The described piece is a video documentation of Juan Chavez’s interview. The speaker talks about the events that happened in the 1970s in the state of Texas. The maker of this video is a historical project called Civil Rights in Black and Brown (CRBB). Chavez speaks about his time in the La Raza Unida Party, a US political party that centered on the rights of Mexican-American people (Chavez, 2016). This political party was somewhat popular in Texas during the 1970s when Latinos in the US started to become dissatisfied with other existing parties. This interview takes place in 2016 as Chavez recalls his experience and talks about people that marched through the states to the capital to promote their party and speak about the rights of Mexican-Americans.
Main Points
The interviewee talks about the events that happened during the period from 1970 to 1980. In 1975, Chavez along with a number of other activists started to encourage workers to create a union and a charter. Then, this group of people marched to different states every year and promoted their ideas to other people. According to Chavez (2016), they never succeeded. The speaker also recalls himself running for the city council in his home district.
The main point that Chavez explores in this interview is the history of a particular La Raza Unida party chapter, which the interviewee was a part of in the 1970s. He supports his points with various facts about historical events. The author can be considered reliable in his retelling of this story as he was a participant in all activities of the described situation.
Understanding of Audience
This interview is a part of the CRBB collection of videos about the history of the La Raza Unida Party. The intended audience of this video may include activists of the movement as well as curious individuals and historians. The creators of this video are interested in trustworthy historical retellings. Although one cannot assess the viability of all elements discussed in the video, its reliability is not baseless. The interviewers, as well as the speaker, have some knowledge about the presented topic. There is no rhetoric strategy as the interview discusses particular historical events.
Purpose
The creation of this video may have a goal of giving the audience some information on the history of the La Raza Unida party by engaging the participants in these events. The history of this party is significant to the Mexican-American population of the US. The CRBB made this clip to start a discussion about Latinos in the US, especially their fight for rights and opportunities. Furthermore, the speaker talks about his political career, which shows how the place of Mexican-Americans in politics has changed over the years.
Analysis
This video is significant to the Latino population of the US for a number of reasons. First of all, it provides information about the history of the party that was created by and for Mexican-American citizens. The knowledge about the events that are connected to this party can help current activists and historians to evaluate the place of the Latino population. Moreover, the story about the La Raza Unida is told from the point of view of the participant, which allows one to see the events not from an outsider’s perspective but an activist’s side. Such an outlook is vital for empowering the minority population and giving them a chance to speak about their history. This video provides the Mexican-American community with an opportunity to talk about their past and discuss their experience in the US.
The State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness (STAAR) is an assessment program developed by many stakeholders in the education sector for students who are in the third grade to grade eight before they have entered high school.
This program is replaces the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS). In order to conform to the national and international assessment standards, the state of Texas has developed texts which are standardized. They are of two categories and they include the criterion referenced and the norm referenced. This paper helps to explain the validity of the test, its purpose and its effect on the funding mechanism to other districts.
There are many reasons as to why the test is replacing the other tests. To begin with, the other tests are norm referenced. This means that they compare the performance of a specific student against other students. For instance, the student’s results are compared in three categories; above average, on average and below average depending on the number of students in the class.
The performance of the student is thus limited to the classroom level at the expense of the other students who are in other schools. This also locks many students out of high school opportunities due to poor performance in their specific schools. In addition, many schools in Texas are not fully prepared to enter middle level schools due to the poor examination standards (Texas test prep practice test book, 2011).
Secondly, the main purpose of having STAAR is to ensure that the student’s performance has been compared against a standard. Being a criterion based examination, STAAR holds each student accountable for failing to meet the accepted standard. The test is also meant to ensure that the student’s performance has been tested against the available standards of the curriculum.
It thus replaces the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for each grade. The Texas Education Agency planned to ensure that by the year 2030 every state will have reviewed its standards in order to determine the assessed objectives.
Many people such as parents and teachers are opposed to the STAAR tests with reasons such as that the students may fail the examinations because they are harder than the TAKS. The parents are on the other hand oblivious of the fact that the examinations will be of high standards.
The purpose for having achieved this standard is to ensure that the student’s performance has been compared against the general standards of the state. Moreover, the STAAR will be more rigorous and standard than any other test in the history of Texas. The examinations will be based on accountability system for the students and the teachers to test whether the students have accomplished a specific task (Bessette, 2011).
Career and college readiness is also the other objective making of the STAAR. Although the focus of the other tests was ensuring that students passed the internal tests and that they were above average. These tests are different in that they test the student’s knowledge and skills and focus on preparing the students for the future.
STAAR thus presents a comprehensive program which incorporates the internal standards of the state with the international standards of student preparedness. Although the committee for test preparation considered improvement of the standards, it also sought the chance to make education in Texas to be of high quality (Pugh, 2007).
There are many changes which will be reviewed in the new programs for examination testing and these include the increased assessment for many grades. This will be done by increasing more useful and important items which will be used to ensure that the general skills and knowledge for the students has been tested.
This kind of tests will also be of high standard than the TAKS due to the fact that more rigorous items will have been increased. Apparently, not only will the student’s performance be tested but the skill acquisition level will also be tested in this new tests. Higher level of competence will also be required so as to ensure that students pass these tests to their maximum requirements (Brown, 2010).
There is also a general misconception that the STAAR funding will be higher than the TAKS but the reality is that the funding will be much reduced. This means that the other states will receive sufficient funds for their welfare and also ensure that there are enough resources to support the education sector.
This is because the testing will be done for students who are grade 8 and this won’t be done in many times a year thus cutting down the imminent costs of funding the educational activities. Furthermore, the committee has also proposed software which helps to mark the examination thus ensuring that the human labor is reduced when allocating marks for the students.
In order to have quality achievement as a goal in preparation of the STAAR, the Texas Educational Agency (TEA) has stated that the new tests will be longer and that they will require high level thinking than any other test in the history of education. There will be open ended questions which will give students a platform to answering without having to choose from specified choices.
Proficiency of grammatical knowledge will thus help the students to answer the tests using their own knowledge as they have covered in the curriculum. In addition, there will be less time allocated for each question and this makes the tests tougher than even the TAKS (Pugh, 2007).
There are many critics to the STAAR test starting with the teachers, students, parents and even the teachers unions. This is because they believe that the new tests will be the end of the course examinations which are done in the system of the TAKS.
On the other hand, they do not understand that the examinations are based on the scores which are cumulative over the years from sophomores to upperclassmen who finish their eighth grades. Despite of the increasing criticism against the tests, all the stakeholders should be taught that the new examinations will help to improve the educational standards in Texas and increase student motivation as they bridge to colleges from high school (Brown, 2010).
In conclusion, STAAR is a new examination program which has been developed by the Texas Educational Agency to replace the existing program- the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS). STAAR is a criterion based test and this means that the student’s performance are compared against the general education standards in Texas.
Although STAAR are tougher than any other form of examination, they test the students on their college preparedness and also help to conform to the national and international standards. To sum up, the long term objective of the STAAR is career and college readiness.
Reference List
Bessette, Joseph M. (2011). American Government and Politics: Deliberation, Democracy and Citizenship, Texas Edition. Wadsworth Pub Co.
Brown, L. C. (2010). Practicing Texas politics. Boston, MA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning.
Pugh, S. M. (2007). TAKS Texas high school social studies exit exam. Hauppauge, NY: Barron’s Educational Series. Texas test prep practice test book: Grade 4. (2011). United States: Test Master Press.
In contemporary society the relations are based on the principles of keen rivalry – you have to prove the whole world that you are better than the rest of people. Each day presents us a new challenge. The rivalry is extremely high and it is rather difficult to prove your competitiveness. Under such conditions, the significance of knowledge raises day by day and only the good specialists can feel themselves relatively safe. The conclusion is obvious – you have to become one of the best specialists in your sphere to make a successful career. Becoming a professional is impossible without a good basis which can be only given by a proper education. The educational system is very important for each state, though in the USA there was a big decrease of its funding, which causes a great problems in the educational sphere and to find the solution of that problem is one of the main questions nowadays.
I believe that the problem of education is one of the major Texas problems nowadays. The great number of the speculations about it by different political forces underlines its importance and actuality. The educational issues become one of the most frequently mentioned in the 2014 election campaigns. The attention of millions of Americans is attracted to it.
In my opinion one of the main problems of Texas education system is the scarcity of means. The government “slashed school funding by $5.4 billion, making it painfully impossible to meet the higher standards” (Stanford para. 7). This is the biggest reduction in funding since the World War II. Such a great decrease could not pass unheeded. The first to feel it were the teachers, whose overall income composed 1000$ less than the year before. This is a big problem, cause as a result, the great number of them had to leave the field of education and focus their efforts on something else, trying to find a well-paid job. In its turn it influenced the performance level of the pupils, decreasing it significantly.
It is my strong conviction that the decision of that problem should be find immediately. One of the possible solutions can be the reconsideration of the financial policy of the state. The education system should not be financed on leftovers. Though the funding should be found at the expense of some other sphere, I think it should be done at all accounts. The reduction may touch the armament industry, as the biggest part of the budget accounts for it. Constant military operations in the foreign states bust the budget. In my opinion, the war needs should be replaced on the second place and the change in the assignment will lead to the recovery of the education system. The understanding of the necessity of that step can save the future of our children and the state, because the education system is systematically important for its development.
Having outlined the existing problem and its possible solution, we should also discuss the possible consequences of ignoring this question. Being the core of any state, the education system plays a vital part in its functioning. The protraction in solving this problem will lead to the lowering of the educational standards and to the gradual degradation of the whole nation, which will make the further development of the state impossible.
Texas is the second-largest state in the United States, and its significant role in the politics of the entire country is evident. It occupies the second place in the population endowment criterion among other states. Its importance for the agricultural and farming sector cannot be underestimated. In addition, it presents a crucial economic and industrial center. Despite all the aforementioned strong points and advantages of this region, there are considerable issues in the context of education, which should be addressed urgently. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to review the most serious problems in this field, make predictions on the future development on this base, and propose appropriate solutions.
Although the rate of public-school enrollment is one of the highest in the country, there are multiple concerns in the sphere of education in Texas. One of them regards the fact that adolescent pregnancy appears to be a widespread event. The reason for that is the absence of sex education in the school curriculum. Therefore, students lack essential information on pregnancy prevention and safety. It should be taken into consideration that there is a likelihood of significant aggravation of the situation unless an appropriate subject is established. In addition, in the long term, it may result in an increase in children living in orphanages. For this reason, it is evident that sex education should definitely be an integral part of the school program.
Another pressing concern for Texas is a low percentage of the population over the age of 25 with high school diplomas. Moreover, Texas ranks among the last ten states on the criterion of high school graduation rates. Such statistics may lead to negative consequences in the future, such as the lack of competent specialists in the fields, which require considerable mental workload, specific knowledge, and thorough preparation. This concern may also impact political life, as it is crucial to supply decent candidates in order to maintain the democratic regime. The lack of appropriate education may affect the extent of involvement of the population in political issues.
Furthermore, a low number of citizens with finished school education may affect the general cultural context among the population, which may lead to an increase in criminal activity. Consequently, the necessity to stimulate the students to continue their education path is undeniable. A sufficient solution could be the establishment of some privileges for entering colleges and universities and discounts for the education payments for those who have received high grades. This measure would motivate citizens to attend pieces of training of high quality and be determined to create a successful career path.
The low average teacher salary is a concern, which should be taken into account as well. In order to prompt changes in the field of education, it is essential to provide employees with decent working conditions. When they feel that their labor is appreciated, they tend to be more motivated to improve their performance, and salary may present an important issue in this context. Unless this problem is addressed, there will not be those who are willing to teach at all, as this occupation may lose its prestige. Therefore, the government should increase the funding on this aspect, as this measure will allow improving the situation.
In conclusion, there are multiple issues in the sphere of education in Texas. The most pressing ones are the lack of sex education, a low percentage of the population graduating from high schools, and inappropriate average teacher salaries. Sufficient measures in this field should be taken urgently in order not to aggravate the situation and to provide the future generation with a decent level of knowledge.
The K-12 educational policy is the broadest since it covers children’s education from preschool to almost adulthood. This essay will review and comment on the policy of St. Mark’s School in Texas. The educational institution complies with the K-12 policy and is positioned as a school for boys. The academic component is divided into three sections, elementary school, middle school, and high school. The principal contributors are teachers, administrators, students, psychologists, and the government. The education positioning at every stage of life is essential because age-specific approaches must be unique, and school policies must be modern and tolerant.
Primary school students go through a rigorous academic curriculum and personal growth at a very young age. Strictness goes through the general training program, a thorough check. However, children can be at unconventional development levels, so they do not consistently achieve success in the learning process (Cartwright, 2019). Juvenile children have a flexible mind and quickly absorb all the information offered. According to Serpell and Esposito (2016), extracurricular learning and activities can help students achieve unity, but there is not enough evidence for this theory. According to primary school regulations, leadership is developed among the youngest children (Darver, 2021). Success in this matter can be achieved by showing examples of teachers who must be qualified and tolerant (Harris et al., 2016). Children in primary school receive the basic knowledge that is mandatory for daily life development; therefore, the stage is vital in the individual’s evolution.
The middle and high school curriculum is organized by department and provides more capacity for maneuvering. At this stage, teachers need to periodically revise their views and ideas for achieving effectiveness since adolescence is considered difficult age (Anagnostopoulos et al. 2016). St. Mark’s School meets this criterion, while “Teachers work to instill an enthusiasm for learning, independent and critical judgment” (St. Mark’s School in Texas, 2021). The secondary school has a system of standardized tests and homework and assignments. The site does not designate the updating and rationalization of these processes. According to Spillane et al. (2019), the political component can provide an educational, organizational structure. It means that schools need to rethink their assessment methods. St. Marx Middle and High School is trying to revise to engage the needs of adolescents, but some provisions may be adjusted.
The addition of classes aimed at students with special needs may enhance the honor in the educational institution’s policy. This children’s category receives more and more attention in the current realities because their number is growing. It is necessary to use a specialized general education policy (Norwich, 2019). The school positions itself as being tolerant of race and culture but does not explore this topic concerning children with disabilities, and it seems to be weird. This category may not lag far behind, catch up with ordinary students and live an entire life. For example, there are various programs to improve performance in case of problems with reading and speaking problems. In a study by Hulme et al. (2020), the outcome in children with disabilities is manifested through targeted intervention languages. Additionally, systematic and compulsory professional development can be added to educational policy. It will help teachers achieve personal growth and project it onto students. This process will significantly encourage children with special needs. All changes are necessary, so it is essential to follow the current rules.
References
Anagnostopoulos, D., Lingard, B., & Sellar, S. (2016). Argumentation in Educational Policy Disputes: Competing Visions of Quality and Equity. Theory Into Practice, 55(4), 342–351.
Cartwright, N. (2019). What is meant by “Rigour” in evidence-based educational policy and what’s so good about it? Educational Research and Evaluation, 25(1–2), 63–80.
Harris, A., Jones, M., & Adams, D. (2016). Qualified to lead? A comparative, contextual and cultural view of educational policy borrowing. Educational Research, 58(2), 166–178.
Hulme, C., Snowling, M. J., West, G., Lervåg, A., & Melby-Lervåg, M. (2020). Children’s language skills can be improved: Lessons from psychological science for educational policy. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 29(4), 372–377.
Norwich, B. (2019). From the warnock report (1978) to an education framework commission: A novel contemporary approach to educational policy making for pupils with special educational Needs/Disabilities. Frontiers in Education, 4, 2–10.
Serpell, Z. N., & Esposito, A. G. (2016). Development of executive functions. Policy Insights from the Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 3(2), 203–210.
Spillane, J. P., Seelig, J. L., Blaushild, N. L., Cohen, D. K., & Peurach, D. J. (2019). Educational system building in a changing educational sector: Environment, organization, and the technical core. Educational Policy, 33(6), 846–881.
The Texas STEM education toolkit provides a variety of insights and suggestions in regard to the current implementation of STEM within classrooms. First, the importance of awareness and engagement is highlighted. As suggested by the Texas Education Agency, this can only be achieved through a cooperative effort of educational organizations and community members. In the case of students within schools, this would require parental engagement, specifically with STEM themes, activities, and events. This component of the report is vital as it suggests that extracurricular or additional activities are vital in cementing strong STEM skills among students. As such, efficient management and organization of relevant programs, tools, and experiences are necessary for educational organizations and facilities. As such, the resources provided by the Texas Education Agency are informative and instructive in elements that contribute to improved STEM awareness. Two specific components are especially prominent and will be discussed in this reflection. First, the elimination of misconceptions is vital in outlining programs that are direct and prioritize clarity. Second, the toolkit describes modes of thinking, with design thinking being vitally relevant to the administration of STEM programs.
Misconceptions about STEM can be substantial and can directly affect the ways in which STEM is integrated into educational life. As such, addressing these misconceptions is essential for the introduction of STEM topics to students. The toolkit provided by the Texas Education Agency highlights the most prominent misconceptions and accurate and clear responses to them (Texas Education Agency, n.d.). The first addresses whether all elements of STEM are taught as equal subjects. The toolkit successfully illustrates that all STEM subjects are really deeply inter-connected and STEM-focused educational activities prioritize the development of thought processes. It is also vital to note that STEM-based programs are often centered on problem-solving and challenge-driven tasks and experiences. However, as the toolkit explains, such challenges come in a great variety and not all STEM-focused processes are driven by complex problem-solving. The most common misconception that is harmful to STEM in school is the belief that STEM subjects may only be introduced within high school classrooms. In fact, the toolkit proposes that it is essential for STEM subjects to begin much earlier in order to increase students’ preparedness. The analysis and discussion of these misconceptions are important parts of the report as they directly relate to many of the issues that may appear within STEM-focused class programs.
Design thinking refers to a methodology that is creative and user-centered in nature. It presents an alternative approach to problem-solving to a more common mathematical and engineering approach. The central elements of the thinking method include empathy, context, creativity, insight, rationality, and the analysis of feedback (Texas Education Agency, n.d.). Design thinking may often be inserted into programs or tasks unknowingly, but using it intentionally can be very beneficial for furthering STEM education. Much like other methodologies, design thinking is still focused on a solution and relevant actions in order to engage in problem-solving. However, these results may achieved through methods that rely more deeply on imagination, logic, and intuition. This form of confronting STEM-based challenges may be more efficient for younger students or those who prefer alternative approaches. It reflects the Engineering Design Process by following a similar path that includes empathizing, defining, considering, prototyping, and testing solutions. The design thinking method can thereby benefit the development and performance of STEM-based programs and events.
The State of Texas budget makes use of various funds to organize its spending and income. These funds include the capital projects fund, debt service fund, and special revenue fund, further divided into smaller funds like the historical commission project funds or the texas mobility fund. This paper will examine one of these sub-funds for each of the three funds listed and their use in state government projects.
Capital Projects Fund: Historical Commission Project Funds
The Texas Historical Commission Project Funds are the constituents of the Texas Capital Project Funds. They are used for the repair and renovation of courthouses and other historical sites. For example, as part of Round X of the Texas Historic Courthouse Preservation Project, $4,682,610 was awarded to Marion County Courthouse to “fully restore the exterior and interior public spaces of the building to its original appearance and configuration” (Round X, 2019). Recent non-courthouse beneficiaries include the Varner-Hogg Plantation and the San Felipe de Austin Historical Site.
Debt Service Fund: Texas Mobility Fund
One of the Debt Service Funds in Texas is the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Texas Mobility Fund. It is used for “the construction, reconstruction, acquisition, and expansion of state highway projects” (Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, 2019, p. 217). It is also used to help fund publicly owned toll roads and other public transportation projects, such as the streetcar restoration project in El Paso.
Special Revenue Fund: Available School Fund
The Available School Fund is used to supplement the state’s Permanent School Fund by supporting public free schools in various ways, such as providing payments to school districts based on average daily attendance over the prior year. As of the fiscal year of 2017-2018, this rate was $206.566 (Texas Education Agency, 2019). The fund also supplies textbook purchases for those school districts. It is also one of the sources of funding for the Foundation School Program.
References
Round X. (2019). Web.
Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. (2019). State of Texas comprehensive annual financial report for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2018. Austin, Texas: Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts.
Texas Education Agency. (2019). Per capita rates 1949–1950 through 2017–2018. Web.
Several statistics were found after analyzing PEIMS Financial Reports for the period from 2021 to 2022. Speaking about total district revenue for Alief independent school district, it was determined that this figure is about $408,697,695 for the General Fund category (Texas Education Agency, 2022). This financing aspect is partially different for All Funds, which is $436,977,695 (Texas Education Agency, 2022). It should be borne in mind that this difference is determined by what financing parameters are included in these categories. The revenue per student was determined using these data, which are $10,056 and $10,752, respectively (Texas Education Agency, 2022). It is worth noting that this indicator is significantly higher than the national average. Consequently, these indicators allow us to determine the financial capabilities of the educational institution. Based on these values, it is possible to decide on the concentration of resources in financing educational activities.
Local and State Sources
Considering the percentage of the revenue from local sources, it should be noted that this indicator is 42.39% for the General Fund and 39.65% for All Funds. Concerning State Operating Funds, where this indicator is 52.44% and 49.08%, respectively, local resources are slightly lower (Texas Education Agency, 2022). Therefore, it is worth paying attention to the fact that these categories form the basis of the financing of educational institutions. Furthermore, there is a third category, which reflects the federal revenue amount. This indicator is 4.36% for the General Fund, which is a reasonably low indicator (Texas Education Agency, 2022). This is determined by the fact that, in reality, it is 10-13%. Several reasons for this difference should be highlighted. This is determined by the All Funds category which includes an expanded number of financing aspects. These are often tuition, state appropriations, restricted income and expenses, direct and indirect research, gifts, and endowment. Thus, these are optional and additional categories that significantly expand the district’s financial capabilities.
Fund Balance
The difference between a fund’s assets and liabilities is referred to as the fund balance in accounting. Fund balance reflects the net cash after all revenues have been deposited and all costs have been paid for cash-based institutions. One of the main objectives for developing a fund balance strategy is to provide adequate cash flow to satisfy operating requirements. Governments keep an unrestricted fund balance of at least two months’ worth of revenues or 16.7%. Considering the report, it can be found that Total Operating Expenditures amount to about $430,651,732 (Texas Education Agency, 2022). Assessing this indicator, it should be noted that the fund’s balance is negative and amounts to $21,954,037 (Texas Education Agency, 2022). Therefore, it can be concluded that the district has many obligations that current funds and funding sources cannot cover. To mitigate present and future risks, governments must ensure constant levels of financial balance. It manifests itself in income deficits and unexpected expenditures as well as the need to maintain steady tax rates. In most circumstances, fund balance debates should center on a government’s general fund.
Because the General Fund is the primary fund through which most operations are funded, including state aid and municipal taxes, the fund balance of the General Fund is crucial. The quantity of unassigned fund balance is a significant factor used by rating organizations when evaluating school bonds. Bond-rating organizations view unassigned fund balances as an indication of a school district’s financial resilience and express concerns when fund balances decline. Government fund balances do not necessarily reflect cash on hand or funds available for spending.
Expenditures by Function
Analyzing the category of Total Operating Expenses by Function, the viewer can find several spending criteria that are important or, on the contrary, may seem irrational. In this case, a clear example is the cost of School Leadership, which is about $30,423,278 or 7.06% of the total (Texas Education Agency, 2022). This indicator ranks third in the list of expenses and has a reasonably significant amount of funds. It should be noted that leadership development is quite an important aspect that accompanies the development of the competitiveness of an educational institution. However, several categories can be defined as much more critical and significant, but much fewer funds are allocated for their maintenance. An example is Health Services, $7,489,301, and Curriculum & Staff Development, $5,549,472 (Texas Education Agency, 2022). These expenditure items make up a relatively insignificant percentage; however, a much larger amount of finance can be allocated for them.
This is determined by the fact that these categories are important enough to create a successful educational institution. Another category that caused some surprise is Transportation, for which $17,136,687 or 3.98% was allocated (Texas Education Agency, 2022). It should be noted that in this case, a significant amount of finance is allocated, which is difficult to determine objectively. On the other hand, we should consider the Instruction category, which accounts for the vast majority of the district’s expenses – $264,785,995 or 61.48% (Texas Education Agency, 2022). In this case, it is understandable why a significant amount of money is spent. However, it is necessary to analyze in much more detail what exactly the funds were spent on. It is possible that several options could make it possible to reduce such spending and direct funds to other categories.
According to (Snyder, 2008), stimulus package is the funds spent by a government or measures put on tax payments to help in reviving its depressed economy. The government of United States has undergone a major recession and is therefore employing a stimulus package to revive it. This package will cut on the amount of taxes paid by Americans which will result to increased demand for goods and services thereby boosting American economy. The package that has been passed through the stimulus bill amounts to seven hundred and eighty seven billion dollars. This money is supposed to be distributed accordingly to the most affected areas of American economy. Texas is one of the states expected to receive a share of funds in this stimulus package which will help it revive its economic situation.
Ways in Which Stimulus Package Will Help Texas
The funds in this package will be in form of cuts on tax payments which will then be divided among several areas of Texas Economy one of them being housing. The package is expected to allow those Texans purchasing houses or cars get a tax credit of an average of eight thousand dollars which should not be refunded to the government. However, even if this amount accounts for a small section of the total cost of houses, it will still assist those purchasing houses and on the other hand increase demand for house purchases. Though some Texans doubt whether this will have an immediate effect on housing industry, they agree that the sale of houses will considerably increase. According to Goldwasser, a realtor in one of Texas’ real estates supports the expected positive effect of stimulus package as he has already figured out some changes in the market for real estates. He supports his observation by saying that, a number of houses have already been constructed to cater for increasing demand for houses. This increase in demand is primarily because of the provision of tax credits for those wanting to buy houses which will affect Texas’ economy positively.
Another area that will be covered by the package is energy, where part of the funds in this package will be used to create an environment of clean energy for Texans. They will be provided with tax credits which will help them weatherize their houses. Weatherizing of houses will involve improving levels of efficiency of energy in their homes. It will also offer training programs where people will be trained on how to conserve energy. It is also expected that, the package will cater for health services where Texas’ workers who benefit from unemployment checks will be considered for Medicaid. This is a program that offers medical care to Americans who earn low incomes but this stimulus package might also include children and other citizens with higher earnings. Out of the fifteen dollars allocated to cater for health care provision, Texas will get nine hundred and fifty two million dollars. A subsidy will also be accorded to those workers who might have lost their jobs so that they are able to keep the medical care plans they previously had with their former employers. (Snyder, 2008)
(Snyder, 2008) found that, broadband will get a share of this package where some funds will be allocated to its deployment in Texas. This comes as a result of the current government’s consideration of internet to be as important as other infrastructure such as highways, to Texans. Funds allocated for extension of broadband services will be distributed to companies so as to assist in providing internet services to Texas areas with no access as well as those with poor internet services. However, several Texans have questioned this particular allocation arguing that, other companies have already deployed these services to a large portion of Texas and that, grants to deploy more internet services in the same area would not be appropriate. On the other hand, another group of Texans disagree with such critics as they regard the ninety dollars monthly pay for the available satellite broadband to be very expensive for quite a large number of lowly paid consumers.
According to (Snyder, 2008) this particular stimulus package will also cater for Texas jobless population because; a share that amounts to five hundred and fifty five million dollars has been allocated to them. This amount is supposed to be shared among the unemployed as their unemployment benefits and will be distributed in form of twenty five million dollars in benefit checks provided to them on weekly basis. The increased checks are supposed to flow throughout 2009 and this will not only benefit the unemployed but also the whole economy of Texas in form of cash flow. The formula is expected to work because; when the unemployed are provided with these funds, it is almost certain that they will spend it immediately thereby increasing cash flow in the economy. This package will also offer some additional useful measures to Texas’ jobless population, by including an increase of the period that the unemployed are expected to enjoy unemployment benefits. An average of thirty three more weeks has been added to the regular period and this extension of benefits is expected to continue throughout 2009.
Another additional measure through the stimulus package will involve a reduction in the amount that is taxed from unemployment benefits, in order to leave Texas’ jobless population with as much money as possible. However, Perry who is the Governor representing Texas turned down the package’s share allocated to serve as unemployment benefits for Texas jobless population which resulted to a heated argument between him and President Obama as well as other Texans who felt that his decision was political. Texans who are against Perry’s decision argue that, he is becoming selfish since he only wants to play political games with funds that are supposed to be helping Texas’ jobless population. However, those supporting him argue that, Texas’ failure to accept unemployment benefits will save it from paying back funds that may be required later to repay the amount being used in this particular stimulus package. In the process of implementing this stimulus package, American government has shown interests in running some companies such as general motors so as to make the proposed programs a success. This is not expected to take place directly but in form of bail outs. Some funds of the package have been distributed to selected companies among them being Citibank and general motors, which will allow taxpayers to monitor as well as question on the operations of these companies. However, the government might fail to run such companies through bail outs as they might turn out to benefit some individuals rather than the American economy as a whole.
Conclusion
It’s therefore evident that, the package will be of great help to Texas and its residents as it will help in reviving the depressed economy. However, some allocations of this package have been questioned like that of bailing out various companies. This practice may not work since some companies might mismanage the funds by increasing their salaries and/or excessive advertisements instead of increasing their production. Texans should therefore give the stimulus package a chance for trial because; it is promising to be a solution to the current economic crisis. (Snyder, 2008)
References
Snyder S. (2008): Economic Budget Outlook; Fiscal Years, 2000-2009: Congressional Budget Office.
Texas and Massachusetts are two states in the US whose roles in the national economy cannot be ignored. They make significant contributions to the national economy and political landscape. Taxation and government spending are two of the most important elements that determine election and national debate in the US (“Official General Election Results for United States President” 3). The case applies to the two states. To this end, it is noted that opinion-makers in Texas and Massachusetts have divergent views on the economy. The sharp divide is especially evident with respect to the fiscal budget.
The author of the current essay evaluates some of the economic and political perspectives held by leaders in Texas and Massachusetts. Three major issues are discussed. In the first instance, a comparison is made between the two states with respect to local budgets and the preferences of the residents. The second issue relates to the political perspectives associated with the two regions.
In this regard, opinions on government spending and taxation are discussed. For many years, the number of elements in the national economy has determined how voters exercise their roles. Taxation and government spending is one of them. Finally, the author compares state spending, tax revenue per capita, medical healthcare cover, and spending per capita. Other economic issues compared include welfare programs, education spending, and unemployment benefits.
Texas and Massachusetts: A Comparative Analysis of Economic Preferences among the Citizens
Massachusetts is home to an estimated 6.3 million people (United States Census Bureau 23). Texas, on the other hand, has approximately 27.6 million residents. The two states hold differing opinions on the political front. In this regard, citizen preferences determine the election and removal from office of an individual. To a large extent, the political and economic values held by a person seeking an elective post determine their possibilities of getting elected (Fisher 82).
For instance, when the electorate seeks tax cuts and increased spending, an official who holds similar views is likely to be elected into office (Internal Revenue Service 5). Various aspects of American public life are largely determined by economic preferences on the part of the citizens. Statistics from in the country indicate that in both states, economic preferences touch on spending on healthcare, education, and other public services.
Preferences for Government Spending in Texas and Massachusetts
Government spending can be evaluated from the perspective of elections. Statistics pertaining to election results and voting patterns show that Texas is a predominantly conservative state (“Official General Election Results for United States President” 7). In American society, conservative voters largely identify with military spending and other infrastructural expenses. On the other hand, Massachusetts is a liberal society. Most liberals identify with the Democratic Party, prefer spending on healthcare and other welfare initiatives. In this regard, the government expenditure, in the two states, varies depending o the political mood.
A previously mentioned, citizen preferences are reflected in the voting patterns of a given area. Leaders who occupy elective posts are drawn from the pool of individuals subscribing to specific values (Fisher 45). The policies formulated by such leaders are usually in consonance with what their parties and supporters are promoting at the federal level (United States Census Bureau 8). In this regard, government spending is determined by public opinion.
In both states, there is a consensus that public expenditure needs to be reduced. However, the point of divergence is with respect to the avenues of expenditure for the remaining funds. For instance, most of the citizens in Texas prefer government spending to be channeled to military and immigration reforms (Internal Revenue Service 3). On the other hand, Massachusetts residents are of the opinion that government spending should focus on welfare initiatives.
The citizens are in support of such projects as health insurance and social security (Fisher 99). They are convinced that spending on military and immigration has little or no impact on the welfare of the citizens. Consequently, it emerges that public preferences are the main factors behind the direction taken by state elections in the respective states. Statistics pertaining to voting patterns create a clear image of how the electorate’s preferences determine winners and losers in any election (“Official General Election Results for United States President” 8).
The just-concluded ‘mid-term’ elections provide an insight into the role of personal choices in relation to political processes. For example, in the Texas gubernatorial race, the governor championed for reduced public spending on welfare issues. The Republican Party’s policies were against increased funding to immigration reforms. In Massachusetts, the state elections were decided on the basis of the citizens’ preference for the Republican governor.
Massachusetts is a predominantly blue state. As a result, the election of a Republican governor sends a message that the priorities put in place in relation to government spending are not in agreement with the demands of the people. Consequently, opinions on tax and public spending in Texas and Massachusetts are largely similar (Fisher 45).
A Comparison of State Expenditure in Texas and Massachusetts
State budgets are spent on a number of items. The various expenditure options for the two states are outlined as follows:
State Spending
Texas has a higher overall state spending compared to Massachusetts. Official government records indicate that during the 2014 financial year, the latter spent $90,464. On its part, the former spent $249912 (NASBO 1).
Tax Revenue per Capita
The tax revenue per capita in Massachusetts has always been higher than that in Texas. Records indicate that the trend has persisted since 1977. Currently, the figures stand at $4,342 for Massachusetts and $3,321 for Texas (NASBO 3).
Spending on Medicaid
It is another major public expenditure. Interestingly, Texas has a higher spending rate on this vote compared to Massachusetts. Presently, the spending is at 6% and 3.8%, respectively (Kaiser Family Foundation 3).
Spending on Education
Massachusetts spends more on education compared to Texas. Estimates stand at $13368 and $8654, respectively (NASBO 6).
Unemployment Benefits
Texas spends 3% of the state budget on unemployment benefits, while Massachusetts spends 5.2% on the same (NASBO 3). From this analysis, it is clear that Massachusetts spends more on welfare compared to Texas.
Conclusion
Texas and Massachusetts provide a clear picture of state expenditure with respect to the various items prioritized in the budget. What emerges from this paper is that state spending is determined by public interests (Internal Revenue Service 3).
The figures in section 4 of this paper suggest that most government expenditures in both states are determined by initiatives revolving around public interests like education and healthcare. Consequently, an evaluation of economic indicators should focus on issues to do with citizens’ preferences in relation to spending. The reason is that such opinions are important determinants of political and economic developments in any state.
Works Cited
Kaiser Family Foundation. 2015 State Health Facts. Web.
Fisher, Ronald. State and Local Public Finance. 3rd edn. 2007. London: Thomson South-Western. Print.