pay raises and another to increase the annual per-student base funding from $6,160 to $6,300 – a 2.3% increase.

Marxian Education

Some schools are ditching traditional grading. Instead, they use 'labor-based grading,' an idea promoted by Arizona State University professor Asao Inoue. Labor-based grading means basing grades more on effort than the quality of work.