Answer Happy

WRITE TWO OR MORE WELL THOUGHT-OUT
AND DEVELOPED PARAGRAPHS TO ANSWER
THE QUESTIONS BELOW. BE SPECIFIC. Then,
respond to at least one of your classmates
asking a probing question about their post or
providing a post that may add additional
information to what they wrote.
Fragmentation of authority in Texas not only
strongly affects who has access to policy decisions,
but also how visible the process is to the public.
The large number of agencies and the governor's
limited power create an environment for interest
groups and the elite to play a strong role in Texas
policymaking. We often think of public
administrators as simply implementing the laws
passed by the legislature, but they must make
many decisions about situations not clearly
foreseen in the law. In addition, Texas government
agencies, historically, have had minimal funds to
implement policy.
In the 2017-2018 academic year, 72 percent of
students attending Texas public schools were from
ethnic minority families, and 59 percent of students
had limited English language proficiency. Today,
more than 1,000 independent school districts and
about 200 charter operators are responsible for
educating 5.3 million students. One of the sharpest
debates in Texas education is over the role of
state-mandated standardized tests. Educators and
political leaders are divided about how to assess
student progress. Two sets of issues have
challenged Texas higher education in recent years:
funding and providing access to Texas's highly
diverse population. The landmark case of Sweattv.
Painter helped reduce racism in college admissions
throughout the country, but Texas's long history of
official and private discrimination still has
consequences today. Although many Latinos and
African Americans have become middle class since
the civil rights changes of the 1960s and 1970s,
both groups remain overrepresented in the working
class and ranks of the poor. To deal with these
inequalities, the Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board adopted a program in 2000,
called Closing the Gaps, to increase collegeenrollment and graduation rates for all groups by2015. The program was highly successful. By2015, enrollment and graduation had increasedmarkedly for all groupsHistorically, economic and regulatory policies havetilted toward business. In the last decade, Texasregulators have increasingly sought to useeconomic competition to bring down costs toconsumers. This practice has been met withcontroversy. The Railroad Commission (oil and gasindustry) and the Public Utility Commission(telephone and electric power industries) areamong Texas's most publicized agencies. ThePublic Utility Commission no longer sets rates forelectricity providers, and Texans pay more forelectricity than those living in most other states.Insurance companies are free to set rates as theysee fit, but the insurance commissioner can step inif he or she believes the rates to be excessive. By2016, though, Texas homeowner and autoinsurance were among the highest in the nation.When it comes to the environment, Texas has beenpan of the mast a r ted stalesitor years due, inCommission on Environmental Quality coordinatesenvironmental policies but has been accused ofagency capture. Issues concerning the watersupply, hazardous waste, and electrical powercontinue to plague the state.Question 1. How visible is the public policy process tothe people of Texas? Should the people ofTexas have a stronger say in thedevelopment of public policy? Whatpolitical and legal reforms in theformulation of public policy Texas shouldbe instituted to permit the people of Texasto have a stronger influence in thedevelopment of public policy?
called Closing the Gaps, to increase college
enrollment and graduation rates for all groups by
2015. The program was highly successful. By
2015, enrollment and graduation had increased
markedly for all groups
Historically, economic and regulatory policies have
tilted toward business. In the last decade, Texas
regulators have increasingly sought to use
economic competition to bring down costs to
consumers. This practice has been met with
controversy. The Railroad Commission (oil and gas
industry) and the Public Utility Commission
(telephone and electric power industries) are
among Texas's most publicized agencies. The
Public Utility Commission no longer sets rates for
electricity providers, and Texans pay more for
electricity than those living in most other states.
Insurance companies are free to set rates as they
see fit, but the insurance commissioner can step in
if he or she believes the rates to be excessive. By
2016, though, Texas homeowner and auto
insurance were among the highest in the nation.
When it comes to the environment, Texas has been
pan of the mast a r ted stalesitor years due, in
Commission on Environmental Quality coordinates
environmental policies but has been accused of
agency capture. Issues concerning the water
supply, hazardous waste, and electrical power
continue to plague the state.
Question
1. How visible is the public policy process to
the people of Texas? Should the people of
Texas have a stronger say in the
development of public policy? What
political and legal reforms in the
formulation of public policy Texas should
be instituted to permit the people of Texas
to have a stronger influence in the
development of public policy?