Deepwater Horizon restoration projects need accountability
It’s the dirty secret of the restoration business that often little more than lip service is paid to monitoring and evaluating restoration projects.
More Columns
Arrest of Mexican kingpin "El Chapo" won't slow Texas drug trade
Until Mexico develops a new law enforcement model to combat the drug cartels, the arrest of drug kingpins such as Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán will make little to no difference to drug trafficking in Texas and across the United States.
Considerations for the Texas primaries
The overriding uncertainty for the 2016 primaries in a state without party registration is not how many will vote but in which political party’s primary they will participate.
Abbott should fix Texas' problems before amending U.S. Constitution
I agree that the U.S. Constitution could use some tweaking, but before the governor takes on the immense task of fixing all that is wrong with our federal government, he should first fix what is wrong in Texas, starting with an amendment banning partisan gerrymandering.
Candidates' legislative records offer insights to primary voters
In most Texas House and Senate races, voters face a steep informational hurdle in attempting to predict how competing candidates’ campaign proposals and rhetoric will translate into actual behavior in Austin. But five legislative districts offer Republican primary voters a chance for a true comparison.
Evangelicals shouldn't buy Trump's clumsy Christianity
The ideal presidential candidate has God at the core of their life and the Constitution at the center of their philosophy of government. That candidate is not Donald Trump.
There's no efficiency in Texas public school finance litigation
Texas Supreme Court has treated the constitutional requirement for an "efficient" system of public free schools to mean that school districts must have "substantially equal access to similar revenues per pupil at similar levels of tax effort." What does that mean, exactly? Even the court doesn't know for sure.
To stay competitive, Texas should invest in clean energy
The Texas economy depends heavily on the oil and gas industry, which represents 23 percent of our gross domestic product. As global economies shift away from fossil fuels, our state is under severe risk, unless we adapt and embrace clean energy.
My journey with Bernie
I had heard and seen all of Bernie Tiede's testimony in the trial for his killing of Marjorie Nugent. I was looking closely for a steely killer hiding underneath the friendly veneer. It just wasn't there.
Abbott should call a special session to fix foster care
Instead of fighting in court while children suffer, the governor and the Legislature should act now.
How to be heard
Why do governments across Texas, at all levels, make it so difficult for those affected by policy decisions to affect those decisions?
New Texas Education Commissioner Morath has promising pre-K record
Some have expressed concerns about new Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath's views on school choice and his work on a “home rule” proposal in Dallas. But his track record shows he is a strong believer in the power of quality pre-K to boost school readiness and academic achievement.
Consumers may foot the bill for Hunt's risky Oncor takeover plan
The precedent Hunt Consolidated's proposal to structure its takeover of Oncor as a real estate investment trust may not be in the best interest of energy customers.
What Houston can teach other cities battling the urban diabetes epidemic
Recent research conducted in Houston is beginning to reveal how far-reaching the risk of diabetes really is and how even people who may not consider themselves vulnerable may be on a path to developing the disease.
Kids, dogs and law enforcement
All kids are more important than dogs. Every right-minded person agrees with that, but two bills passed by the 84th Texas Legislature exemplify how public policy has failed in this regard
Time for Texas to take the lead in amending the U.S. Constitution
I applaud Gov. Greg Abbott’s recently announced initiative for the states to take the lead in amending the U.S. Constitution. The truth is, we have become a nation with a powerful, centralized government, which was never our founders’ intent.
Greg Abbott's right about one thing: We should amend the Constitution
We are long overdue for a serious discussion about the adequacy of a very old Constitution drafted for a very different country and world.
How Obama’s executive actions affect Texas gun politics
Texas voters may not be currently clamoring for ever fewer restrictions on gun rights, but the political leadership is determined to deliver them anyway as proof of their commitment to defending their constituents’ rights from the depredations of the president.
Inviting Texas women into politics
If you're a woman waiting for an invitation to get into politics, consider yourself invited.
Texas' foster care system needs help, not condemnation
Every child deserves safety, permanency and loving care, but can we expect as much from any state agency — let alone one that is stretched so thin and faces so many obstacles in its efforts to care for more than 30,000 children?