Posts Tagged ‘Texas Public Policy Foundation’

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Federal Judge Stays EPA Cross-Border Rules

Monday, January 2nd, 2012

In all the pre-New Year’s Eve excitement, I missed Friday’s news that D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals enjoined the EPA from implementing its Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR) until the court completed its review of the legal challenges against the rule.

This is good news, especially if the rules is invalidated, since that would prevent Texans from dying, as might well happen should older power plants that can’t meet the new rules be unavailable to provide power during peak summer days. (And remember that a 2003 heatwave killed more than 14,000 people in France.

Thanks to the Texas Public Policy Foundation (which has been following the story closely) for the heads-up.

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Posted in Texas | 2 Comments »

Texas Senate Race Update for December 16, 2011

Friday, December 16th, 2011

A few quick updates for things too important to sit on over the weekend:

  • Blue Dot Blues brings word that a deal has been reached on dates for next year’s elections: Primary April 4, Runoff June 5.
  • Craig James takes a leave of absence from ESPN to mull a Senate run. That’s certainly a much stronger indication he’ll run than we’ve had before.
  • I was unaware until I read this Chronicle piece that James joined the Texas Public Policy Foundation (and seems to have done some events for them, though he does not seem to currently be on the board), which would indicate at least some familiarity with conservative policy issues. Of course, Ted Cruz used to work in TPPP’s Center for Tenth Amendment Studies.
  • Another longshot Republican candidate , “Dr. Joe” Agris, files for the race. Dr. Agris is evidently a plastic surgeon who has done some good works, many in association with late Houston broadcasting legend Marvin Zindler (who made use of Dr. Agris services on many an occasion). Dr. Agris is not entirely a political neophyte, having run in the general election for Texas House District 134 in 2008. He reportedly waged a low-effort campaign (or so says lefty Houston blog Off the Kuff), pulling in only 42% of the vote in a distract John McCain won. He’s evidently been contemplating this run at least since April.
  • Tom Leppert visits Corpus:

  • David Dewhurst bashes Obama:

  • Ted Cruz bashes Obama:

  • Cruz is also raising money via Twitter.
  • “Is it Ricardo?” “No, it’s just a boy.”

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    Posted in Elections, Republicans, Texas, video | 3 Comments »

    UT Law Dean Resigns Over Slush Fund Payouts

    Friday, December 9th, 2011

    Keep in mind that’s not what the headline says, which is a more neutral “UT law dean forced to step down.” But what else do you call “a $500,000 forgivable loan” to UT Dean Larry Sager “at a time when deans, vice presidents and other top university officials were under a salary freeze”? When you give people money they don’t have to pay back, that’s not a loan, that’s a gift. (I also wonder whether Dean Sager declared this money on his taxes. Or did he not have to, because it was a “loan”?) And slush fund seems to be the proper term for a fund from which sums can be doled out without administrative accountability.

    Or, to put it another way: If it were revealed that University of Texas head football coach Mack Brown had such a fund, to receive funds from or to dole out at his discretion, not only would we be calling it a slush fund, he would be fired, National Championship notwithstanding. Should the UT Law School be held to a lesser standard than the UT Athletics Department?

    No wonder the Texas Public Policy Foundation continues to advocate for lower administrative costs in higher education, among many other needed reforms. This most recent incident shows such reform is still badly needed.

    (Hat tip: Tax Prof Blog via Instapundit.)

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    Posted in Budget, Texas | 5 Comments »

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