Here is your Morning Brief for March 4, 2015.

Chad Hasty, KFYO.com
Chad Hasty, KFYO.com
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Education Reform

Lt. Governor Dan Patrick along with Senator Larry Taylor announced what the Texas Tribune called, the first round of education reform bills. According to the Texas Tribune, the reforms focused on accountability and student development.

Taken together, the Republicans’ legislative package would both reward the state's high-performing schools and "help children find a way out" of those that are failing, said Taylor, R-Friendswood.

The proposals Taylor described included an A-through-F rating system for public schools; lifting existing limits on online courses; making it easier for high-school students to take courses that count for college credit; updating teacher evaluations; and an "opportunity" school district to oversee the worst-performing schools in the state.

Taylor also said he had filed a "parent empowerment" bill that would drop the number of years a school must be poor-performing for parents to petition for new management from five to two.

School choice and improving early-childhood education were not in the list of items that would be see attention first. However, since Governor Abbott has mentioned both of those items numerous times, it wouldn't surprise me if the Senate takes on those two items later. All in all, this doesn't sound like a bad plan to me.

Constitutional Carry

State Rep. Jonathan Strickland is not backing down from his stance on wanting open carry for everyone whether they are licensed or not. The legislation known as Constitutional Carry has a slim chance of passing, but according the the Star-Telegram, Strickland is determined to have a vote.

Determined to force a vote on the issue, despite strong bipartisan opposition, the Beford Republican formally filed a request this week for a committee hearing on his Constitutional Carry bill, House Bill 195.

“It is past time that Texans have their constitutional right to defend themselves fully restored,” said Stickland. “I believe that ‘shall not be infringed’ is one of the clearest statements in the Constitution and requiring citizens to pay a fee and take a class is definitely an infringement.”

Stickland — a second-term Tea Party conservative and outspoken lawmaker — knows there’s no guarantee a hearing will be called. His proposal faces stiff competition from a plan to allow only licensed Texans to carry handguns openly.

 

I understand what Strickland and supporters of Constitutional Carry want and why they believe we should all be able to carry. In large part, I agree with them. However, it was a slim chance that this bill was going to pass early on but after the actions by some, this bill is dead. It has no chance. Maybe this type of legislation will have a chance in the future buy in order for that to happen, some will have to change how they act.

Other Must Read Links:

These and many more topics coming up on today’s edition of The Chad Hasty Show. Tune in mornings 8:30-11am on News/Talk 790 KFYO, streaming online at kfyo.com, and now on your iPhone and Android device with the radioPup App. All guest interviews can be heard on our KFYO YouTube page after the show and online at kfyo.com.

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