Public Policy

Public Policy

governments response to public issues

rationality in policy making 

assumes logistics follow rational ideals besides —> incomplete info, political pressures, time constraints, human biases

texas education spending

ranked low nationally, heavy reliance on local property taxes

equal protection clause

14th Amendment used to strike down discriminatory laws and expand civil rights (e.g., race, gender, sexuality)

uninsured texans and healthcare

texas has highest uninsured rate, did not expand medicaid

public education funding sources

local property taxes, state funding, federal funds

origins of welfare policy

began with New Deal, texas historically limited welfare

Gilmer Aikins law

Passed in 1949 to reform Texas education —> Standardized curriculum, Created TEA (Texas Education Agency), Increased teacher pay

poverty definition

Based on federal poverty thresholds considering household size and income

medicaid

Joint federal–state program providing health coverage for low-income individuals, Texas has strict eligibility rules for adults.

policy implementation

Carrying out laws via agencies, Success depends on bureaucratic capacity, clarity of legislation, and local cooperation

Most prevalent source of health coverage in Texas

Employer-provided insurance