The Texas Public Utilities Commission is considering a $1.5 billion proposal by South Texas' Sharyland Utilities to build an electric power transmission loop through the Panhandle and South Plains of Texas tying wind power to traditional power grids. Approval will lead to billions of dollars in future wind power projects and thousands of megawatts to the electric grid.

How much money have you saved in the Texas Tomorrow Fund for Junior and Sally to go to college? Really? I have some bad news for you: it's running at least a billion in the red, and could be as much as three billion short. This doesn't mean that your money is gone, specifically, it just means that the program, which launched in the mid-90's, couldn't keep up realistically with tuition rates when they started to rise after deregulation. The program has been closed to new participants for four years, and they aren't sure how to pay for the 154,000 or so enrolled when the time comes.

These two bills seek to expand criminal conduct of motorists in Texas. SB 154 and HB 201 would make it illegal to use a hand held wireless communications device while operating a motor vehicle unless it's stopped. The bills, however, do allow drivers to use "hands-free devices." The bills carve out further emergency exceptions when it is okay to talk and drive.

This week I sat down with Bill Kelly, Chief of Staff for State Representative Ellen Cohen.

Rick Perry's hilarity has made it all the way to the Colbert Nation. Last night's Word: Bad Medicine.

Should anyone ever imply that government is not serious business, consider that the current world stage is set for conflict that stretches to a future horizon none of us can see. That's a heavy way to open a "post" on a "blog" on the "internet," but the decisions people at many levels of government make matter in a very real, visceral way. Reports circulate now that war with Iran could have become a diplomatic impossibility in 2003; that is no longer the case, never mind that it may be logistically impossible.

Legislature? Legislation? Who needs a legislative body and legislation when you have a governor king and executive orders? At least recently, it seems as though Governor Perry is operating within this distorted frame of mind.

Joining us for this week's episode of Who's Blue? &8212; Richard Raymond, State Representative from District 42. Have a listen.

How old is too old to drive? SB 180 and HB 84 attempt to limit the renewal of driver's licenses for the elderly. The cut off date in these bills is 90 years old. Anyone over 90 that still wants to drive would have to pass a vision test and demonstrate an ability to control a motor vehicle. The bill analysis for SB 180 states, "Insurance companies have reported that drivers of the age 80 and above are high risk drivers as their sight and responsiveness deteriorates."

According to the Castle Doctrine, a person's home is their castle and they have a right to defend it. Texas lawmakers are attempting to change current state law to reflect this common-law theory. Sen. Wentworth and Rep. Driver are sponsoring the bills which would make the change. Sen. Wentworth believes that Texans "...attacked in their homes, their businesses, their vehicles, or anywhere else have a right to defend themselves."