Action Update - Issue 63 :: January 20, 2006
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2005 True Texan Award
JANE NELSON
State Senator, Lewisville |
Elected to the Texas Senate in 1992, Senator Jane Nelson is the second highest ranking Republican on the seniority list. She serves as Chairman of the Health & Human Services Committee and a member of the powerful Finance Committee and the Senate Nominations Committee.
By taking courageous stands against the proposed payroll tax, statewide property tax and the ongoing effort to expand gambling in Texas, Nelson won several accolades, including being named "Most Conservative Senator" for the seventh straight time by the Young Conservatives of Texas.
Capitol Inside recently named her the Senate's Most Valuable Player.This session she masterfully overhauled the state's protective services in response to a series of tragedies involving abused children and neglected seniors. She also championed:
- An expansion of the Medicaid fraud reduction program, which will save millions in taxpayer dollars by rooting out waste and abuse.
- A meth watch and drug-endangered child initiative designed to address the scourge of meth amphetamine and other drugs in our communities.
- A parental consent law and ban on late-term abortions with an exception for the health of the mother.
- A school health initiative designed to promote healthy lifestyles and responsible choices among school students.
- A protection for military families on active duty from being penalized if they have to break their lease due to redeployment.
- Legislation requiring that judges give advance notice when considering bail reduction for violent offenders.
- And a newborn screening effort to protect the health of infants.
On a personal note, the Senator and her husband, Mike, own and operate a precision aircraft component manufacturing firm in Denton. This mother of five definitely deserves admiration and gratitude from all Texans for her dedication.
ABC News 20/20
Stupid in America
How Lack of Choice Cheats Our Kids Out of a Good Education
"Stupid in America" is a nasty title for a program about public education, but some nasty things are going on in America's public schools and it's about time we face up to it.
That's the question Stossel examines in his special report: What is it that's going wrong in public schools?
There are many factors that contribute to failure in school. A major factor, Stossel finds, is the government's monopoly over the school system. Parents don't get to choose where to send their children. In other countries, choice brings competition, and competition improves performance.
Stossel questions government officials, union leaders, parents and students and learns some surprising things about what's happening in U.S. schools. He also examines how the educational system can be improved upon and reports on innovative programs across the country. <entire story>
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