TPPF Policy Orientation for the 2013 Texas Legislative Session

Will be spending the next three days as a guest at the Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Policy Orientation for the 2013 Legislative Session.  Having attended a TPPF orientation previously, I know the next three days will be akin to ‘drinkin’ from the fire-hose’.  True to form, the Foundation will be providing an impressive quantity of quality research and analysis for those interested in public policy. 

Theoretically, I can engage in ‘live’ blogging during the event; but I warn my readers that I’m not so great ‘off the cuff.’  As a true introvert, I prefer to spend time processing before daring to offer up interpretation.  But who knows?  Perhaps I can share a few nuggets of TPPF wisdom.

Stay tuned:  Today’s sessions will focus on “The Movement and the Media,” and we’ll be hearing from Senator Ted Cruz, Jonah Goldberg, Michael Ramirez, Erica Grieder, and others.

10:00 A.M.  This morningTPPF’s Joshua Trevino and Erica Grieder are discussing Grieder’s forthcoming book, “Big, Hot, Cheap, and Right: What America Can Learn from the Strange Genius of Texas.”  She has highlighted some of the inherent strengths of the Lone Star State that have made Texas a powerhouse state, but also presents concerns over the state’s ability to adapt to shifting economic realities.

11:21 A.M.   Second session with Joshua Trevino and Ben Domenech (The Transom and a founder of Red State).  Session is entitled “What Went Wrong and How We Get it Right:  Conservative Media in 2012 & Beyond.”  Domenech points out that Schools of Journalism don’t effectively prepare reporters for media jobs; writers in the media have little knowledge or experience in the areas on which they report.  Consequently, many ‘informative’ articles are riddled with errors and not reliable sources of information.