By Maxine Shapiro, KERA 90.1 business commentator

Dallas, TX – What happens when a communist country like China gets a taste of free enterprise? A lot. Just ask our neighbors to the south - Mexico. I'm Maxine Shapiro with KERA Marketplace Midday.

By J. Lyn Carl, GalleryWatch.com

Austin, TX – Those bills deemed "emergency" items by Gov. Rick Perry at the start of the 78th Legislature just keep hitting stumps.

While the House is bogged down in a parliamentary war seasoned with more than 300 amendments to its HB 4 that would provide sweeping tort reform, the Senate side of the rotunda is having similar problems getting SB 14, that would regulate insurance rates, to the Senate floor.

By Maxine Shapiro, KERA 90.1 business commentator

Dallas, TX – Home equity loans - try to turn on any cable station without getting bombarded by ads. If you're like me, on a daily basis there's at least one recorded message on my voice mail suggesting now is the time to refinance. But consumer advocates and bankruptcy lawyers are now asking us to think ahead. I'm Maxine Shapiro with KERA Marketplace Midday.

By Robert Dennis, KERA 90.1 commentator

Dallas, TX – Remember last August when Andrew Card, White House Chief of Staff, explained that nobody starts a marketing campaign in that month? He was alerting us that after the first of September when President Bush returned from his vacation a campaign to get rid of Saddam Hussein would begin.

By Maxine Shapiro, KERA 90.1 business commentator

Dallas, TX – This is a hard call - do you limit advertising during war, out of respect for the somber undertaking, or do you attempt to keep as much normalcy as possible? It looks like the latter was chosen and that's good. I'm Maxine Shapiro with KERA Marketplace Midday.

By Maxine Shapiro, KERA 90.1 business commentator

Dallas, TX – This is a hard call - do you limit advertising during war, out of respect for the somber undertaking, or do you attempt to keep as much normalcy as possible? It looks like the latter was chosen and that's good. I'm Maxine Shapiro with KERA Marketplace Midday.

By Maxine Shapiro, KERA 90.1 business commentator

Dallas, TX – This is a hard call - do you limit advertising during war, out of respect for the somber undertaking, or do you attempt to keep as much normalcy as possible? It looks like the latter was chosen and that's good. I'm Maxine Shapiro with KERA Marketplace Midday.

By Maxine Shapiro, KERA 90.1 business commentator

Dallas, TX – Gazing at last week's performance in the stock market, one might get the idea war is good for the economy. War is never good, as reality sets in today. I'm Maxine Shapiro with KERA Marketplace Midday.

By J. Lyn Carl, GalleryWatch.com

Austin, TX – New leadership. New faces. New Republican majority. New Texas.

Same old House.

Everything prior to the 78th Legislature pointed to a legislative session that would be history-making. Some said it could turn out to be the best session ever. Others said it could be the worst.

The House of Representatives is doing its part to see that if nothing else, the session is one that will go down in history as unforgettable.

By Bill Zeeble, KERA 90.1 reporter

Dallas, TX – Bill Zeeble, KERA 90.1 reporter: A peace vigil in front of Dallas City Hall last night drew about 200 people opposed to the war in Iraq. R.J. Camelot was just observing, from his wheelchair, but said he basically agreed with the group.