, Author at Texas 2036

Real Progress With Lasting Benefits

May 28, 2021

Since the last day of the 87th Regular Session falls on Memorial Day, we wanted to provide you a snapshot of where we are before the holiday weekend. Across our six legislative agenda policy areas, Texas legislators are on the brink of making real progress that will provide long-term benefits for the state. Here are just...

Young workers and the next recession

April 5, 2021

New research from William Emmons, Lead Economist in Supervision at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, found that unemployment during the 2020 recession was felt disproportionately by younger Americans, particularly those under 35. This is not an anomaly. During the 2008 recession, workers under 35 also felt the brunt of layoffs and hiring freezes....

Aligning our Education and Workforce Efforts to Expedite Economic Recovery

March 22, 2021

Texans have endured enormous challenges over the past year, and our state’s economic outlook depends on a speedy and strategic recovery to the COVID-19 crisis. The solution to our current crisis will not be found in dozens of state agencies pulling in different directions. Instead, the solution should be found in strong, transparent, and accountable...

Alternative Credentialing Programs Have the Potential to Help Texas Meet Its Workforce Needs

March 10, 2021

Postsecondary degrees and credentials matter more than ever to attaining a stable, decent-paying job. At the height of the pandemic in April, 18% of Americans with a high school diploma or less were unemployed. For those with a bachelor’s degree, that figure was only 8%. But while degrees and credentials are critically important, they remain...

Weathering the Storm: Securing Texas’ Energy Infrastructure Against Future Disasters

March 9, 2021

February’s winter storm left millions of Texas in the cold and dark during the worst power blackouts in recent memory. Texans were understandably furious as critical infrastructure failed statewide. And political groups of all stripes predictably tried to capitalize on the situation. But we need to rise above politics if we are going to make...

Why is Health Insurance Unaffordable for Many Texans Today

February 8, 2021

Health care in Texas is broken. For many, insurance is unaffordable — to the point of being unobtainable. For others, even those with insurance, the costs of premiums and care are unsustainable. Average annual premiums to cover a family on employer plans (the most common way insured Texans are covered) are over $20,000 — that’s one-third...