Research Library

On Monday, three committees in Mexico’s senate — constitutional issues, energy and legislative studies — voted to bring an energy reform bill to the chamber’s floor for debate. The legislation would provide international oil companies the opportunity to participate in profit-sharing contracts and concession-like licenses for energy operations in Mexico, and it is expected to become law by the end of the legislative session Dec. 15.

Two cheers for the interim agreement over Iran’s nuclear program. It is welcome, if not earth-shattering news.

The technical problems plaguing the health exchange roll-out came without warning, and health policy scholar Elena Marks, an advocate of health care reform, is not happy about it. Read her Oct. 25, 2013, blog.

In a recent commentary, Baker Institute science and technology policy experts described two international court cases that aimed to define “research” — and that ultimately arrived at two different answers. “What makes this interesting is that the courts’ definition of ‘research’ was based on politics — what the court wanted the end result to be,” said Kirstin Matthews, the institute’s fellow in science and technology policy. To reach a decision prohibiting human embryonic stem cell (hESC) patents, the EU court ruled that “research” occurs in a continuum. To reach a decision supporting federal funding of stem cell research, the U.S. court ruled that “research” involves a specific project.

With Comptroller Susan Combs’ announcement that she will not run for re-election in 2014, the Texas Republican Party faces the undesirable prospect of an all male slate candidates for statewide executive offices. Political science fellow Mark P. Jones discusses prospective female candidates and what an all male slate could mean for the Texas GOP.

Obama's response to Syria's chemical weapons is coming under increasing pressure.

By Andrew Bowen and Dina Shahrokhi

C…

The election of Argentine Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio as pope underscores the growing importance of Latin America for the Roman Catholic Church. Mark P. Jones, the Joseph D. Jamail Chair in Latin American Studies, discusses the significance of Pope Francis' election for the church's future.

Ethnic and racial profiles of the 83rd session of the Texas legislature differ starkly between Republican and Democratic delegations. Political science fellow Mark P. Jones discusses which party delegation best mirrors the Texas population.