WEEKLY REPORT April 27, 2012   Let's raise loan limits at credit unions The No 1 issue for small businesses is having access to capital. It's the difference between success and failure, job growth and unemployment and a successful start-up or a going-out-of-business sign.  (View complete ... Keep Reading

Jay Arnold will be speaking this week in San Diego at the 2012 State Alliance Summit of the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. Jay will speak at a breakout session addressing creative strategies for legislative stewardship. The session will share how Alliances around the country have creatively ... Keep Reading

WEEKLY REPORT April 20, 2012 Increase in poor children alarming One in four children in our community lives in poverty, according to the latest research from the Center for Public Policy Priorities. Instead of improving, the numbers have grown by 8 percentage points over the last decade.  (View ... Keep Reading

WEEKLY REPORT April 13, 2012   Texas oil and gas boom may help ease state budget crunch The combined forces of high oil prices and improved drilling technology have produced a gush of unexpected tax dollars from oil and gas wells across Texas. (View complete article here.)   A million ... Keep Reading

WEEKLY REPORT April 6, 2012 Education backlash can fuel turnover in the Legislature More than a dozen Republicans and Democrats who have sat on school boards are running for the Texas House this year, and a backlash over spending cuts and standardized testing might help them get there. (View ... Keep Reading

WEEKLY REPORT March 30, 2012   Education cuts protested at Capitol rally Sherry Dana's reason for joining a rally protesting cuts in public education spending was summed up by a quote from the Italian poet Dante on a cloth bag slung over her shoulder: "The hottest places in hell are reserved ... Keep Reading

WEEKLY REPORT March 23, 2012 Conservative groups’ mantra for next year’s session: Cut, cut, cut Conservative groups that have set much of the agenda for the Republican-dominated Legislature say the state should aggressively pursue more spending cuts, and not ease reductions approved last ... Keep Reading

WEEKLY REPORT March 16, 2012 Emergency rooms becoming the new dentist’s office Hospital emergency rooms across the panhandle are seeing a growing number of one type of patient they really can't help, dental patients. (View complete article here.)   2012 job outlook is rosier than in ... Keep Reading

My meeting with the Bosnian delegation was very interesting. The 6 educators were principals from high schools around the country. One of the principal's schools was over 400 years old! That was a big reminder to me of how young our country is. The educators were very interested in how to help ... Keep Reading

WEEKLY REPORT March 9, 2012 Students need longer school day to be competitive Economics and education are hopelessly tangled. Grinding poverty hinders many students from succeeding in school. But strengthening our economy and lifting these kids out of poverty demands a well-educated work force. ... Keep Reading