• Explore agricultural activity in America. (U.S. Department of Agriculture, April 11, 2019)
• Examine recent statistics related to school crime and safety. (National Center for Education Statistics, April 2019)
• Consider how access to special education varies by state. (U.S. Government Accountability Office, April 2019)
• See how Dallas and Houston metropolitan areas have become some of the most populous in the nation. (U.S. Census Bureau, April 18, 2019)

• "How much immigration is too much?" By David Frum. Atlantic Monthly, April 2019, pp. 64-74.
  Argues effective immigration policy can make the United States a stronger, richer country for newcomers and long-settled citizens. Suggests replacing the current patchwork of policies with a new policy focusing on reducing immigration and selecting immigrants more carefully.
• "Going green: Marijuana policy impacts on state budgets." By Lisa McKinney. Capitol Ideas, Issue 1 2019, pp. 14-15.
  Describes the marijuana legalization process in Massachusetts and Colorado and the increased tax revenue to state budgets. Notes a recent analysis by New Frontier Data showing a full federal legalization of marijuana would generate $108 billion over seven years.
• "Three new ways for Congress to legalize illegal immigrants." By Alex Nowrasteh and David J. Bier. CATO Briefing Papers, April 10, 2019, pp. 1-6.
  Offers innovative proposals that overcome some of the political objections to granting legal status to illegal immigrants: tiered legalization, rolling legalization, and amnesty with limited family sponsorship.
• "The revival of 'made in the USA'." By Laurent Belsie. Christian Science Monitor, April 8, 2019, p. 1.
  Highlights the rise in manufacturing jobs under the Obama and Trump administrations in terms of whether the momentum will continue and how tariffs might affect these jobs.
• "Teaching or preaching?" By Rob Boston. Church & State, April 2019, pp. 10-13.
  Examines school district curricula for Bible literacy classes. Finds that state legislation often outlines evangelistic goals, making objective instruction elusive. Mentions HB1287, 80th Texas Legislature, relating to the academic study of the Bible in public schools. (Report at: http://a.tfn.org/site/DocServer/TFNEF_ReadingWritingReligionII.pdf?docID=3481)
• "Will home sales prices become public?" By Kimberly Reeves. Dallas Business Journal, April 12, 2019, p. 2.
  Discusses HB1036, 86th Legislature, relating to mandatory sales price disclosure in real property sales. Includes comments by Representatives Michelle Beckley and Trey Martinez Fischer.
• "Abortion controls: In a heartbeat."  Economist, April 13th-19th, 2019, p. 27.
  Examines whether the rush of state-level heartbeat bills will achieve pro-lifers' goal — getting the United States Supreme Court to weigh in on the issue and using one of these bills to overturn Roe v. Wade.
• "Teaching migrant children." By Kavitha Cardoza. Education Week, April 10, 2019, pp. 12-16.
  Addresses the impact of migrant children, who have sought asylum in the United States, on public schools. Profiles several migrant students and their experiences in public schools across the nation, including Texas.
• "Little public support for reductions in federal spending." By Pew Research Center. Internet Resource, April 11, 2019, pp. 1-29. (Note lenth)
  Reports findings from a Pew Research Center survey on federal spending across thirteen government program areas. Analyzes partisan differences in spending increases and the size and scope of the federal government.
• "Parsing the waters." By Charles N. Herrick. Issues in Science and Technology, Spring 2019, pp. 77-83.
  Provides a history of federal legislation related to the reclamation and protection of wetlands. Discusses recent changes to domestic wetlands policy and provides recommendations for future legislation and management.

• Find election dates for 2019. (Texas Secretary of State, accessed April 17, 2019)
• Track news updates from the Texas Department of State Health Services. (Texas Department of State Health Services, accessed April 17, 2019)
• Consider recent approaches to changing the situation at the border. (The Heritage Foundation, April 11, 2019)
• Read about America's infrastructure workforce. (Brookings, April 16, 2019)

• "Policymakers bet on sports wagering." By Lisa McKinney. Capitol Ideas, Issue 1 2019, pp. 12-13.
  Discusses the United States Supreme Court's May 2018 ruling in Murphy v. National Collegiate Athletic Association and potential state legalization of sports betting.
• "CBD goes mainstream." Consumer Reports, May 2019, pp. 44-50.
  Examines the results of a survey on cannabidiol [CBD], a compound extracted from hemp and marijuana. Provides insights into who is using CBD, why they use it, and how effective they say it is.
• "Corporate crises: The new age of corporate scandals." Economist, April 6th-12th, 2019, pp.51-53.
  Discusses the rise in corporate misconduct and scandals, including those involving Boeing, Goldman Sachs, Wells Fargo, and Facebook. Suggests the abatement of three forces that constrained corporate conduct — regulation, litigation, and competition — has increased the incentive for firms to take more risks.
• "State ESSA report cards fall short, asserts data-transparency group." By Daarel Burnette II. Education Week, April 10, 2019, pp. 21, 25.
  Summarizes results of a study conducted on how well states are collecting and reporting required school data under the Every Student Succeeds Act [ESSA]. Notes Texas is still not complying with ESSA's reporting requirements in teacher effectiveness and student discipline.
• "Selling AI: The case of fully autonomous vehicles." By Diane E. Bailey and Ingrid Erickson. Issues in Science and Technology, Spring 2019, pp. 57-61.
  Examines claims that autonomous vehicles are the sole means of reducing motor vehicle deaths. Discusses the "Safe System" approach to improving traffic safety through both technological advances and improvements to road infrastructure. (Related document at: http://pubdocs.worldbank.org/en/912871516999678053/Report-Safe-Systems-final.pdf)
• "Retirement insecurity 2019: Americans' views of the retirement crisis." By Diane Oakley and Kelly Kenneally. National Institute on Retirement Security, March 2019, pp. 1-28. (Note length)
  Presents public opinion poll findings on retirement issues in the United States, including pension plans for state and local government employees.
• "Keeping up the pace: State, city, and private sector transportation decarbonization."  By Fatima Maria Ahmad. Natural Resources & Environment, Spring 2019, pp. 40-44.
  Highlights state and regional efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector, including: cap-and-invest programs, electronic vehicle charging corridors, and zero emissions vehicles programs. Discusses private sector efforts and opportunities to meet new demand with electric vehicle development and charging infrastructure.
• "Under the gun." By Paige Williams. New Yorker, April 8, 2019, pp. 26-32.
  Highlights the "Stop the Bleed" protocol developed by the Hartford Consensus to provide rapid casualty care at intentional mass casualty events. Discusses the priority of training and equipping a wide variety of people with these techniques since the real first responders are bystanders at these incidents.
• "The short-term outlook for the Texas economy." By M. Ray Perryman. Perryman Report and Texas Letter, Vol. 36, No. 2, pp. 1-3, 6.
  Discusses factors that are contributing to the growth of the Texas economy, as well as key patterns affecting future performance over the 2018-2023 period.
• "Bill looks to end noncompetes." By Jessica Corso. San Antonio Business Journal, March 29, 2019, pp. 8.
  Highlights HB1522, 86th Legislature, which would bar staffing agencies at oil and gas companies from requiring workers sign noncompete agreements.
• "Position as top exporting state exposes Texas to shifting trade policy." By Jesus Canas and Stephanie Gullo. Southwest Economy (Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas), First Quarter 2019, pp. 3-7.
  Analyzes Texas' comparative trade advantage, especially in energy-related manufacturing and oil and gas mining. Describes how trade policy uncertainty and steel and aluminum tariffs could disrupt and affect the world standing of Texas manufacturing.
• "Back from the brink." By Savannah Gilmore and Erica Mackellar. State Legislatures, March/April 2019, pp. 8-11, 13.
  Reports federal tax reforms, United States Supreme Court decisions, and legislative changes to states' tax policies have resulted in net revenue increases, placing states in a better position to weather the next economic downturn.
• "Eminent domain works in Texas — for the takers." By Russell Boening. Texas Agriculture, April 5, 2019, p. 2.
  Discusses the eminent domain process in Texas and how it negatively affects land owners. Mentions HB991 and SB421, 86th Legislature.
• "Results of the 2018 unfunded mandate survey."  Texas County Progress, April 2019, pp. 16-23.
  Reviews the effects various unfunded and under-funded mandates have on local government and property taxes. (Report at: https://31j8fe2l56f122iue1wuvve1-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/2018-Unfunded-Mandates-Book-Final_WebVersion.pdf)
• "AIMing to save lives." By Sean Price. Texas Medicine, April 2019, pp. 21-23.
  Discusses maternal health initiatives that prevent maternal deaths in hospital settings. Highlights AIM Bundles, guidelines set up by the Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health [AIM]. Includes maternal health-related bills from the 86th Legislature.

• Read about proposed legislation in Congress that would prohibit the IRS from offering free tax filing online. (ProPublica, April 9, 2019)
• Consider work zone safety on Texas roads. (Texas Department of Transportation, April 8, 2019)
• Beware of phone scammers after your personal information. (Texas Health & Human Services, April 9, 2019)
• See how well your science knowledge stacks up against other Americans. (Pew Research Center, March 28, 2019)

• "Dismal grades." By Lorelei Laird. ABA Journal: The Lawyer's Magazine, April 2019, pp. 18-19.
  Reports the advent of legislatively-mandated school performance standards is helping school finance litigation plaintiffs convince courts that states aren't giving school districts the funding necessary to meet those standards.
• "Do ecosystems have rights?" By Amanda Paulson and Henry Gass. Christian Science Monitor, April 1, 2019, pp. 16-17.
  Considers the rights-of-nature movement as embodied in the "Lake Erie Bill of Rights" recently passed by voters in Toledo, Ohio. Reviews the various legal principles that might be used to interpret such rights.
• "Admissions officers didn't cause the scandal. But they helped shape the culture that spawned it." By Eric Hoover. Chronicle of Higher Education, March 22, 2019, pp. A10-A11.
  Explains the recent college admission scandal uncovered the wealth and privilege that have long been a part of college admission issues in setting up unfair advantages for higher-income students. Suggests this is an opportunity for colleges to examine more rigorously the inequities in current processes and procedures.
• "Why thousands of college grads start their careers at a rental-car-company." By Beckie Supiano. Chronicle of Higher Education, March 15, 2019, pp. A10-A12, A14.
  Profiles the management-training program at Enterprise Rent-A-Car and its requirement that candidates have a bachelor's degree. Explains the company sees degree completion as evidence of competencies necessary to succeed in an entry-level job and move up.
• "Joint resolution." By Jennifer Shutt. CQ Weekly, March 4, 2019, pp. 16-22.
  Discusses federal legislation to loosen the nation's marijuana laws and the unlikely coalition of lawmakers behind the effort for change. Addresses the growing acceptance of marijuana use, the disparities between federal and state laws, and the outlook for changing marijuana policy.
• "Hanging with the anti-vaxxers: Sharp exchanges." Economist, March 30th-April 5th, 2019, pp. 34, 36.
  Considers how the pro-vaccine camp can respond effectively to those who oppose vaccines. Notes the growing influence of vaccine-choice political action committees.
• "Fairness matters: A chart book on who pays state and local taxes." Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, March 2019, pp. 1-18.
  Analyzes the distribution of state and local taxes and the adequacy of tax systems to fund schools, health care, infrastructure, and other public services. Illustrates the tax burden in sales tax-reliant systems, especially for low- and moderate-income families. Includes Texas. (Related document at: https://itep.org/whopays/).
• "Why do hundreds of US women die annually in childbirth?" By Anita Slomski. JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association), April 2, 2019, pp. 1239-1241.
  Investigates rising maternal mortality rates in the United States and underlying causes of pregnancy-related deaths. Reports 60 percent of maternal deaths are preventable and the leading cause of death varies significantly by race.
• "The short-term forecast for the US economy." By M. Ray Perryman. Perryman Report and Texas Letter, Vol. 36, No. 1, pp. 1-3, 6.
  Highlights the latest forecast for the economy over the 2018 to 2023 period.
• "Lower oil prices, tight labor markets to restrain Texas growth in 2019." By Keith R. Phillips and Judy Teng. Southwest Economy (Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas), First Quarter 2019, pp. 10-13.
  Presents an economic forecast of the Texas energy, manufacturing, and construction sectors for 2019.
• "The final word: Dennis Bonnen." By Jane Carroll Andrade. State Legislatures, March/April 2019, pp. 37.
  Interviews Texas House Speaker Dennis Bonnen.
• "An analysis of Texas jail bookings: How Texas counties could save millions of dollars by safely diverting people from jail." Appendix. Texas Appleseed, April 2, 2019, pp. 1-11.
  Analyzes jail booking records from large Texas counties (Bell, Collin, Dallas, El Paso, Fort Bend, Galveston, Hidalgo, Jefferson, McLennan, Montgomery, Tarrant, and Travis), to describe who is being booked into jail, on what charges, and how long they are staying. Addresses how counties could safely reduce jail populations.
• "Time and treasure: Faith-based response to Hurricane Harvey." By Noah Westfall, Erica Nelson and Bee Moorhead. Texas Interfaith Center for Public Policy, March 10, 2019, pp. 1-10.
  Highlights the role of faith-based communities in Hurricane Harvey disaster response and recovery. Advocates a public/private collaboration for disaster response in Texas that would ensure financial accountability and transparency.
• "Borders without enough doctors." By Sean Price. Texas Medicine, April 2019, pp. 30-37.
  Profiles El Paso physicians who volunteer their time to provide medical care for asylum-seekers along the Texas border. Reports their goal is to build a nationwide network of volunteer doctors.
• "Goodbye to an aquifer." By Brantley Hargrove. Texas Monthly, April 2019, pp. 90-102.
  Discusses the effects of recent drought and population increase on the Trinity Aquifer and the availability of groundwater in Bell County and Williamson County. Contrasts the work of the Clearwater Underground Water Conservation District in Bell County and the lack of a groundwater conservation district in Williamson County. Mentions HB1594, 86th Legislature.

• Compare citation in lieu of arrest policies among the states. (National Conference of State Legislatures, March 18, 2019)
• Track cases of EV-D68 and its association with acute flaccid myelitis. (Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, March 29, 2019)
• Consider whether automakers should be held accountable for auto accidents. (Regulation, Spring 2019)
• Read about the gender wage gap by occupation. (Institute for Women's Policy Research, April 2019)

• "A jolt to the system." By Mary Ellen McIntire. CQ Weekly, March 25, 2019, pp. 14-18, 20, 22-23.
  Discusses how "Medicare for All" or a single-payer health care system could affect health care and the economy in the United States. Suggests health care will be a significant but divisive issue in the 2020 elections.
• "New frontier in old war." By Sandhya Raman. CQ Weekly, March 4, 2019, pp. 23-26.
  Addresses medication abortions and the conflicts surrounding access to the procedure. Discusses pending litigation that could change the future of medication abortion.
• "Cyberdefense for Texas state government: Public data systems, infrastructure under attack." By Jackie Benton. Fiscal Notes, March 2019, pp. 7-10.
  Reviews the tougher cybersecurity requirements and the state's implementation of the Texas Cybersecurity Act (HB8, 85th Legislature, R.S.) and the Texas Cybercrime Act (HB9, 85th Legislature, R.S.) and cybersecurity appropriations in the 2018-19 state budget. Interviews Representative Giovanni Capriglione.
• "Texas cybersecurity: Protecting data systems: Texans lose big to cybercrime." By Courtney King. Fiscal Notes, March 2019, pp. 1, 3-6.
  Charts annual costs of cybercrime by industry sector and compares Texas to other states in terms of cybercrime victims and financial losses. Describes cybersecurity efforts in Texas and the labor shortage of information security analysts.
• "Texas brew." By Marcie Richter. Fort Worth Business Press, March 25-31, 2019, pp. 12-13.
  Addresses efforts by craft spirits distilleries and breweries to lift restrictive laws relating to the sale of products to-go. Argues changes are necessary in order for these smaller craft businesses to succeed.
• "2018 in review: Remote vendor nexus." By Steve Oldroyd and Todd Faciana. Journal of State Taxation, Spring 2019, pp. 21-26.
  Reviews sales-and-use tax developments of 2018 that affect remote vendors, including the United States Supreme Court decision in South Dakota v. Wayfair.
• "Warning: The plastic crisis is about to get worse: Fracking triggered a production boom – with toxic consequences." By Zoe Carpenter. Nation, April 1, 2019, pp. 12-17, 26.
  Discusses expansion of plastics production and the petrochemical industry in the United States, including new and expanded facilities, pipelines, and shipping infrastructure. Highlights a dispute about Exxon's site for Project Yosemite on farmland north of Corpus Christi and citizen concerns in Portland, Texas. Mentions Governor Greg Abbott.
• "A low cost LEGO house decree!" By Michael Hendrix. National Review, March 25, 2019, pp. 22-23.
  Considers modular construction as a way to alleviate the housing shortage by cutting construction time in half and reducing costs by up to 20 percent. Describes modular construction as offsite manufacturing of prefabricated units that are later assembled on-site.
• "Scoot over: Get ready for rental mopeds." By Eric Boehm. Reason, May 2019, p. 17.
  Identifies rental mopeds as the next feature in the "micromobility" trend hitting cities. Suggests mopeds have advantages over scooters such as better visibility for other motorists, seating for two riders, higher speeds, and storage compartments for helmets.
• "Gun-rights counties vow to resist new restrictions." By Matt Vasilogambros. Stateline (Pew Charitable Trusts), April 2, 2019, pp. 1-7.
  Reports more than two hundred counties are pushing back against state legislatures — refusing to enforce new state laws that restrict gun access.
• "STAAR wars." By Mimi Swartz. Texas Monthly, April 2019, pp. 50-60.
  Profiles educators and education advocates and their concerns with the readability level of the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness [STAAR] test. Includes past efforts to study and reevaluate the reading section of the test.
• "Black market wildlife." By Russell Roe. Texas Parks and Wildlife Magazine, April 2019, pp. 32-37.
  Investigates the illegal wildlife trade in Texas. Examines how illegally taken and smuggled wildlife can affect Texas' ecosystems.

Former Members Day

Speaker's Reunion Day