Answer to Question 1
Answer:
A. Tort reform is a nonfiscal policy
1. does not impact the state's fiscal plan
2. it has an economic interest but has no bearing on state finances
3. it is aimed at reducing the cost of litigation by limiting the amount of damages a court may award a litigant
B. Tort reform was a concern of business community
1. Texas was one of the easiest states to win a lawsuit and collect damages
2. reform in 1995 and 2003 to make it harder to win a lawsuit
3. saved businesses millions of dollars annually
4. consumers have been protected from some of the more outrageous increases in insurance premiums
5. impacts on state's budget is limited
6. impact on Texas businesses and on persons who believe they have been wronged by corporate negligence has been significant
Answer to Question 2
Answer:
A. Voter ID Law
1. nonfiscal policy that first became a law in 2011
2. most contentious policy issue with intense debate that has involved the courts
B. What is the Voter ID Law?
1. voters must show identification showing their eligibility to vote prior to voting
C. Why the debate?
1. opponents say the voter ID law interferes with free elections
2. opponents say the laws discriminate against poor people because it costs money to obtain a state driver's license or identification card
3. violates the constitutional safeguard against voting taxes
4. creates burden on elderly and the disabled because they do not have government-issued ID papers
5. proponents believe that lenient registration and voting laws make it easier for uninformed citizens to vote
a. the affirmative act weeds out the uninformed
6. proponents feel voters could be enticed or pressured into voting
7. proponents argue that most states provide free voter identification certificates to qualifying individuals
a. requirement eliminates election fraud by keeping noncitizens from voting
D. How does it show the dynamic nature of policy making?
1. policy was introduced as a bill in Texas in 2005
a. must have picture ID to vote
b. killed in senate
2. bill reintroduced in 2007 and 2009 but killed both times
3. finally passed in 2011 with much controversy
4. debate is along partisan lines
5. since the debate is over constitutionality, federal government has stepped in by challenging state voter ID laws
6. judicial branch brought in when in 2012 Attorney General Greg Abbott filed a lawsuit in federal court to keep the law in place
a. eventually validated by the US Supreme Court
7. it is dynamic because it is divisive and it is difficult to reach a consensus about the nature of the law
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