Environment Texas is a citizen based environmental advocacy organization based here in Texas focussed on protecting Texas’ air, water and open spaces from pollution or destruction. The state of Texas ranks among the top for producing toxic air pollutants and also is one of the most anti-regulatory states in the nation.
As an advocacy group, Environment Texas seeks to pursue public policy goals on behalf of its members by influencing the government in its decision making policy on where to disburse tax dollars through public spending programs and creating legislation favourable to its members. According to the textbook used in class, the state of Texas regulates one of the most productive economies in the world with an annual gross state product of $1.3 trillion. The state government’s total spending is $173.5 billion. (p115. Maxwell, Crain, Santos. TX.Gov). One can see why special interest groups lobby so hard to have their voice heard in the state capitol since they want a share of the government spending. They will lobby the government to spend more if need be or they will try and lobby against cutbacks and if under threat from reduced government spending, then they would want to maintain the current spending already allocated to them.
There are various types of interest groups here in Texas. Some are economic interest groups; others are non-economic interest groups, whereas others can be categorized as mixed interest groups. I would categorize Environment Texas as a non-economic interest group since its goal or agenda is in the public interest. The advantages of being involved or having an interest group are that it can mobilize individuals with like minds to participate in activism for a common cause. It also helps educate ...
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...on that might affect them directly or indirectly. Citizens can organize themselves into interest groups so as to protect their interests and their values that they might have in common. It is a way for citizens to get their voice heard in the state capitol. However the ultimate goal of interest groups is to influence government policy.
References
Davis, C. (2012). The Politics of ‘Fracking’: Regulating Natural Gas Drilling Practices in Colorado and Texas. Review Of Policy Research, 29(2), 177-191. Doi:10.1111/j.1541-1338.2011.00547.x
Levine, D. (2014). Google sets roadblocks to stop distracted driver legislation. Retrieved
Maxwell, Crain, Santos. (2014). Tx.Gov student edition http://www.myfoxdfw.com/video?clipId=9726200&autostart=true http://www.statesman.com/news/news/state-regional-govt-politics/capitol-digest-some-lawmakers-meet-with-federal-co/nRYXN/
Interest groups, lobbyists, large corporations, and PACs try to influence the congressional committees' bills so they can have a say in the legislative process. When an interest group hears about a bill that is being debated on in a committee, they try to influence a members vote and they try to get a part of the bill changed. For example, a lobbyist came to me on a bill I proposed on making health care plans have no minimum requirement on benefits the company gives to its patients. He told me about how he did not get the right treatments and tests done on diseases he has and now is suffering badly from them. It was because the health plan did not have to give him anything extra. He changed my mind on the bill, and I changed the bill to setting a minimum standard on benefits given to patients.
Texas went through a great amount of political change from being dominated by the Democratic Party during the 1960s and 70s, from the Republican Party taking over in the 80s. One of the big reasons for this change was due to the political party’s views. Throughout this essay I will discuss the changes of the political stances in Texas as well as the present day factors that affect America.
In the United States, for the last four decades, from Richard Nixon to Ronald Reagan through the two Bush Presidencies, the Republican Party won the White House by amassing large margins among white voters (Lizza.) The state of Texas has been reliably Republican since the 1970s and there are various elements to Texas political culture that can be narrowed down to three essential ideological trends: economic liberalism, or faith in the free market economy, social conservatism, or favoring traditional values and moralism, and populism, or promoting the rights and worthiness of ordinary people (Texas Political Culture.) As a result, the dominant political mood in Texas favors low taxes, minimal government services, and policies that are pro-business. This phenomenon is not static, however, since changing demographics in the state are causing changes in the profile of Texas in reference to electoral politics, among other major issues. This paper will explore different perspectives about the changing demographics of Texas, and where they might lead the state politically, and will present a variety of viewpoints regarding this complex subject.
Texas politics is an interesting ecosystem of power, rules and regulations. Of course, in typical Texas fashion, most of the politics we engage in we do our own way. From governors who stay in office for a decade to our extremely diverse demographics, Texas is extremely unique. This uniqueness of course comes with its critics, benefits, and downsides. This is particularly true with the Texas Court system compared to both the federal courts and many other states.
The government of the state of Texas is a difficult and complicated institution that is composed of many different levels. The question comes in to everyone's mind at one time or another whether or not to trust the government. It could be that people believe that the officials will take advantage of their power, or simply people don't like the idea of being controlled by someone who is not a family member or friend. To avoid this centralized power, the government is divided into stages and this is a reasonable ground for trusting the government. Government runs this state and it does deserve to be trusted.
Texas has a total land area of 261,914 square miles- making it the second largest state in the United States. Combined with a diverse geography, Texas has one of the most varied climates of any state. As the amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere increases year by year, causing an increase in the Earth’s average overall temperature, changes in our climate are inevitable. We will investigate how those changes will affect the life of the everyday Texan - from our water resources, to our cities and why they are important issues that need to be addressed by our society.
The environment and the health of the surrounding population go hand in hand. The Environmental Protection Agency takes on this ever so important mission of protecting them both. The mission statement of the EPA states, “The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Small Business Programs is to support the protection of human health and the environment by advocating and advancing the business, regulatory, and environmental compliance concerns of small and socio-economically disadvantaged businesses, and minority academic institutions (US Enviromental Protection Agency, 2010).” The impact of its mission can be defined clearly as it examines the impact of contamination in the air, the water, and the land on human health.
Political culture is broadly shared values, beliefs, and attitudes about how government and society should function. Gov. Rick Perry speaks supporting strong Texas state government and minimal federal government intervention. Based on Texas’s founding origins, and experiences and orientation toward the marketplace (pro big business), who should participate in government, and the role of government. The three state political culture categories are moralistic, individualistic, and traditionalistic. Texas is a mix of traditionalistic and moralistic according to our textbook. The moralistic New England Puritanism view of the common good, government should promote public good. Individualistic view of government to provide order and protect property
Hydraulic fracturing, commonly referred to as fracking, is a widespread practice in the United States. Fracking is a method used to extract oil and natural gas. Scientists and citizens report detrimental side effects of hydraulic drilling. New York and Vermont have banned fracking statewide. Maryland has set a two year moratorium on fracking, so that more research can be done to show the impacts of fracking on the environment. Nationwide, many other cities and counties have banned fracking as well. All states should look into finding alternative sources of energy, instead of using devastating practices like fracking to extract non-renewable resources.
“By filing a one-page form, some producers can have their oil wells reclassified as gas wells and potentially reap huge tax savings. More such requests are being granted, and the Texas budget might start feeling the pain “(Malewitz, 2015). This is beneficial to higher income level citizens because they end up paying less taxes and keeping even more earnings from their profits. They ending up having even more money to keep to themselves, they do not have to pay a state income tax. A state income tax that could be into use by the state to fund programs for lower income level citizens. This appeals to higher income level people because they would not like to end up helping fund a program that they most likely do not qualify for. They are not worried about funding programs that are dedicated to helping poor communities. For example if someone with a high income level gets sick, they will probably have enough money to visit any hospital of their choice but a low income person will not have enough money to do so and will rely on a local hospital. This is where no state income taxes affect the poor. There is not enough money to fund programs that provide local hospitals with enough money to expand their equipment and
Do they play an important role in our democracy since they claim that they represent many people? There has been a continuing debate over the proper role of interest groups in the United States democracy. Interest groups are organized group of individuals who share the same ideas and their main goal is to influence media, lawmakers, and people with their ideas. On one hand, interest groups members and their leaders assert that they offer crucial information and services to the lawmakers and that lawmakers aren’t experts regarding every bill proposed
With the recent ordeal with Denton’s fracking induced water pollution many are shook to the core with the realizations that there nothing they can do to change the states ruling. Meanwhile, the state knows that they are dancing on the fine line of “pose[ing] a bigger risk of enacting laws that infringe on individual rights” (Renaldi). Especially with their ruling to ban the ban of fracking. Despite the direct harm to the people of Denton. Denton had over 14,000 signatures to end the harmful fracking. 1 “There seems to be an attitude that big state government knows better than the citizens of a city. 2 I just think — conservative or liberal — that is something you don’t do in Texas” ( Roden). In many ways, this was another way the state showed their ever-growing superiority over local governments. They said their reason was because the ban posed ‘infringement’ over private property even with the city ban. However there’s a law that states “ Junked vehicles. Municipal ordinances that provide for the abatement and removal
Essentially, interest groups use many different tactics to accomplish their central goals but this paper will detail 2 of them. The first being lobbying, which is the act of persuading businesses as well as government leaders to help a specific organization by changing laws or creating events in favor of that group. Interest groups use this technique by hiring someone to represent them and advocate their cause to on the behalf of the entire group. These hired representatives usually have more than enough experience within the political field and are able to persuade connections within the government for help with their concerns. This method gets a lot of criticism because although lobbyist offer their input to government officials on pending laws, they only look at what is favorable for their cause. When trying to make a difference you have to not only reflect on your argument but on the side affects of that argument as
Texas is an intricate state with deep roots embedded in limited government authority. Almost all, Texans, favor the limited government between citizens and state. The two most important cultures in Texas are individualistic and traditionalistic culture. Individualistic views are summoned by limited government and that politics are the root of malicious acts, and is usually responded with negative reactions from the community. The individualistic cultures’ vision is egotistical for ones self-interest. The individualistic culture is viewed as priority in private independent business rather that those of the community as a whole. Unlike individualistic views, traditionalistic culture is motioned by conservatism. This cultures vision is supported by the common wealth of society’s privileged. Its beliefs are usually of distrust in its bureaucracy. Traditionalistic culture maintains an obligation to its family hierarchy. The traditionalistic subculture has a lower voting turn out rate compared to the opposition. These distinctive cultures were bestowed upon Texans in the 1800’s, when Texas was changing into a diverse and demographically society. Individualistic and traditionalistic cultures are the outline of ideology and certainty to the way Texas government is administrated. This has a huge impact on the way the Texas structures its government and why people support such a structure. And Texas is viewed as both subcultures.
environmental damage mounting, the practice of fracking has only quietly expanded and profited. This concealed expansion into the nation’s backyard has only