Texas ranks in the bottom quarter of the nation for healthcare, according to recent reports. As a state with one of the highest rates of uninsured — just over 25% — this comes as no surprise to many.

Just over 15% of all Americans go without health insurance, totaling nearly 48 million. This unfortunate statistic comes at a time when Medicare is experiencing historical funding cuts under the Bush administration. The concern is not so much how many lack insurance, but what kind of healthcare those uninsured receive.

continue reading »

For decades, educators in general, and those with specific training in music in particular, have been touting the values of the experience. As research continues on the intrinsic value of having students exposed to formal music education, more and more people are understanding how the functioning of the human brain is enhanced by training in music.

In cities throughout Texas, including the larger cities of Dallas, Houston and Austin, music educators, supported by the Texas Music Educators Association, have been touting the value of making music an integral part of a well-rounded educational experience.

continue reading »

With the housing crunch creating a ripple of problems for the overall US housing sector, home developers in South Florida are finding it increasingly harder to sell homes, and are now seeking out alternatives to lower the price, and entice home buyers again.

An innovative housing initiative, the Mike Davis Community Workforce Housing Initiative pilot program, which was named after a former state legislator from Naples, has been in existence since 2006, and the funding, amounting to $62.4 million, is planned for use in funding housing projects in neighborhoods that are close to employers, services and transportation. This program is one of a few noted to help people in industries such as police, education and health care.

continue reading »

In July 2006 grants of $9 million were given to Texas Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics academics of the Texas Schools. The grants will go to the creation of 12 new academies and centers in the Texas Schools. T-STEM is a program that provides $71 million to various math and science projects at secondary Texas Schools and operates under the umbrella of the larger Texas High School Project (THSP), which has the goal of increasing graduation and enrollment rates in public Texas Schools. The THSP is funded by both public and private funds in the amount of $261 million. Its partners include the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundations, the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, the Office of the Governor and others.

Why Fund Math & Science?

continue reading »

Our creditors would like for us to take all the blame, but clearly it was them that chose to adjust our mortgage rates, and increase the rate on a card we already can’t pay. Who is fooling who here. Clearly the banks want to think they are in control.

Fact is, as a Texas consumer your rights under the homestead exemptions statutes, protects your primary dwelling, “Your Home” from collectors or attorney from taking it for unsecured debt. Collectors and banks alike would love nothing more than for you to believe them when they tell you they are going to bring action to secure their debt by way of your home. In most cases they will go so far as to tell you to take out a loan on your home to pay their credit card debt. STOP, do not do this. You can not borrow your way out of debt. It is not in your best interest “EVER” to use the equity in your home to pay off an unsecured credit card or signature loan.

continue reading »

The word education means “to draw out’, facilitating realization of self-potential and latent talents of an individual. It encompasses teaching and learning specific skills, and also imparting knowledge, positive judgment and well-developed wisdom. Texas Democrats attach great importance to the power of education and rightly so. To quote famous Texas Democrat and President Lyndon B. Johnson

“At the desk where I sit, I have learned one great truth. The answer for all our national problems - the answer for all the problems of the world - come to a single word. That word is “education.”

continue reading »

The Texas schools released figures in September 2006, showing substantial increases in the number of Texas schools students taking Advanced Placement (AP) exams, as well as their resulting scores.

High schools across the nation are allowed to teach college-level coursework that is first approved by the College Board, the national administrator of the AP exams. Under current rules, a high school need only sign a form promising to teach the specific curriculum for any class to be designated AP.

continue reading »

In May of 2006, the Texas Educator Excellence Grant Program was enacted by a special legislative session in Texas. Governor Rick Perry and several legislators sponsored the bill, which allocates state funds to underwrite merit pay plans in Texas schools across the state. It is the largest incentive pay program in the nation.

The program essentially implements a long-standing business concept into the Texas schools, treating teachers as individual professionals rather than an educational team. Proponents of the program believe that mediocrity becomes the standard, when excellence and mediocrity are equally rewarded.

continue reading »