2015: An agenda for business
Only when Texans succeed will business be able to succeed. And now, thanks to plunging oil prices, we'll have to work hard to ensure that initiatives that will benefit all Texans are funded.
More Columns
Working locally to make Texas more livable for all ages
There are incredible opportunities in Texas to disrupt aging by developing our cities and towns into even greater places to live our best lives.
Keep calm over Irving earthquakes
After the recent tremors in our city, our mission should be to better understand these quakes and what can be done to protect and inform our citizens. What we shouldn’t do is jump to irrational, unsupported conclusions.
2015: An agenda for health care
Don't expect a parting of the Red Sea on Medicaid expansion, but Texas lawmakers this year can make meaningful strides on issues like price transparency and medical education.
2015: An agenda for immigration
Complicated politics, challenging policy and changing demographics — that's immigration in Texas. And that's why we're in for another interesting legislative session this year.
What Texas learned from the last boom gone bust
No one really knows what plunging oil prices will mean for Texas’ economy, but rising fears of a 1980s-style recession are overblown — at least for now. Things have changed since the last bust, when I was the state's chief revenue estimator.
Critical services depend on sound contracting
We owe it to Texans to ensure that state programs are run with the highest degree of transparency. That's why I'm deeply disappointed by allegations of contracting abuse at our health and human services agencies.
2015: An agenda for higher education
The attention on the University of Texas System will continue into the New Year, and for good reason. That's why governance of the system will be such a critical issue for Texas this year.
Telling the real story of Laredo
It's not easy being mayor of a town whose reputation has been hurt by misconceptions and ignorance. But I fought hard to promote the Laredo that I know — and the tide may now be turning.
The real threat to the Texas GOP: voter apathy
I'm a proud Texas Republican, but our party must accept a cold reality: The real threat to our political future isn't changing demographics or liberal groups. It's the fact that only one in 10 Texans are showing up to vote in our primaries.
Why they fight: The Texas GOP and the looming session
Given the relative harmony between mainline and Tea Party Republicans in the Texas electorate, why can't their elected officials in the Legislature seem to get along?
How to fight rising health care costs in Texas
Many factors play a role in rising health costs, including the misuse of emergency care. But firmer regulations and a little education can help minimize the impact.
Why Texas Republicans won Hispanic men
Amnesty policies backed by big business will shortchange America’s minority and legal immigrant populations, and Hispanics in Texas are beginning to take note.
A teacher's journey back to the Valley
Education in science and math helped me escape the poverty of the Rio Grande Valley. But those educational opportunities also led me to return to my community with a determination to give back.
How one race could chart Texas Democrats' future
Leticia Van de Putte’s decision to resign from the Texas Senate to run for mayor of San Antonio has set the stage for the highest-profile battle for the soul of the state's Democratic Party in recent years.
Right past wrongs to prepare for a globalized future
Our nation should leverage the immense opportunities that come with its rich racial, ethnic and religious diversity.
Why me and not Mike Martinez
Austin is already a great place to live, but the challenges our city faces will require thoughtful, proactive leaders who can collaborate and negotiate with the rest of the state. I'll do that as our next mayor.
Why me and not Steve Adler
Texas Democrats got hit pretty hard in November. Wouldn't it feel good to hit back? By electing me the next mayor of Austin, you'll help ensure that our city never belongs to the Republicans who back my opponent.
Cracks in Texas' criminal justice system
Texas may not be at the center of the recent national conversation about the deaths of black men at the hands of police, but our state's criminal justice system is failing poor communities, too. Luckily, there's something we can do about it.
Why water is not the new oil
We hear it over and over, especially in Texas: "Water is the new oil." But treating water as a commodity neglects fundamental differences between the two resources that we ignore at our own peril.