In the last few months state legislatures across the country have introduced bills designed to force people in greatest need to prove they are “worthy” of receiving support. Sadly, Texas is no different. The House Human Services Committee is set to
As the dust settles on the 17-hour HB 1 debate in the Texas House, it’s worth noting what made it into the final House budget proposal, what didn’t, and what the key takeaways were. Journalists and spectators have already said plenty
Halfway through the Texas Legislative Session, the pace is faster and the stakes are higher. Want to know what helps me ride the proverbial waves at the Capitol? Stepping just outside the pink dome. The stately old live oaks and spring-blooming
Have you been wondering how well Texas kids are doing? There’s some good news, and some bad news. More kids today have health insurance than did a year ago, and more parents are employed. But Texas could be doing better. On
Pre-Kindergarten in Texas could get a big boost this legislative session, and it’s encouraging that there are several legislative proposals on the table. The Center for Public Policy Priorities just released a new report with recommendations for ways
Superheroes are known for their special powers. As a young girl growing up in Dallas, I was dazzled by Wonder Woman as she wielded her bracelets and Lasso of Truth to fight evil and protect democracy. As an adult, I am
A couple weeks ago U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett (Texas – 35th District) invited me to testify before the Committee on Ways and Means’ Subcommittee on Human Resources in the U.S. House of Representatives on challenges facing low-income people in Texas. When
How to measure poverty? It may seem like a wonky question, but it’s one that matters in gauging the impacts of anti-poverty programs. The official poverty measure was created in the 1960s and is valuable for evaluating long-term economic trends. But
This week, I testified in front of the Senate Finance Committee and the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Article II on their respective starting-point budget proposals for DFPS. This testimony comes a month after the Speaker of the House of Representatives
What did you have for breakfast today? While you try to remember, chew on these disturbing facts. 1.7 million Texas households struggled to put food on the table in 2013, one of the highest rates of household food insecurity in the
