Despite the tremendous economic success in Texas and its overall well-being, the state continues to face its nonstandard set of challenges that must be addressed immediately. Certainly, the most pressing issue is a deteriorating transportation infrastructure, which requires innovation, long-range planning and, of course, investment (Button & Reggiani, 2011). The following study focuses on the deteriorating transportation infrastructure as a major issue facing the state of Texas. The report will also discuss the positions of two major Texas political parties (Republican and Democratic) on the issue. It further explains the ways of their addressing it. Next, it will discuss the overall goals, the position, the level of lobbying and the …show more content…
Therefore, the changing characteristics and the growth of the Texas population are the major causes of the transportation problem (Gravel, 2016).
While it was not a major issue in the just concluded campaigns, the future of Texas ' infrastructure did receive attention in the two major Texas political parties (Republican and Democratic). However, the political parties reveal differing positions and philosophies on ways of tackling the issue. To be specific, the Democrats believe that infrastructure is important to the future economic prosperity (LePatner, 2010). Further, the party argues that broadband networks, schools, water systems, and energy are some of the infrastructures that are readily ripe for investment. As such, the party hopes that investments in such fields may help address other related issues such as unemployment too. Sadly, the Democratic Party does not mention how additional funding would be injected in infrastructure. Instead, the members weigh in on some tools that may be vital in helping Texas to fund infrastructure projects (Schiller, Bruun, & Kenworthy, 2010). The party promises to continue encouraging investments in infrastructure by state and local governments by creating a lasting edition of the Build America Bonds program. Conversely, the Republicans appear unfavorably on using government funds for sidewalks,
The Lone Star state also known as Texas is ranked second in area and population. With a growing population and a decreasing unemployment rate the state has a borderline healthy economy. With an average infrastructure grade and an 8.8 million surplus the state is looking good all around.
Traffic in downtown Austin, Texas is becoming a sever issue and is continuing to become slower and more congested every day. Austin ranks 4th on a list of U.S. cities with the least efficient roadways, and with its remarkable growth rate, the issue can only get worse. After reading numerous articles based on opinions and statements from local city planners and engineers, the best way to see an improvement in the traffic issue is to increase the amount of public transportation in the Austin area. The increase of public transportation would provide fast travel time and would help reduce the amount of money, commuters and locals use on gas by a substantial amount per year. Though many may argue the that we have enough public transportation already, reducing the number of personal vehicles on the road would decrease the amount of bumper to bumper traffic experienced on a daily basis, as well as increase the options for those commuting to the city every day. there are many possible solutions, such as widening the highways or even building them underground, these solutions however are not the most economically correct and productive way to relieve traffic downtown.
Though the Texas' economy has diversified in recent decades, the state's abundant oil and gas resources remain a valuable asset - especially when prices for those commodities are high - that most other states lack. Even if it were possible for other states to replicate these features, the fact that so many Texans have failed to benefit from them - with poverty, low-wage jobs and lack of health insurance all above the national average - makes Texas a less-than-desirable model to
Most individuals are subject to a cognitive bias known as the Status-Quo Bias. In other words, individuals by default would rather stick to their current set of conditions rather than seek change. This is especially true when the change sought is not meant to correct a bad situation, but merely to improve a decent one. In this case, Texas is not currently enough of a hellhole that individuals would actively seek change. Even though polls show that Texans are not keen on secession, these polls only reaffirm the fact that secession is not currently a hot issue that individuals actively think about. If in the event that secession does become a hot issue, individuals will then be able to see the true extent of benefits that secession confers. More
During the great recession in 2007, many Texas citizens believed their dreams were shattered. Even though the great recession had tainted Texas citizen’s lives forever. Still, the Texas economy has grown and is expanding. Texas has remained a top state for employment that is growing, population has increased, and has been ranked number two for the percentage of change in personal income growth by state.
Texas governors are not as powerful as some people think. Their personality and appearance matter the most when being considered for a vote. The governor is seen the most rather the other officials, which is why their personality and appearance is so important. Governors used to be able to serve a 2 year term but that changed in 1974. The service term increased by 2 years. Rick Perry was elected in 2000 and is Texas’ longest serving governor. To be an eligible candidate the aspiring governor should be at least 30 years of age. Usually, the governor is a white, mid-age, male. Over time things changed when Miriam Ferguson and Ann Richards were elected. To be a candidate you must also be a U.S. citizen and at least lived in the state 5
Moreover, my platform for the campaign was to improve the quality of education and provide affordable costs to students. Besides this, I focused on the roads of Texas and their status. The roads are not good enough and are undergoing construction. I am standing on those issues and on reducing the tolls. My platform also considered the advancement in public health. I focused on improving the health services of the people. My agenda is particularly on providing easily accessible medicines and services to the public so that they can be benefitted. ‘Health is wealth’ is my propaganda. Since, my platform is focused on such issues and my agenda have positive impact on the education, health, and transportation, my placement on these committees is justified. It serves my district’s needs. We have less health services and people cannot afford those facilities. Expenses are higher for people. Improving the
Texas has always been an individualistic state. Since the Alamo to the decision to leave the Union and stubbornly retain traditions, morals, and ideas to this day. After the Civil War, Texas went under radical reconstruction. This was a military rule in which Texas functioned under a military government that made a constitution that made the government more centralized, provided compulsory school attendance, and guaranteed a full range of rights for former slaves. By far, this constitution was a great stride forward in civil rights and made the government more efficient. However, white Southerners were extremely angered by this because of their racist attitudes and stubbornness. When reconstruction ended, white Texans quickly took back the
In the United States, there are 3 different political subcultures. These three different political subcultures that make the United States what it is are the individualistic, moralistic and the traditionalistic subcultures. In the great state of Texas, the most common political subculture would have to be a mix between the traditionalistic and the individualistic subculture.
In this essay I will compare and contrast the different legislative agendas of various interest groups involved with the Texas Government. An interest group (also called an advocacy group, lobbying group, pressure group, or special interest) is a collection of members that are determined to encourage or prevent changes in public policy without trying to be elected. The essay will discuss the four kinds of interest groups, trade, professional, single and public, as well as provide one detailed example of each type. It includes examples from the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers, Texas AFT, MADD and TexPIRG interest groups, which are just a few of the many groups in existence out, but it provides an idea of what different types of
Texas has changed in various ways over the course of history. Not only has it changed politically, it has changed culturally, demographically, and more. The transition of Texas from a Democratic primary state to a Republican primary state happened in the 1970s with the elections of a Republican governor and senator. In this paper, I will further discuss the transition of Texas from a Democratic to a Republican state, and share my opinions on how I believe Texas government could stay a majority Republican state.
Nothing that has occurred in the last several years in Texas has been quite as controversial as the new and increased usage of toll roads for new road construction. We have heard many statements that the toll roads are being built as a money-making system for the state (and the Department of Transportation). Statements have also been made to the effect that the state is "selling" the state, one length of roadway at a time; that the current roads could be maintained by the state, with current state funding levels. The main complaint is that the roads of Texas have always been free, and should continue to be free. But are these arguments correct?
“Infrastructure is the four-syllable jawbreaker that governments use to describe the concrete, stone, steel, wires and wood that Americans rely on every day but barely notice until something goes awry (Kelderman).” Due to the state of the economy many lawmakers put the money need to keep infrastructure properly taken care of into things like defense. The federal Clean Water State Revolving Fund, which makes low interest loans to clean up or protect water supplies, has shrunk from more than $3 billion in 1990 to roughly $1 billion in 2007 (Kelderman). The report also suggests that there is an $11 billion dollar shortfall annually needed to bring facilities up to current federal water regulations. As stated in the article “ The State of the Union-Crumbling’, the nation is spending less than 40 percent of the $225 billion needed annually for the next 50 years to maintain the current system of roads, rails and bridges and build enough transportation capacity for a growing population.
This interview will provide a firsthand look from Ray LaHood who was the secretary of transportation during the first Obama administration. This looks at the political views and constraints around rebuilding roads and bridges. There are around 70,000 bridges and thousands of miles of roadways that need repair. One of the main issues is, politicians do not want to spend
A lot of people have been moving to Texas , which has cause the lawmakers and the presidential candidates to put a spotlight on Texas. About 5.9 million people have migrated to Texas between 2005 and 2013, from 5.9 million people about 4.8 million of them came to Texas from other states, which means that the last 1.1 million people came from other countries. In other word about 345 people migrate to Texas per day. Lloyd Potter, a state demographer who work the office that provide the periodic snapshots of how the state is growing, stated that more than half of Texas’s population change is from net migration. Meaning that they are more people coming to Texas than the ones leaving Texas. Between 2013 and 2014, the different between the number of people who came to Texas and the number of people who left Texas for other stats was 154,467. Most people who moved to Texas came from California, Florida, Illinois, and Louisiana. In 2013, about 31,499 people left Texas to go to California, while about 62,386 people left California for Texas. People who moved from California about 80 percent of them were born in the United States. And the majority of the people moving to Texas from