Ch. 14: Public Policy

CHAPTER 14: PUBLIC POLICY

Central Ideas: The policymaking process in Texas begins with the emergence of issues and proceeds through five subsequent stages of agenda setting, policy selection, policy enactment, policy implementation, and policy evaluation. One of only seven states with no income tax, Texas relies on a limited revenue base consisting mainly of sales taxes and federal funds to cover its budget. Most of Texas's budget goes to education and health and human services, two policy areas that generate significant debate. Population growth has contributed to policy challenges in supporting facets of the state's infrastructure like transportation and water.

How does Abbott's stance on transportation reflect the views of Texans as indicated in the TTI poll?

He promises more money for transportation, but not from toll roads.

Which of the following health care programs administered by the state of Texas relies heavily on federal funding?

Medicaid

In what way does the policy evaluation stage create a "feedback loop" in the policymaking process?

Official evaluations of enacted and implemented policies often identify new problems, which leads to another round of agenda setting, policy selection, and so on.

How do Texas's per-pupil spending and on-time graduation rates compare to the national averages for these metrics?

Per-pupil spending rates are lower than the national average, while graduation rates are higher.

What is the difference between progressive and regressive taxation?

Progressive taxation has high-income people pay a higher percentage of their income in taxes, while regressive taxation has low-income people pay a higher percentage in taxes.

Which of the following BEST summarizes Texans' attitudes toward the ACA?

Republicans and independents generally oppose it, while Democrats generally support it.

What is the central transportation issue facing Texas today?

Road construction and maintenance has not kept up with population growth and the associated increase of cars on the state's roads and highways.

According to the poll results, what have Texas drivers done in response to traffic congestion?

Texans have not significantly altered their transportation methods or lifestyles in response to this issue.

What deal was struck between house and senate leaders about a car sales tax?

Texans will vote on a constitutional amendment that would dedicate a portion of car sales taxes to the highway fund.

What do Texas drivers think about the performance of transportation agencies, such as the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT)?

The agencies perform well in some functions but lag behind in financial transparency and determining solutions to issues.

Considering state expenditures by function, what is the proportion of spending on health and human services (HHS) to spending on general government operations?

The budget for HHS is around 15 times that of the budget for general government.

In what way does Texas's political culture affect state spending on health and human services?

The state's traditional beliefs in self-reliance and suspicion of the federal government lead it to limit spending on social programs that aid the poor.

Texas's decision to not participate in two key provisions of the ACA will have which of the following results?

There will not be any increase in federal funding of health care for Texans or any increase in health-related services provided by the state.

What does Figure 8 suggest about Texans' attitudes toward traffic congestion?

They recognize population growth as causing traffic problems but minimize the impact that transportation spending would have on addressing such problems.

Why does using local property taxes to fund schools create inequalities across Texas's public education system?

Wealthier districts generate more tax revenues than poorer districts to fund their schools.

What was the policy solution ultimately enacted by the legislature and approved by the voters?

a constitutional amendment to take $2B from the Rainy Day Fund and distribute it via SWIFT and the Texas Water Development Board

In Texas, the combination of population growth and limited spending on social services has contributed to which of the following?

a poverty rate higher than the national average

What is the central water issue facing Texas today?

a water shortage created by a growing population and an extreme drought

Considering state expenditures by category, roughly what portion of the state budget goes to education grants?

about a quarter

Greg Abbott's ad on transportation is an example of what stage of the policymaking process?

agenda setting

If Governor Abbott gave a speech highlighting the large numbers of illegal immigrants crossing into Texas and calling for greater security along the border, which stage of the policymaking process would this represent?

agenda setting

Which of the following would be an example of a progressive taxation scheme?

an income tax that collects nothing from individuals making less than $20,000 per year, 5 percent from individuals making $20,000-$30,000 per year, and 7 percent from individuals making $30,000-$40,000 per year.

Why is it difficult for state government to raise new revenue?

because Texans are generally resistant to raising taxes and would rather cut funds to balance the budget

How should transportation funding be increased, according to respondents?

by dedicating auto sales tax revenue to transportation

What was the goal of legislation that the lawmakers tried (but failed) to pass?

ending the use of toll roads

In the video, Ben Barnes says that besides instituting an income tax, there is only one other option to raise more revenue. What is it?

expanding sales taxes

If the U.S. Department of Transportation provided a grant to Texas to conduct needed highway maintenance and bridge repairs for safety purposes, which category of state revenue sources would this represent?

federal income

What is public policy?

government action that is taken to address a social problem or issue

From 2010 to 2018, how much faster did Texas's population grow relative to that of the nation as a whole?

more than twice as fast

What solution to increased congestion was the LEAST favorable in the TTI poll?

more toll roads

The court challenges over gaps in public-school funding illustrate which step of the policymaking process?

policy evaluation

If school administrators in Texas began redesigning curricula to meet new educational standards adopted by the State Board of Education, which stage of the policymaking process would this represent?

policy implementation

s the Texas Water Development Board makes decisions about how to allocate the money from the Rainy Day Fund, what stage of the policymaking process does this represent?

policy implementation

The legislative actions considered during the 84th Legislature are an example of which stage of the policymaking process?

policy selection

What are the two biggest sources of state revenue?

sales taxes and federal income

Which of the following played a key role in prompting legislative action to address the state's water needs?

the State Water Plan's proposals for funding the state's water needs

Which of the following is the largest single contributor to TxDOT's annual revenue?

the federal government

Rapid population growth in Texas has created difficulties in which of the following policy areas?

transportation and water