In this weekly post, we feature online articles and policy reports published recently, and other helpful research tools.

• Consider the American housing market and nine deficiencies with it. (Federal Reserve Board, January 4, 2012 / Brookings Institution, December 28, 2011)
• Examine the impact of raising the ages of eligibility for Medicare and Social Security. (Congressional Budget Office, January 2012)
• See how states are using managed care to rein in Medicaid costs. (Capitol Ideas E-Newsletter, January/February 2012)
• Read about how government health care programs fall short when it comes to dental coverage. (USA Today, Janaury 19, 2012)
• Check out a 50-state Medicaid and CHIP survey. (Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured, January 2012)
• Review a report about law school transparency. (Law School Transparency, January 2012)
• Explore the challenges of availability and affordability of fresh fruit and vegetables across America. (Food Research and Action Center, December 2011)

This entry was posted on January 26, 2012 at 3:15 PM and has received 890 views. Print this entry.

In this weekly post, we feature online articles and policy reports published recently, and other helpful research tools.

• Read about public–private partnerships for highway projects. (Congressional Budget Office, January 2012)
• Consider the rising population of homeless children in America. (National Center on Family Homelessness, December 13, 2011)
• Review issues related to the Keystone XL pipeline project and the State Department's denial of the permit application. (Congressional Research Service, December 12, 2011 / U.S. Department of State, January 18, 2012)
• Look back at the progress of voting rights and South Carolina v. Katzenback. (Legal History Blog, January 5, 2012)
• Check out the Texas Financial Services Industry Report. (Office of the Governor, Economic Development and Tourism, January 2012)
• Explore the first hundred years of the Texas prison system. (Texas State Library and Archives Commission, introductory page last modified November 16, 2011)
• Find a brief explanation of SOPA and PIPA federal legislation. (PCWorld, January 17, 2012)

This entry was posted on January 19, 2012 at 3:15 PM and has received 958 views. Print this entry.

• STAAR Resources, Texas Education Agency, including STAAR Questions and Answers, October 31, 2011
• Correspondence to Administrators, Information Regarding the Implementation of the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR), Texas Education Agency, April 22, 2011
• "Here a Test, There a Test: STAAR Issues Stacking Up," Classroom Teacher, Texas Classroom Teachers Association, December 13, 2011

•  End-of-Course (EOC) Assessments, Texas Education Agency
• "New End-of-Course Tests Will Challenge Students, Schools," Houston Chronicle, December 15, 2011

• Closing the Expectations Gap 2011: On the Alignment of High School Policies with the Demands of College and Careers (standards, graduation requirements, assessments, P-20 data systems, and accountability systems), Achieve, February 2011

• Parks in Peril, National Conference of State Legislatures, January 2012
• Governor Christie Makes Access to State Parks Priority with New Sustainable Funding Strategy, State of New Jersey, November 2,  2011

• Drought Impact Reporter, U.S. Drought Portal
• "Drought's Economic Impact Spreading Across Texas," Texas Tribune, October 27, 2011

• HHSC Gets Approval for Medicaid Improvements, Texas Health and Human Services Commission
• California and Texas: Section 1115 Medicaid Demonstration Waivers Compared, Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured, December 2011

• "Crooked Teeth: Medicaid Millions,"  WFAA.com, December 27, 2011 (updated January 9, 2012)

• 25 TAC § 414.504, Pre-employment and Pre-assignment Clearance (Rights and protections of persons receiving mental health services, criminal history and registry clearances), Texas Administrative Code
•  "In Wake of Sex Abuse Allegations, New Rules for State Hospitals," Austin American Statesman, November 22, 2011

• Texas Industry Concentrations 2012: Where the State's Key Sectors Cluster, Office of the Governor - Economic Development and Tourism, December 2011
• Rich States, Poor States 2011: The ALEC-Laffer State Economic Competitiveness Index, American Legislative Exchange Council, June 2011
• The 2010 State New Economy Index: Benchmarking Economic Transformation in the States, Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, November 2010
• Council's Report to the Governor, Governor's Competitiveness Council, July 2008
• "Industry Clusters Shape Texas Economy," Southwest Economy (Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas), September/October 2007

This entry was posted on January 17, 2012 at 2:18 PM and has received 1630 views. Print this entry.

In this weekly post, we feature online articles and policy reports published recently, and other helpful research tools.

• See which college majors are at higher risk for unemployment. (Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, January 4, 2012)
• Consider the effects of long-term hardship in the labor market. (Center for Economic Policy and Research, January 2012)
• Find child nutrition programs by state. (United States Department of Agriculture, November 30, 2011)
• Explore legal immigration in the United States. (Migration Policy Institute, December 2011)
• Review new standards for limiting mercury and other toxic pollution from power plants. (United States Environmental Protection Agency, December 21, 2011)
• Read about state-level energy-related carbon dioxide emissions tracked over the last decade. (United States Energy Information Administration, January 9, 2012)
• Note that a federal court has rejected the Texas Legislature's claim to legislative privilege, and keep up with events pertaining to Perry v. Perez on the SCOTUSblog. (The Thicket, National Conference of State Legislatures, January 6, 2012 / Supreme Court of the United States blog, January 2012)

This entry was posted on January 12, 2012 at 3:15 PM and has received 999 views. Print this entry.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit ruled Tuesday, January 10, 2012 that the provisions of Texas' "abortion sonogram law" (HB 15, 82nd R.S.) are constitutional and can be enforced. The ruling overturned an August 30, 2011 U.S. District Court ruling that blocked key provisions of the new law. Below you will find the legislation and key court documents associated with the case.HB 15, 82nd Regular Session: Relating to informed consent to an abortion.

June 13, 2011: Class action complaint:
Texas Medical Providers Performing Abortion Services, et al. v. David Lakey, Commissioner of Texas Department of State Health Services, et al.; Class action complaint (No. 1:11-cv-00486, abortion sonogram law, HB 15, 82nd Leg.).

June 30, 2011: Plaintiff's motion for injunction:
Texas Medical Providers Performing Abortion Services, et al. v. David Lakey, Commissioner of Texas Department of State Health Services, et al.; Plaintiff's motion for preliminary injunction (No. 1:11-cv-00486, abortion sonogram law, HB 15, 82nd Leg.).

August 30, 2011: Court ruling (Judge Sam Sparks, U.S. District Court):
Texas Medical Providers Performing Abortion Services, et al. v. David Lakey (Commissioner of Texas Department of State Health Services), et al.; Order and Notice of Appeal by Attorney General (No. 1:11-cv-00486, abortion sonogram law, HB 15, 82nd Leg.).

September 28, 2011: Appeal by Texas Attorney General filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit and the Supreme Court of the United States:
David Lakey, Commissioner of Texas Department of State Health Services, et al. v. Texas Medical Providers Performing Abortion Services, et al.; Emergency application for stay of preliminary injunction pending appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, Appendices and lower court rulings including 5th Circuit Sept. 28, 2011 (No. 11A335, abortion sonogram law, HB 15, 82nd Leg.).

This entry was posted on January 12, 2012 at 1:55 PM and has received 3029 views. Print this entry.

This entry was posted on January 10, 2012 at 3:49 PM and has received 1004 views. Print this entry.

In this weekly post, we feature online articles and policy reports published recently, and other helpful research tools.

• Compare housing costs and wages in various metropolitan areas. (Urban Institute, December 5, 2011)
• See the federal budget in one graphic. (Congressional Budget Office, 2011)
• Check out a state-by-state review of state election websites. (Pew Center on the States, 2011)
• Find a calendar of presidential primaries and caucuses. (National Association of Secretaries of State, December 22, 2011)
• Explore how physical activity and academic success are linked. (Education Week, January 3, 2012)
• Read a fact sheet on the California and Texas Section 1115 Medicaid demonstration waivers. (Kaiser commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured, December 15, 2011)
• Consider government tracking of cell phones and vehicles, and how technology and privacy intersect. (Congressional Budget Office, December 1, 2011)

This entry was posted on January 5, 2012 at 3:15 PM and has received 771 views. Print this entry.

This entry was posted on January 3, 2012 at 2:07 PM and has received 2252 views. Print this entry.

This entry was posted on December 20, 2011 at 3:42 PM and has received 21160 views. Print this entry.

In this weekly post, we feature online articles and policy reports published recently, and other helpful research tools.

• Consider how states have applied revenue from the 1998 tobacco settlement over the years. (Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, November 30, 2011)
• Read about smart grid state-level legislative and regulatory policies and case studies, and about the future of the electric grid. (U.S. Energy Information Administration, December 2011 / MIT Energy Initiative, December 5, 2011)
• Note that the Alabama attorney general recommends changes to Alabama Immigration Law. (Jurist, December 7, 2011)
• Explore the quality of post-secondary education at for-profit, nonprofit, and public schools. (U.S. Government Accountability Office, December 2011)
• Take a look at a Denver court decision and related documents that indicate Colorado's school funding system is underfunding schools by billions. (District Court, Denver County, Colorado, December 9, 2011 / compiled by the Attorney General, State of Colorado, 2011 / The Denver Post, December 9, 2011)
• See how the Occupy Wall Street movement fits into a broader historical perspective in finance and the economy. (Congressional Research Service, November 14, 2011)
• Don't call, text or update while behind the wheel—a nationwide ban on use of portable electronic devices while driving has been recommended. (National Transportation Safety Board, December 13, 2011)

This entry was posted on December 15, 2011 at 3:15 PM and has received 1370 views. Print this entry.