Legislative Reference Library

Current Articles list for July 03, 2014

The Legislative Reference Library produces a weekly list of current journal articles for members of the legislative community. New lists are available most Thursdays at 3pm. The most recent list is below.

"Our gun-shy justices." By Josh Blackman. American Spectator, July/August 2014, pp. 43-45
Argues that, since the United States Supreme Court's landmark 2010 decision in McDonald v. City of Chicago, the court has increasingly declined to review lower court rulings that found gun control constitutional. Includes a list and summary of eight Second Amendment cases from 2010 to 2013.

"Family budget busters: payday and auto title loans are getting more expensive for Texans." By Don Baylor. Center for Public Policy Priorities, May 20, 2014, pp. 1-8
Analyzes trends in payday and automobile title lending in Texas in 2012 and 2013.
See:http://forabettertexas.or ...


"After Kyoto: what can work?" By Pete Spotts. Christian Science Monitor, June 30, 2014, pp. 21-23
Reports on the efforts toward an international agreement to limit the rise of temperature to no more than two degrees by the end of the century. Highlights three developments critical to the success of an agreement — allowing countries to design their own plans without mandated emission cuts, a shorter ratification process, and no peer pressure.

"'Focusing on the moment'." By Nicholas Sakelaris. Dallas Business Journal, June 27, 2014, pp. 4-6
Interviews Gary Kelly, president of Dallas-based Southwest Airlines, on how the repeal of the Wright Amendment on October 13, 2014 will transform the airline's operations. Includes a brief history of the Wright Amendment, passed in 1979 to limit flights out of Love Field Airport.

"State, federal lawmakers consider gas tax increase." By Nicholas Sakelaris. Dallas Business Journal, June 27, 2014, p. 29
Reports federal and state lawmakers are considering a variety of options to increase revenue for highway funds.
Related information at:http://www.corker.senate. ...


"America's crumbling infrastructure: bridging the gap." Economist, June 28th-July 4th, 2014, pp. 23-24
Reports that public infrastructure spending as a share of Gross Domestic Product in the United States has declined to about half that spent in Europe. Notes the shortfall in the federal Highway Trust Fund and how some state governments are raising money to pay for infrastructure projects.

"The future of universities: the digital degree." Economist, June 28th-July 4th, 2014, pp. 20-22
Identifies three "disruptive waves" that threaten to upend traditional methods of teaching and learning: rising institutional costs, changing demand, and competition from digitally-delivered courses. States middle-tier institutions and weaker community colleges are the most likely to lose out to online competitors.

"Migration to the United States: under-age and on the move." Economist, June 28th-July 4th, 2014, pp. 28-29
Discusses the rise in illegal crossings by unaccompanied children, noting the Rio Grande Valley as the hottest spot for crossing the border between the United States and Mexico. Attributes the surge in crossings to instability in Central America and misinformation about American immigration policies.

"The cure for regulation destabilization." By Clyde Wayne Crews. Forbes, June 30, 2014, p. 40
Discusses the latest survey prepared for the Competitive Enterprise Institute on the federal regulatory state, which uncovers the hidden costs of federal regulations. Calculates the costs for Americans to comply with federal economic, environmental, and health and safety regulations at $1.86 trillion in 2013.
Report at: http://cei.org/sites/defa ...


"Global security update: an atlas of internet security." By Kashmir Hill and Byron Acohido. Forbes, June 30, 2014, pp. 51-54
Highlights the growth of one type of cyberthreat — the distributed denial-of-service attack of online networks. Gathers ideas from cyberexperts on how to stem the threats.

"Forest futures in the anthropocene: can trees and humans survive together?" By David Bengston and Michael J. Dockry. Futurist, July-August 2014, pp. 34-39
Presents insights from two futurists for the United States National Forest Service on threats to forests, including wildfires, water issues, deforestation, land use change, and urban encroachment. Discusses reasons for the rise of "mega-fires," as wildfires increase in frequency and intensity.

"A conservative group thinks local." By Alan Greenblatt. Governing, June 2014, p. 9
Looks at the American Legislative Exchange Council's expansion to city and county government.
See:http://www.governing.com/ ...


"Disproportionate-share hospital payment reductions may threaten the financial stability of safety-net hospitals." By Katherine Neuhausen, et al. Health Affairs, June 2014, pp. 988-996
Examines the effect of the Affordable Care Act's reduction of disproportionate-share hospital payments on California's public hospitals. Points out that, because many people will remain uninsured under the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid shortfalls are expected to continue, California's public hospitals will face a greater financial burden in the next decade.

"Ending SNAP subsidies for sugar-sweetened beverages could reduce obesity and type 2 diabetes." By Sanjay Basu, et al. Health Affairs, June 2014, pp. 1032-1039
Discusses how modifying the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to prohibit using SNAP dollars for the purchase of sugar-sweetened beverages could result in reductions of obesity and type 2 diabetes.

"Pedestrian crossing: 50 state survey." Internet Resource, May 30, 2014, pp. 1-13
Summarizes state laws regarding motorists' responsibilities to stop or yield to pedestrians.
See:http://www.ncsl.org/resea ...


"A state official's guide to science-based decision-making." Internet Resource, June 24, 2014, pp. 1-23
Includes recommendations for policymakers to address assumptions, conclusions, and results presented in state public hearing witness testimony and scientific studies.
See:http://knowledgecenter.cs ...


"What fish oil pills are hiding." By David Schleifer and Alison Fairbrother. Issues in Science and Technology, Summer 2014, pp. 23-37
Examines how fish oil supplements come at a great cost to the ecosystems that are home to the fish that are harvested for their oils. Explores how a legislative aide in Maryland worked to raise the issue of the environmental health of the Chesapeake Bay area and how the bay relies on the fish that were being over-harvested.

"Healthy people 2020: a report card on the health of the nation." By Howard K. Koh, Carter R. Blakey, and Allison Y. Roper. JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association), June 25, 2014, pp. 2475-2476
Reviews the initiative, Healthy People 2020, and discusses leading health indicators tracked by the program.
Related information at:http://www.healthypeople. ...


"Public health and agenda setting: determinants of state attention to tobacco and vaccines." By Julianna Pacheco and Graeme Boushey. Journal of Health Politics, Policy, and Law, June 2014, pp. 565-589
Examines factors that contribute to whether state governments develop policies to address emerging health issues. Uses the examples of tobacco and vaccines to illustrate the driving influences of policy development and implementation.

"'Trolls' take a hit from high court." By Tony Mauro. National Law Journal & Legal Times, June 23, 2014, pp. 13, 17
Summarizes recent decision by the United States Supreme Court, Alice Corp. v. CLS Bank International, which clarifies what constitutes a patent-eligible invention.
Related information at:http://www.supremecourt.g ...


"One child, three parents." By Kim Tingley. New York Times Magazine, June 29, 2014, pp. 26-31, 38, 49
Details recent research on mitochondrial-replacement therapy, a procedure that alters the genetic makeup of a human egg using donor mitochondrial DNA from a third person. Discusses the potential medical and ethical ramifications of creating three-parent embryos to cure hereditary diseases and infertility.

"The absolutist." By Jeffrey Toobin. New Yorker, June 30, 2014, pp. 34-45
Profiles Senator Ted Cruz's political background and election to the United States Senate. Describes Senator Cruz as an unyielding debater and the far right's most formidable advocate.

"No waiver left behind." By Lee Posey. State Legislatures, June 2014, pp. 25-27
Reports many states applied for and received waivers from certain provisions in the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). Explains the waivers allowed states more time to help 100 percent of their students achieve proficiency in reading/language arts and mathematics. Considers the consequences for those states that do not meet the conditions. Points out Washington State and California did not receive a renewal of their waivers which meant they returned to the provisions of the original NCLB.

"Did you know?" By Tiffany Dowell. txH2O, Summer 2014, pp. 1-2
Addresses questions about groundwater law in Texas.
See:http://twri.tamu.edu/publ ...


"Is it time for Texas to welcome ASR?" By Danielle Kalisek. txH2O, Summer 2014, pp. 1-6
Considers the cost and advantages of incorporating ASR (aquifer storage and recovery) into the Texas water plan. Notes the San Antonio Water System, as well as the cities of Kerrville and El Paso, currently store excess water in aquifers. Points out using ASR prevents evaporation and the environmental changes which occur when reservoirs are used for water storage. Explains that western states and several eastern states have incorporated ASR as one of their water resources. Quotes Representative Lyle Larson.
See:http://twri.tamu.edu/publ ...

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