Policy Matters

On August 3, a 21 year old man shot and killed 22 people at a Walmart in El Paso, Texas.  After his arrest, he reportedly told investigators that his goal was “to kill as many Mexicans as possible” unquote.   There is also evidence, from social media and elsewhere, that the shooter was motivated by hatred of immigration, especially by Mexicans.    What does this shooting tell us about the current national debate over immigration?    What role has divisive rhetoric – from the President on down – played in encouraging violence?   And how does another issue – gun control – factor into our debate about the tragedy in El Paso? Our guest for this episode is Dr. Tony Payan, the Francoise and Edward Djerejian Fellow for Mexico Studies and Director of the Center for the United States and Mexico here at the Baker Institute. He is one of our country’s leading experts on the Mexico-US relationship.  He was also, for many years, a resident of El Paso.

This season on Policy Matters:  Points and Perspectives from Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, we discussed everything from marijuana decriminalization to the Arab Spring to the crisis in Venezuela.     We hope that you’ve found our podcasts informed and insightful.   Join us for the next season of Policy Matters for more engaging discussions of the issues that are shaping our communities, our country and the world.

The Administration has released its budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2020. It contains substantial cuts to scientific research and reduces the budget of agencies like the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation.    What does the budget proposal tell us about the priorities of the Trump Administration when it comes to science?    Two years into his presidency, can we draw any conclusions about the science policy of Donald J. Trump? Our guest this episode is Dr. Kenneth M. Evans.  He is a Postdoctoral Fellow in Science and Technology Policy here at the Baker Institute.

On March 17, a fire broke out at a petrochemical storage plant in Deer Park, Texas, near Houston.     Then, two weeks later, there was yet another chemical fire at a facility near Houston, this time in Crosby.   What do these incidents tell us about the safety of petrochemical facilities?   What can be done to improve their safety? Our guest this episode is Dr. Rachel A. Meidl.   She is a fellow in energy and environment at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy.   Before joining the Baker Institute, Dr. Meidl served as deputy associate administrator for the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.  

It’s called the state and local tax deduction–or SALT–and it’s the subject of fierce political and legal controversy.    The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, passed by Congress in 2017, placed a $10,000 limit on this deduction under the federal tax code.    What is the SALT deduction?   And why has putting a cap on it caused such a furor? Our guest this episode is Dr. Joyce Beebe.   She is a fellow in public finance at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy and an expert on taxation.  

Huawei is a giant Chinese telecommunications equipment and consumer electronics manufacturer.  There are serious concerns, in the United States and elsewhere, that the company represents a potential threat to secure networks.   Much of the concern has focused on stopping Huawei from building its 5G network in the United States and allied countries.   Does Huawei represent a threat?   What approach should the US government take to it? Our guest this episode is Dr. Chris Bronk.   He is assistant professor of computer and information systems and associate director of the Center for Information Security Research and Education at the University of Houston.  Prior to moving to U of H, Dr. Bronk was the fellow for information technology policy at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy.  

The nationwide trend towards removing or lowering penalties for marijuana use and possession is gaining momentum.  22 states have passed some form of decriminalization.   Even conservative Texas is considering legislation that would sharply reduce penalties.   What are the benefits of liberalizing our laws on marijuana?   Are there any downsides? This episode’s guest is Dr. Katharine Neill Harris.  She is the Alfred C. Glassell, III, Fellow in Drug Policy at the Baker Institute.  

March 10th marked the 100th day in office of Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.  López Obrador, or AMLO as he is often called, was elected in a landslide last year in what was viewed as a broad repudiation of the Mexican status quo. One of the top items on AMLO’s agenda is Mexico’s critical energy sector. Will AMLO reverse some or all of the market liberalization undertaken by his predecessors?   Our guest in this episode is Dr. Adrian Duhalt. He is the postdoctoral fellow in Mexico energy studies for the Mexico Center and Center for Energy Studies at the Baker Institute.

Nationwide, hospital consolidation remains a powerful trend shaping healthcare delivery to millions of Americans.   So does hospital acquisition of physician practices and physician organizations.  Theoretically, such mergers and acquisitions could make sense by creating economies of scale and complementarities in patient services.   But there is also evidence that such mergers do little to restrain prices or improve patient outcomes. Our guest this episode is Marah Short, associate director of the Center for Health and Biosciences at the Baker Institute.   She has recently published a paper, coauthored by Dr. Vivian Ho, Director of the Center, on today’s subject. 

In February, freshman House Member Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Ed Markey unveiled the so-called “Green New Deal” resolution. It is an ambitious, even revolutionary proposal to tackle climate change by a radical transformation in how Americans use energy. It also speaks to various issues including employment, housing, and healthcare. The Green New Deal has been hailed by some as necessary to stave off climate catastrophe, while others condemn it as unrealistic. There is little doubt, however, that the Green New Deal has thrust environmental policy to the very center of U.S. politics. Our guest in this episode is Dr. Michael D. Maher, Senior Program Advisor for the Center for Energy Studies at the Baker Institute. He is an expert on energy and energy policy with 30 years of private sector experience before joining the Baker Institute.