In contrast to the federal government and some other states - notably California - Texas' approach to protecting the environment has focused not on punitive action toward the energy industry, but on working with the industry to establish reasonable goals for renewable generation capacity and other environmentally-friendly approaches.  Here is a time-line of Texas' recent legislation pertaining to renewable energy. 

In this Wall Street Journal Opinion-Editorial Karl Rove uses poll results to explain why passing health-care reform could be harmful to the health of congressional Democrats.  "Just look at how President Barack Obama's standing has fallen as he has pushed for reform. According to Fox News surveys, the number of independents who oppose health-care reform hit 57% at the end of September, up from 33% in July."

State governments have tested variants on most of the major components of the health-care reform plans currently being considered in Congress. The results have been dramatically increased premiums in the individual market, spiraling public health-care costs, and reduced access to care. In other words: The reforms have failed.

We aren't among the doctors invited to a Rose Garden event today to "join the President in pushing for health insurance reform this year and [who] have offered their help and support," as a White House press release put it. It's unfortunate only supporters of the president's plans will be there. Mr. Obama has missed an opportunity to learn more about the real issues facing patients and doctors and to formulate a plan that truly puts patients in control with doctors as trusted advisers.

The EPA has now formally made an "endangerment finding" on CO2, which will impose the command-and-control regulations of the Clean Air Act across the entire economy. Because this law was never written to apply to carbon, the costs will far exceed those of a straight carbon tax or even cap and trade. The point of this reckless "endangerment" is to force industry and politicians wary of raising taxes to concede, lest companies have to endure even worse economic and bureaucratic destruction from the EPA. 

In a Washington Post opinion-editorial Louisiana Governor, Bobby Jindal makes the conservative case for health care reform.  He states, "A majority of so-called Republican strategists believe that health care is a Democratic issue. They are wrong; health care is an American issue, and the Republican Party has an opportunity to demonstrate that conservative principles work when applied to real-world problems."

In this article Mr. Moore of the Wall Street Journal interviews John Mackey, CEO and founder of Whole Foods Market Inc., as he tries to explain the firestorm caused by his August op-ed opposing government-run health care. "I think a lot of people who got angry haven't read what I actually wrote. There was a lot of emotional reaction-fear and anger. I just wanted to get people to think about whether there was a better way to reform the system."

While uncontrolled spending, excessive regulation and litigation have helped create a dismal business environment for California, the tax system is central to the state's economic woes. The top personal income tax rate, the sales tax rate, the corporate tax rate, and the gas tax are all at or near the highest of any state. Thus, the state appointed a bipartisan commission to provide recommendations for a reformed tax code that would be less volatile and more pro-growth.

Eliminating defensive medicine could save upwards of $200 billion in health-care costs annually, according to estimates by the American Medical Association and others. The cure is a reliable medical malpractice system that patients, doctors and the general public can trust.  But this is the one reform Washington will not seriously consider.

Last week saw a major victory for property rights, as besieged homeowners in New Jersey claimed victory against politicians and developers trying to seize their land. This continues the nationwide grassroots effort to stop government abuse of eminent domain power since the Supreme Court's misguided 2005 Kelo ruling.