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January 22, 2010
	Prices, Reliability, and Consumer Choice in the Texas Electricity Market By Bill Peacock Click here for video introduction Texas, alone among the states, has moved forward into a truly restructured and competitive electricity era, which has brought lower prices, greater reliability, and increased consumer choice.
January 13, 2010
	Comments to the FCC Regarding Net Neutrality By Ryan Brannan
December 18, 2009
	The Texas Electricity Market Competition Works: Getting There Is the Problem By Bill Peacock Bill Peacock presents to the Arizona Legislature some lessons Texas learned in its successful transition to competition in the electricity market.
August 03, 2009
	The High Cost of High-Speed Rail By Randal O'Toole Texas can do many things to cost-effectively improve transportation networks in ways that save energy, reduce accidents, and cut toxic and greenhouse gas emissions. High-speed rail is not one of those things.
June 24, 2009
	Economic Freedom 81st Legislative Session in Review By Bill Peacock A review of the 80th Texas Legislature’s work on property rights, homeowners' and windstorm insurance, electricity and renewable energy, civil justice, telecommunications, and financial regulation.
May 22, 2009
	Possession, Occupation, and Enjoyment Restoring the Meaning of Public Use By Bill Peacock Cities and counties oppose using “possession, occupation, and enjoyment” because it would lead courts to stop the practices that the cities and counties want to continue: using eminent domain to take property from one property owner and give it to another to enhance local government tax revenue.
May 18, 2009
	Eminent Domain: SJR 42 & HJR 14 By Bill Peacock Solving Texas’ Kelo problem means stopping takings that transfer property from one owner to another.
May 11, 2009
	Senate Bill 18: Texas’ Kelo Problem Still Not Solved By Bill Peacock Texas cities believe that SB 18 will allow them to conduct eminent domain business as usual. That is correct. SB 18 does nothing to stop Kelo-style takings in Texas.
May 01, 2009
	Homeowners' Insurance: The Problem with Prior Approval By Bill Peacock The high level of regulatory intervention and resulting uncertainty brought about by prior approval has become a major problem. One significant aspect to this is the lack of capital commitment to the Texas homeowners’ market.
April 23, 2009
	Consumer Choice and Telecommunication Contracts HB 1835, HB 1953, HB 3167, and HB 3169 By Chris Robertson One of the primary ways consumers have benefitted from the competitive markets is through their ability to choose and voluntarily contract with telecommunications providers. Several bills filed this session threaten competition and the integrity of contracts in the telecommunications market by telling consumers and producers what they can and cannot agree to in a contract.
April 23, 2009
	Licensing and Regulation of Short-Term Credit Providers By Chris Robertson A vibrant, competitive short-term lending market is necessary for the financial well-being of many Texans. Restricting or cutting off access to short-term, micro loans will have very real unintended consequences for consumers who use these financial products.
April 15, 2009
	Telecommunications Taxes in Texas By Bill Peacock and Chris Robertson The explosion of Internet and wireless-based technologies has revolutionized the telecommunications market. Future regulatory and tax policies should reflect these changes to promote a competitive telecommunications industry, reduce high taxes and fees, and encourage future economic growth within the state.
April 08, 2009
	How Access to Short-Term Credit Helps Consumers By Chris Robertson Having access to various forms of short-term credit helps consumers by allowing them more choice in matters of personal finance. The best way to protect borrowers is to allow for a competitive and healthy short-term lending market.
April 06, 2009
	The Economic Impact of Federal Spending on State Economic Performance A Texas Perspective By Arduin, Laffer & Moore Econometrics Government spending crowds out private sector spending, diminishing the private economy’s rate of growth and costing Texans jobs. In other words, increased government spending makes citizens poorer because it takes their money now, while also reducing their future income and employment prospects. This fact is at the heart of the debate about whether or not Texas should accept federal stimulus money.
April 02, 2009
	Eminent Domain: SJR 42 By Bill Peacock The best way to protect property rights is to define public use in the Texas Constitution; not to ban takings that are only for the “primary” purpose of economic development.
March 30, 2009
	Eminent Domain Legislation SJR 42, SB 533, & SB 18 By Bill Peacock Texas needs a positive definition of "public use" in its eminent domain legislation. Legislative changes in 2005, in response to Kelo, attempted to solve this problem, but they came up short. This analysis takes a look at three of the bills up for consideration this session.
March 25, 2009
	Rate Regulation of Homeowners’ Insurance By Bill Peacock Consumers don't need the government to protect them from high prices; they need the government to allow them to make their own choices about what products they will buy at what price.
March 18, 2009
	Homeowners' Insurance in Texas PowerPoint Presentation by Lawrence Powell By Lawrence S. Powell, Ph.D. This is the first of three presentations on insurance regulation and its impact on the Texas homeowners’ insurance market.
March 18, 2009
	Homeowners' Insurance in Texas PowerPoint Presentation by Steve Pociask By Steve Pociask This is the second of three presentations on insurance regulation and its impact on the Texas homeowners’ insurance market.
March 18, 2009
	Homeowners' Insurance in Texas PowerPoint Presentation by Bill Peacock By Bill Peacock This is the third of three presentations on insurance regulation and its impact on the Texas homeowners’ insurance market.
March 16, 2009
	How to Fix Texas' Kelo Problem By Bill Peacock Texas has a Kelo problem—essentially everyone's property is up for grabs via eminent domain. Here is how to fix Texas' Kelo problem.
March 07, 2009
	Texas Windstorm Insurance By Bill Peacock While the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA) may have been intended as a residual provider, it has become anything but that. Its unrealistically low rates have made TWIA an unbeatable competitor and are crowding out the private market.
March 05, 2009
	The Texas Economic Miracle PowerPoint Presentation By Bill Peacock This PowerPoint presentation covers Texas' current economic condition and what the state must do to continue to weather the economic storm and stay on the path of prosperity.
March 03, 2009
	The Texas Homeowners' Insurance Market Today By Bill Peacock Consumer protection laws stand in stark contrast to the consumer-friendly workings of today's competitive homeowners' insurance market, where voluntary participation forces attention to the needs of consumers.
February 23, 2009
	Testimony and Budget Recommendations on TDI and OPIC By Bill Peacock Testimony and recommendations related to the budget and strategic planning of the Texas Department of Insurance and the Office of Public Insurance Counsel.
February 12, 2009
	Texas Windstorm Insurance 2009-2010 Legislators' Guide to the Issues By Bill Peacock The Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA) provides windstorm and hail coverage in the 14 coastal counties and a few other specially-designated areas. All property insurers in Texas must participate in TWIA and must help pay losses. Although TWIA was intended to provide windstorm insurance coverage only to those who could not purchase insurance in the voluntary market, it is no longer an insurer of last resort.
January 26, 2009
	Telecom Deregulation 2009-2010 Legislators' Guide to the Issues By Bill Peacock When it comes to deregulation of the telecom industry, Texas is generally one step ahead of the rest of the nation. Thanks to the most recent legislation—SB 5—local telephone service for more than 15 million Texans was significantly deregulated as of January 1, 2006. This was a major step forward in reducing costs and bringing new technologies and services to millions of Texans.
January 04, 2009
	Condemnation Compensation 2009-2010 Legislators' Guide to the Issues By Bill Peacock When a state or municipality takes title to private property, the private property owner must be compensated for the property condemned by the government. The Texas Constitution calls for “adequate compensation” to be paid. At issue is what constitutes “adequate compensation” when private property in Texas is condemned by the State or a Texas municipality under the constitutional takings authority known as “eminent domain.”
January 04, 2009
	Civil Justice & Judicial Reform 2009-2010 Legislators' Guide to the Issues By Bill Peacock The organizational structure of Texas’ state court system was originally laid out in Article V of the State Constitution adopted in 1891. Piecemeal and ad hoc restructuring over the intervening years have resulted in an antiquated system full of irregularities, inconsistencies, and overlapping jurisdictions. In order to bring simplicity and rationality to the legal process, the system’s organization and administration should be reformed.
December 31, 2008
	The Perfect As the Enemy of the Good: Market Failure or Market Opportunity? Thinking Economically: Lesson 10 By Dr. Arthur B. Laffer Consumers and producers are uniquely situated to make judgments about meeting their own wants and needs. So government regulation in the name of protecting consumers and competition—or in any other name for that matter—rarely lives up to its billing.
December 31, 2008
	Telecom Taxes 2009-2010 Legislators' Guide to the Issues By Bill Peacock Texas consumers are burdened with high tax rates on telecommunications services. The average consumer who subscribes to telephone, cable, and cellular service pays annual taxes of around $318. Texas’ tax rate on landline telephone service is the third highest in the nation.
November 28, 2008
	When You're Right, Well, You're Right: The Laffer Curve Thinking Economically: Lesson 9 By Dr. Arthur B. Laffer For good or ill, many people reduce the entire pro-growth worldview of supply-side economics down to the “Laffer Curve,” which graphically depicts the tradeoff between tax rates versus the total tax revenues actually collected by the government.
November 20, 2008
	Franchise Fees 2009-2010 Legislators' Guide to the Issues By Bill Peacock While the Legislature has improved the franchise process, it has left franchise fees at high levels. So while the process is now more efficient, consumers still pay fees that provide revenues for cities far above what it costs to manage the public ROW.
November 20, 2008
	Monopolies or Markets? Electric Competition in Texas 2009-2010 Legislators' Guide to the Issues By Bill Peacock Introducing competition into Texas’ retail and wholesale electricity markets has made Texas the greatest success story in the United States—if not the world. That success is largely due to policymakers’ willingness to let markets work and not manipulate prices or other policies for political reasons.
November 14, 2008
	TDI Sunset & Homeowners' Insurance Regulation 2009-2010 Legislators' Guide to the Issues By Drew Thornley and Bill Peacock The sunset review process of TDI presents an excellent opportunity to address today’s problems with the regulation of homeowners’ insurance and to bring a consumer-friendly regulatory system to the Texas homeowners’ insurance marketplace.
November 14, 2008
	Restoring Property Rights in a Post-Kelo Texas 2009-2010 Legislators' Guide to the Issues By Bill Peacock Texas has taken some steps since Kelo in moving toward protecting its citizens from eminent domain abuse. However, the veto of HB 2006 and the failure to pass HB 3057 last session have left much to be done in restoring Texans’ property rights.
November 14, 2008
	Tort Reform 2009-2010 Legislators' Guide to the Issues By Drew Thornley and Bill Peacock Since 1995, no state has done more than Texas to restore the trust of citizens in their court system. However, Texas’ tort climate still has problem areas, namely its number of “judicial hellholes,” areas with histories of large or excessive verdicts against tort defendants.
November 13, 2008
	Entrepreneurs Versus Regulators: Government Intervention in the Market Thinking Economically: Lesson 8 By Dr. Arthur B. Laffer Whether you focus on theory or history, the lesson is clear: government intervention in the marketplace wastes resources, harms consumers, and often achieves the opposite from its intended goal. A deregulated, lightly taxed market is the best vehicle to achieve freedom and prosperity for all.
November 07, 2008
	Affordable & Reliable Energy: An Energy Policy for Texas 2009-2010 Legislators' Guide to the Issues By Bill Peacock and Kathleen Hartnett White Proposed and enacted solutions for securing affordable and reliable energy for Texas consumers run from higher taxes and subsidies to mandated production from alternative fuel sources. However, long-term solutions must rely on a proper understanding of our current situation and market-based innovations.
October 28, 2008
	Texas Wind Energy Past, Present, and Future By Drew Thornley Instead of subsidizing private wind development and imposing billions of dollars in new transmission costs upon retail electric customers, Texas policymakers should step back and allow the energy marketplace to bring wind power online when the market is ready. Texas consumers will reap the benefits.
October 28, 2008
	The True Cost of Wind Energy By Bill Peacock A careful look at the costs of wind energy in Texas reveals that Texas consumers and taxpayers ought to think twice about the state’s current policy of subsidizing wind energy.
October 15, 2008
	Unintended Consequences Regulation of Policy Forms and the Mold Crisis By Bill Peacock Regulations that are supposed to help consumers often wind up doing just the opposite.
September 29, 2008
	Influential Issues Immigration By Bill Peacock and Andrew Liu Immigration is an issue as complex as it is contentious. With respect to immigration issues, we must recognize the efficacy of free markets in promoting economic growth, but also acknowledge the necessity of policy interventions to protect the rule of law and the security of the state and nation.
September 29, 2008
	Influential Issues The Economy By The Honorable Talmadge Heflin and Bill Peacock Government policies influence people's decisions on whether, where, and how much to work, save, and invest, impacting the ability of states to retain and attract residents and businesses. Research has shown that pro-growth policies result in higher after-tax returns, increased economic activity, and an eventual improvement in overall state fiscal health. For other Influential Issues papers covering education, health care, immigration, and thinking economically click here.
September 12, 2008
	States' Right--To Mess It Up: What Makes a State Competitive? Thinking Economically: Lesson 7 By Dr. Arthur B. Laffer A pro-growth, market-friendly state attracts talented workers, entrepreneurs, and investment, which spurs job creation and booming tax receipts. Empirical evidence backs this up: on every important criterion, pro-growth states outperform those with hostile business climates. State policies matter!
August 18, 2008
	Consumers, Competition, and Homeowners' Insurance A Sunset Report on the Texas Department of Insurance and the Office of Public Insurance Counsel By Drew Thornley and Bill Peacock The move to a file-and-use regulatory system for homeowners’ insurance, as called for by the Texas Legislature, is incomplete. Completing the move is necessary for consumers to reap the benefits of a competitive marketplace.
July 24, 2008
	The Other Franchise Tax Municipal Franchise Fees Add Hundreds of Millions of Dollars to Consumers' Bill Each Year By Bill Peacock Consumers have greatly benefitted from recent efforts to reduce telecommunications taxes. But this testimony shows that the municipal franchise tax on video, voice, electricity, and natural gas services still takes hundreds of millions of dollars a year out of consumers' pockets.
June 30, 2008
	Trade: You Ain't Got the Frills If You Ain't Got the Skills Thinking Economically: Lesson 6 By Dr. Arthur B. Laffer Many people today call for "fair" trade rather than free trade. But that ignores the fact that all free trade is fair because people only agree to trade if they believe they will benefit from it.
June 01, 2008
	Money Makes the World Go 'Round: And the Fed Makes Money Thinking Economically: Lesson 5 By Dr. Arthur B. Laffer Where our money comes from remains a mystery for most people. The answer would be much simpler if everyone conducted their transactions in cold hard cash. But we can start by applying the law of supply and demand.
May 16, 2008
	A History of Lawsuit Reform in Texas By The Honorable Joseph M. Nixon Texas has been a leader in tort reform since enacting landmark medical malpractice reform in 2003. This history of tort reform in Texas discusses how it came to be and the tremendous results since.
May 07, 2008
	Condemnation Compensation: Time to Get Back to Basics Testimony before the House Committee on Land Use and Regulation By Drew Thornley
May 07, 2008
	Eminent Domain: Restoring Texans’ Property Rights Testimony before the House Committee on Land Use and Regulation By Bill Peacock Taking private property is not only wrong, it is also unnecessary. A recent study shows that economic develop can and does occur without eminent domain, another reason why Texas should reform its laws for the post-Kelo world we live in.
April 30, 2008
	The Condition of Our Nation: The Press Is Always Wrong Thinking Economically: Lesson 4 By Dr. Arthur B. Laffer The U.S. today is in its best shape ever. Americans enjoy low flat(ish) tax rates, an economy open to foreign trade, and wealth unprecedented in human history. To continue to enjoy this prosperity, it is important to understand why the 1980s and beyond have been so much better.
March 31, 2008
	Government & Prosperity: Free Market Institutions Thinking Economically: Lesson 3 By Dr. Arthur B. Laffer Market institutions matter. Countries that have secure property rights and the rule of law have greater prosperity and greater freedom.
March 26, 2008
	Texas Electric Meter Measuring the Effects of Electricity Deregulation By Bill Peacock With two years of full deregulation before the next legislative session, Texans have the opportunity to get a clear picture of the true effect of deregulation of the Texas electricity market. The short answer is that consumers are benefitting.
March 25, 2008
	Wind Energy: Power for the Future or a Lot of Hot Air? PowerPoint Presentation by Rob Bradley This PowerPoint presentation was given by Rob Bradley of the Institute for Energy Research, at the Texas Public Policy Foundation's policy primer, “Wind Energy: Power for the Future or a Lot of Hot Air?”
February 29, 2008
	What's It Worth? The Value of Things Thinking Economically: Lesson 2 By Dr. Arthur B. Laffer What made the Edsel so valueless and the Cabbage Patch doll so valuable? It wasn’t their intrinsic worth based on factors such as production costs or the skill of the labor used in their production. Instead, it was the value placed upon them by consumers.
February 03, 2008
	Q&A on Homeowners’ Insurance Regulation in Texas By Drew Thornley and Bill Peacock The Texas Department of Insurance is undergoing Sunset Review in 2008. This Q&A is based on the Center for Economic Freedom's response to a series of questions on TDI from the Texas Sunset Commission.
January 25, 2008
	Energy & Air Quality: A Texas Primer By Joel M. Schwartz Steady advances in technology are decoupling fossil-fuel energy and air pollution. In fact, air pollution continues to reach new record lows in Texas and the nation, even as Americans burn increasing amounts of coal, oil, and natural gas to power their homes, vehicles, businesses, and factories.
January 25, 2008
	Power for the Future The Debate Over New Coal-Fired Power Plants in Texas By H. Sterling Burnett One reason for Texas' continued economic progress is its successful deregulation of the electric industry. Continued progress, and the prosperity it brings, relies upon continued growth in available power. In the short term, only coal can deliver enough reliable, inexpensive power to meet this need.
January 18, 2008
	Violate at Your Own Risk: The Immutability of Economic Laws Thinking Economically: Lesson 1 By Dr. Arthur B. Laffer Thinking Economically is a project of the Texas Public Policy Foundation designed to provide a basic economic education for policymakers, the media, and the general public. In this way, the Foundation hopes to highlight the intersection of economics and public policy, and the importance of “thinking economically” when making policy decisions. This paper shows that immutability of economic laws means that there are limits to what can be accomplished in the political realm.
January 03, 2008
	U.S. Controls Emissions Better than Kyoto By Drew Thornley The international climate change bandwagon has yet to offer a plan for battling emissions anywhere close to as good as the U.S.’s strategy of unleashing market forces to control emissions and investing in clean-energy technologies, with a focus on long-term emissions control, as opposed to unrealistic short-term strategies. If the goal is to curb emissions over the long-term, then countries should follow the example of the U.S. in letting competition and the free market lead the way to success.
December 13, 2007
	Texas' Windstorm Challenge: Unprepared for the Worst By Bill Peacock, Drew Thornley, and Machir Stull Texans understand that hurricanes are an inevitable hazard along the Gulf Coast. However, subsidizing that risk has left Texas taxpayers on the hook for billions of dollars and the state as a whole unprepared for the next big one.
December 11, 2007
	Testimony to the House Regulated Industries Committee Regarding the NFL Network Dispute By Bill Peacock
November 26, 2007
	Energy and Air Pollution in Texas PowerPoint Presentation By Joel M. Schwartz
October 22, 2007
	Homeowners' and Windstorm Insurance in Texas PowerPoint Presentation By Bill Peacock Insurance regulators and consumer advocates are in denial regarding the problems caused by regulations and subsidies in the Texas homeowners’ and windstorm insurance markets. This presentation given at the Heritage Foundation examines the problems and how to remedy them.
October 22, 2007
	Economic Development, Affordable Housing, and Eminent Domain PowerPoint Presentation By Bill Peacock Eminent domain is seen by cities as a “tool” to be used to foster economic development. However, this presentation to the Texas Association of Community Development Corporations shows that eminent domain harms those in need of affordable housing.
September 05, 2007
	Texas' Windstorm Challenge: Executive Summary By Bill Peacock and Machir Stull Arguably the most serious threat facing the Texas economy is that of a severe hurricane strike. Government intervention in the windstorm insurance market has put billions of taxpayer dollars at risk on top of the damages to property that would occur.
August 22, 2007
	Modernizing the Texas Insurance Marketplace By Bill Peacock and Machir Stull Texas’ outdated pursuit of “affordability” over fairness and solvency in insurance regulation over the last 10 years has been found to be wasteful and expensive—delaying innovation and reducing competition—leaving both consumers and taxpayers at risk. This paper provides four recommendations for modernizing insurance regulation in Texas.
June 14, 2007
	80th Texas Legislature in Review Center for Economic Freedom By Bill Peacock A review of the 80th Texas Legislature’s work on property rights, electricity, telecom taxes, and tort reform
May 31, 2007
	Texas Says "No" to Kelo HB 2006 Restores Texans' Property Rights By Bill Peacock With HB 2006, Texas has taken a determined stand against the U.S. Supreme Court’s abandonment of one of our most fundamental rights, saying “No” to Kelo and “Yes” to private property rights.
May 21, 2007
	Securing Texans' Private Property Rights HB 2006, HB 3057, HJR 30 & HB 1495 By Bill Peacock After a detailed interim study, the Legislature is addressing eminent domain in several pieces of legislation which are expected to soon be considered by the Texas Senate. This paper provides an analysis of key provisions of these bills.
May 16, 2007
	Eminent Domain: Restoring Constitutional Protections HB 2006 & HB 3057 By Bill Peacock The practical problem with the Kelo decision was not so much what it said, but the problems with Texas eminent domain law that it exposed. This testimony examines four key areas that need to be addressed in HB 2006 and HB 3057.
April 19, 2007
	Taxes and Fees on Telecommunications Services in Texas By Paul Bachman, Sarah Glassman, and David G. Tuerck, Ph.D. This report underscores the high telecommunications tax burden shouldered by Texas consumers and how important it is that the Legislature cut taxes on telecommunications services this session.
April 03, 2007
	Q&A on the Texas Electric Market By Bill Peacock This paper takes a look at the debate over electric deregulation and what needs--or doesn't need--to be done to ensure competition and consumer choice in Texas' world class electric market.
March 26, 2007
	Competition in Texas Electric Markets What Texas Did Right and What's Left to Do By Robert Michaels Competition in Texas’ newly deregulated electric market has brought substantial benefits to Texas in only a few years, both in absolute terms and relative to other states. Texas should avoid unpredictable major alterations of the existing market structure that would harm its stability.
March 26, 2007
	Reforming Texas Courts By Kevin Holtsberry Texas has made great strides in reforming its civil justice system in the last decade and its citizens are reaping the benefits. Modernizing the court system will bring the clarity and rationality necessary for the state to build on these reforms.
March 15, 2007
	A review of Charles Koch's recently released book: “The Science of Success: How Market-Based Management Built the World's Largest Private Company" By David Guenthner
March 01, 2007
	Electricity in Texas By Robert Michaels This report examines the details of the Texas electric market and its transition to competition. It finds that customers of all types have found attractively priced power in the new retail markets, and the Texas transition to competition has been the nation's most successful.
February 21, 2007
	Affordable, Reliable Energy By Bill Peacock This brief examines the need for Texas to implement a long-term solution for securing affordable, reliable energy supplies that relies on a proper understanding of our current situation and market-based innovations.
February 21, 2007
	Electric Competition By Bill Peacock This brief provides the facts and recommendations on the current state of electric competition in Texas and how competition is working to the consumer's advantage.
February 21, 2007
	Competition in Texas' Electric Market By Bill Peacock Texas stands out among the states for the competitive performance of both its retail and wholesale markets. This review of an upcoming Foundation study explains why this is and how to maintain our competitive edge.
February 21, 2007
	Telecommunications Taxes By Bill Peacock Texans pay the third highest level of state and local telecom transaction taxes in the nation. This brief examines the facts about Texas' high rate, identifying over $382 million in telecommunications tax cuts that could be implemented by the 80th Texas Legislature.
January 18, 2007
	Allocating Public ROW Slots By Thomas Hazlett This brief examines alternatives to the franchise system used today to allocate ROW space to telecommunications and related providers.
December 21, 2006
	A Primer on Electricity Technology, Regulation, and Markets By Robert Michaels This report--the first in a series--is a primer on electricity and provides a foundation for our examination in future papers of the successes and challenges in the move toward deregulation in Texas electric markets.
December 11, 2006
	Wall Street Journal Letter to the Editor On Electric Deregulation in Texas By Bill Peacock This letter to the editor of the Wall Street Journal was in response to an October 27 article, "In Texas Energy Deregulation, Top Company Is a Winner."
November 29, 2006
	Testimony on Eminent Domain Public Use and Necessity By Bill Peacock Testimony on eminent domain, public use and necessity, presented before the Joint Interim Committee on Eminent Domain on October 25, 2006.
November 27, 2006
	PowerPoint presentation by Sam Jones-ERCOT Presented at Energy Policy Primer on Nov. 13, 2006 By Texas Public Policy Foundation
November 27, 2006
	PowerPoint presentation by Myron Ebell Presented at Energy Policy Primer on Nov. 13, 2006 By Texas Public Policy Foundation
November 03, 2006
	Private Property and Public Use Restoring Constitutional Distinctions By Bill Peacock This report examines the background of the Kelo decision, looks at the current state of eminent domain protections in Texas, and makes recommendations about what must be done to restore the centrality of private property rights that existed when our nation and our state were founded.
September 01, 2006
	Legislators Guide to the Issues 2007-2008 Energy By Texas Public Policy Foundation
September 01, 2006
	Legislators Guide to the Issues 2007-2008 Insurance By Texas Public Policy Foundation
September 01, 2006
	Legislators Guide to the Issues 2007-2008 Transportation By Texas Public Policy Foundation
September 01, 2006
	Legislators Guide to the Issues 2007-2008 Telecommunications By Texas Public Policy Foundation
September 01, 2006
	Legislators Guide to the Issues 2007-2008 Tort Reform By Texas Public Policy Foundation
September 01, 2006
	Legislators Guide to the Issues 2007-2008 Property Rights By Texas Public Policy Foundation
August 21, 2006
	Q&A on the Texas Universal Service Fund Letting Competition Work By Bill Peacock This Q&A provides a basic understanding of the USF--its purpose, strengths and weaknesses--and makes recommendations as to how it can be modified to bring more competition to the Texas telecommunications marketplace.
July 20, 2006
	Growing Competitive Electricity Why Texas Must End the Price to Beat By Robert Michaels Ending the Price to Beat requirement in the electricity market is a key step toward realizing the promise of customer choice for everyone in Texas.
June 20, 2006
	Paying for the Use of the Public Right of Way An Examination of Telecommunications Franchise Fees By Bill Peacock To insure a level playing field and increased competition in the telecommunications market, reforms to the management of the public rights of way must be based on the ideal of limited government.
May 31, 2006
	Protecting Private Property Ownership from Eminent Domain Abuse By Bill Peacock This brief examines the issues of private property rights and provides recommendations on how to avoid eminent domain abuse in Texas.
May 31, 2006
	Recent Examples of Eminent Domain Abuse in Texas By Bill Peacock This brief examines some recent examples of eminent domain abuse in Texas.
May 31, 2006
	Eminent Domain Legislation Passed by Other States By Bill Peacock This brief provides a snapshot of eminent domain legislation passed by other states.
May 26, 2006
	Restoring Justice: Protecting Private Property Rights from Eminent Domain Abuse By Clark Neily The Institute for Justice (IJ) is at the forefront of the national battle to protect property rights from eminent domain abuse. In collaboration with the Foundation, Clark Neily, one of IJ’s senior attorneys, examines the current situation in Texas and proposes changes to Texas law that would provide protections for private ownership of land once thought to be enshrined in the U.S. Constitution.
May 05, 2006
	Renewable Energy PowerPoint Presentation By Bill Peacock
May 05, 2006
	Workers' Compensation PowerPoint Presentation By Bill Peacock
April 27, 2006
	Texas Telecom Deregulation Seeking a Level Playing Field By Bill Peacock Bill Peacock, director of the Center for Economic Freedom, testified on the issue telecommunications deregulation on April 27 before the Senate Committee on Business and Commerce and the House Committee on Regulated Industries.
April 12, 2006
	Restoring Civil Justice In Texas Finishing What We Started By Bill Peacock In the last 11 years, great accomplishments have been made in reforming the Texas civil justice system. But there are still problems to address. This report examines the options for continued tort reform in Texas.
March 06, 2006
	Consumer Stickiness A Sign of Healthy Competition By Bill Peacock This brief explains the concept of consumer stickiness as a sign of healthy competition and an integral part of the market process based on individual preferences.
February 28, 2006
	Is the Free Market Working for the Texas Homeowners' Insurance Market? By Bill Peacock This paper provides recommendations designed to remove the uncertainty and instability that government price regulation brings to the homeowners’ insurance market and allow the free market and regulators to each do what they do best.
February 23, 2006
	Texas Telecommunications Taxes: An Overview By Bill Peacock Just as Texas has become the national leader in deregulation of telecommunications, it should also become a national leader in reducing telecommunications taxes. The recommendations in this paper would save Texans over $382 million per year. But only if a concerted effort is made to reduce government reliance on these existing tax revenues.
November 08, 2005
	Protecting Private Property Rights in Texas After Kelo By Bill Peacock In its recent Kelo decision, the Supreme Court essentially rewrote the Public Use Clause of the U.S. Constitution. The Texas Legislature responded and took a step in the right direction, but more must be done to adequately protect Texans' property rights.
October 31, 2005
	Texas Telecommunications The Road Ahead By Bill Peacock This policy perspective examines competition in the telecommunications industry, looks at specific aspects of the regulatory system in Texas, analyzes the provisions and impact of SB 5, and looks at the road ahead for telecommunications in Texas.
July 06, 2005
	Testimony On Takings Of Private Property Presented Before The Senate State Affairs Committee Testimony by the Foundation's economic freedom policy analyst on "Takings of Private Property" (eminent domain) and how Texans are affected by the recent Supreme Court decision.
July 01, 2005
	Testimony on Telecommunications Regulatory Reform Presented Before the House Regulated Industries Committee Testimony by the Foundation's economic freedom policy analyst on how telecommunications regulatory reform in Texas could bring significant benefits to consumers and businesses throughout the state.
May 11, 2005
	Senate Bill 533 Mandate for Renewable Energy Costs Consumers By Bill Peacock Proponents of mandating the increased use of wind power claim it is less expensive than traditional sources of power. However, that claim ignores the facts.
May 05, 2005
	House Bill 789/Senate Bill 332 Affordable Local Service and the Universal Service Fund By Bill Peacock Rates for Texas basic residential telephone service, including the federal subscriber line charge, range from about $13.82 per month in rural areas to $16.72 in urban areas. But long-run incremental costs for service range from $11.84 per month in the most densely-populated areas to more than $250 per month in rural areas. Approximately 95 percent of all basic residential lines are subsidized. Sources for the subsidies include added features, business service, long distance and the Universal Service Fund.
May 05, 2005
	Homeowners’ Insurance Moving Toward Competition or More Regulation? By Bill Peacock There is no doubt that the regulation of homeowners’ insurance needed changing in 2002-03. However, many policymakers seeking to remedy the situation have not focused primarily on the faulty laws and regulations. Instead, the focus has too often been on insurance companies, the high premiums they were charging and how to get immediate relief for consumers.
May 03, 2005
	House Bill 3179 By Bill Peacock Telecommunications technology has been rapidly changing since the breakup of AT&T in 1984, producing products and services unforeseen by the courts. One of the major advances has been the convergence of voice, video and data services across all types of telecommunications media. The regulation of telecommunications has not kept pace with the technological changes, resulting in regulatory inconsistency between various products and service providers.
February 25, 2005
	A Review Of Asbestos Litigation By Craig Schulman, Ph.D. and Byron Schlomach, Ph.D. and Bill Peacock Asbestos litigation is a nationwide phenomenon. It is important to determine the costs it has produced for the nation’s economy, and the way it has affected us all. The impact on Texas is – and will continue to be – significant, as this review demonstrates.
February 22, 2005
	Texas Road Policy Keeping Up With Demand By Byron Schlomach, Ph.D. Texas has more roadway miles than any other state. Over a quarter of Texas’ 302,000 miles of public roads is state owned. From 1990 to 2003, the demand for roads in Texas increased 13 times faster than the state’s road system increased in capacity. As a result, travel delay due to congestion in Texas increased from 750 million hours per year in 1982 to 3.6 billion hours in 2000. Combine these road-demand statistics with the fact that over half the state’s population lives in ozone nonattainment pollution zones, and it becomes clear that Texas faces serious transportation problems needing solutions.
February 21, 2005
	Testimony On Workers' Compensation Insurance Before the Senate Committee On State Affairs By Bill Peacock
February 08, 2005
	Workers’ Compensation Making It Work for Texans By John Colyandro and Chris Patterson Texas has one of the worst workers’ compensation insurance programs in the nation, whether one looks at it from the perspective of the injured worker or the cash-strapped employer. Despite decades of effort, the Texas Workers’ Compensation System is ineffective and inefficient. This study recommends lawmakers commit to a ground-up revamping of the system.
January 27, 2005
	A Telecommunications Policy Primer 20 Comprehensive Answers to 20 Basic Questions By Diane Katz With billions of dollars on the line, Texas lawmakers will this Session overhaul the way the state regulates telecommunications. The overhaul comes as part of the sunset of the Public Utilities Commission, the state agency responsible for regulating telephony services. This primer offers a tutorial on the issues, options and – most importantly – what’s at stake in making bad regulatory decisions.
January 13, 2005
	Legislators Guide to the Issues 2005-2006 Transportation By Texas Public Policy Foundation
January 13, 2005
	Legislators Guide to the Issues 2005-2006 Insurance By Texas Public Policy Foundation
January 13, 2005
	Legislators Guide to the Issues 2005-2006 Telecommunications By Texas Public Policy Foundation
January 13, 2005
	Legislators Guide to the Issues 2005-2006 Tort Reform By Texas Public Policy Foundation
January 05, 2005
	Pocket Facts Texas Telecommunications By Texas Public Policy Foundation Facts and recommendations taken from "Texas Telecommunications" by Robert Crandell and Jerry Ellig.
January 05, 2005
	Texas Telecommunications Everything Is Dynamic Except The Pricing By Robert W. Crandall and Jerry Ellig Telephone rates in Texas reflect substantial distortions that were intended to make basic local service “affordable.” Measured only by that narrow goal, the policy might be considered a success. Local rates for large incumbent carriers fall about $600 million short of covering long-run incremental costs, and consumers pay higher prices for other services to make up the difference. Local wire-line rates are cheap, but consumers bear a high cost in exchange for these bargain rates.
December 06, 2004
	Deregulation, Pricing, And Availability Issues In The Texas Homeowners’ Insurance Market By Patricia M. Arnold and Patrick Brockett A change in homeowners’ insurance regulation passed by the 78th Texas Legislature goes into effect in December 2004. Because it transforms the state from a “flexible band” to a “file and use” regulatory environment, the law – SB 14 – in theory moves Texas closer to being a free market in insurance. In the context of the homeowners’ insurance market as a whole, this paper examines the hoped-for positive outcomes and potential pitfalls of SB 14, which includes a provision for “subsequent disapproval” rulings by the insurance commissioner.
September 09, 2004
	Implementation Of Property & Casualty Filing Requirements By Chris Patterson Reform of property and casualty filing requirements enacted by the 78th Texas Legislature represents an important step toward reducing the cost, improving the quality, and expanding choices for consumers. In this presentation to the Texas Department of Insurance and the Office of Public Insurance Council at an open meeting, recommendations are made for continuing improvements to the state's insurance market.
June 30, 2004
	Great Rail Disasters Impact Of Rail Transit On Urban Livability By Randal O'Toole The stampede to plan and build rail transit lines in American cities has led to a series of financial and mobility disasters. A short synopsis of this report is also available.
March 23, 2004
	Principles for Texas Communications Law By Raymond L. Gifford and Adam Peters Telecommunications plays an important and growing role in our economy, and therefore the rules and regulations governing the industry will literally shape our economic competitiveness for many years to come. In this unique sector of the economy, federal and state laws create a dizzying complexity that makes it one of the most regulated – and taxed – in Texas. In this report, a free-market perspective is brought to the debate as Texas lawmakers look to overhaul the agency that oversees telecommunications regulation in the state – and therefore the regulations themselves.
January 29, 2004
	Asbestos and Its Impact on Texas A Powerpoint presentation By Kay Andrews
January 29, 2004
	Telecommunications: Speaking to the Future A Powerpoint presentation By Ray Gifford
January 29, 2004
	Transportation: Containing Congestion A Powerpoint presentation By Shirley Ybarra
April 29, 2003
	Critical Condition How Lawsuit Abuse Is Hurting Health Care & What Texans Can Do About It By Chris Patterson, Colleen Whalen and John Pisciotta The legal system in Texas is suffering from medical lawsuit abuse - excessive claims against health care providers and unreasonably exorbitant judgments. While the number of legal claims against health care providers in Texas has skyrocketed, most are being dismissed without any finding of negligence or award for damages. At the same time, however, the amount of payouts from lawsuits is astronomical and growing.
April 02, 2003
	Shopping for a Solution Effective consumer protection through competitive regulation of insurance rates By Nat Shapo Regulation of the insurance marketplace must seek to complement rather than distort the laws of supply and demand. By choosing market-based solutions instead of government price controls, Texas can empower its homeowners and ensure them a viable means of protecting their most valuable investments.
January 14, 2003
	Legislators Guide to the Issues 2003-2004 Transportation By Texas Public Policy Foundation This informative Guide covers the hottest topics facing the Legislature in concise, easy-to-read form. Presented here is the Transportation section.
January 14, 2003
	Legislators Guide to the Issues 2003-2004 Tort Reform By Texas Public Policy Foundation This informative Guide covers the hottest topics facing the Legislature in concise, easy-to-read form. Presented here is the Tort Reform section.
October 15, 2002
	Mold for Gold By Michael C. Hotra and Kimberly A. Martin The problem is, little reliable medical or sci-entific evidence exists establishing a causal link between mold and illness. To date, “toxic” mold is largely considered toxic be-cause the personal injury bar says so.
March 01, 2002
	The Illusion of Transit Choice Taken from Veritas By Wendell Cox
January 15, 2002
	The Growing Asbestos Litigation Crises in Texas Taken from Veritas By Richard Faulk
October 30, 2001
	Freight Rail's Potential to Reduce Traffic Congestion By Wendell Cox Traffic congestion is increasing around the nation and is routinely one of the most significant concerns raised in public opinion surveys. There is evidence that freight-based projects offer substantial opportunities to contain traffic congestion.
June 15, 2001
	The Endangered Species Act: Species Protection of Federal Land Use Control? Taken from Veritas By Clayton Trotter
February 01, 2001
	The Road Ahead Innovations for Better Transportation in Texas By Thomas Rubin and Wendell Cox Texas has become the nation's second most populated state and added nearly as many new residents over the past decade as California, which is much larger. This high growth rate is likely to continue in the decades to come. However, increased general taxation or gasoline taxation is not likely to be the answer for tansportation. It makes greater sense to require more direct user funding of transportation improvements. This would be accomplished by greater reliance on toll roads and HOT lanes. In the long run, electronic road pricing and competitive franchising of roadways may offer significant improvements.
October 13, 2000
	Options Ignored, Opportunities Lost An Analysis Of Affordable Transportation Options For Austin By Thomas Rubin and Wendell Cox Capital Metro has proposed building a 52 mile light rail system, and has asked for voter approval on the November 7 ballot. Austin faces a very serious transportation problem, with the demand for automobile travel expected to increase as the population continues to increase.
September 27, 2000
	Trolley Folly A Critical Analysis of the Austin Light Rail Proposal By Thomas Rubin and Wendell Cox Austin is growing very rapidly, and traffic volumes are increasing similarly. The most important transportation problem in the Austin area is accommodating this increased demand. Light rail is being proposed as a strategy to assist in reducing traffic congestion. Regrettably, not even the projections of local transportation agencies indicate any material impact of light rail on traffic congestion.
July 15, 2000
	The Future of Mass Transit: Can We Get There From Here? Taken from Veritas By Thomas Rubin Read the extended version that includes case studies on Atlanta and Las Vegas by clicking here or going to the Veritas section, Volume 1, Issue 2.
March 07, 2000
	Why Light Rail Doesn't Work By Wendell Cox Like virtually all other metropolitan areas in the developed world, Texas metropolitan areas are struggling to control increasing street and highway traffic volumes. Transit, and particularly rail, is often cited as a strategy for reducing traffic congestion. Unfortunately, transit's effectiveness in reducing traffic congestion is limited to downtown corridors. This is as much so in areas with extensive rail systems as in areas with little or no rail, such as the large Texas metropolitan areas. The only location to which convenient, quick, no-transfer transit service (bus or rail) is provided is to downtown. But downtowns comprise, on average, 10 percent of employment. The distribution of employment is crucial to traffic congestion, because work trips during the morning and evening peak hours are the primary cause of such congestion.
November 15, 1998
	Privatize Social Security? Galveston County Did A Policy Perspective By The Honorable Ray Holbrook There currently is much discussion about the state of the Social Security System. Some are advocating radical change such as privatization of the system. These calls are met with concern that nothing like that has ever been done. Even if we ignore the success of other countries that have privatized this remnant of paternalist government, we need to look no further than the Texas coast for an example of successful privatization. Read the entire perspective.
January 01, 1997
	Payment for Broken Promises Takings, Sovereignty, and the Winstar Case By Michael Weiss This is a story about promises made and promises broken and who pays the consequences. In particular, it is the story of the S&L debacle. In this article, we will focus on the agreements made to business people to get them involved in what was, at the very least, a risky proposition. The story of the S&Ls starts simply.
October 15, 1995
	Tort Reform Has Texas Ended Its Lawsuit Lottery? By B. D. Daniel and Michael D. Weiss The 73rd and 74th Sessions of the Texas Legislature generated significant legislation reforming the Texas civil justice system. While this legislation will govern lawsuits involving business disputes as well as those cases involving physical injuries, these legislative changes are normally and most effectively encapsulated by the phrase "tort reform."
March 01, 1995
	A Market-Based Partnership Approach to Species Protection By John Merrifield and Duggan Flanakin As the Congressional debate rages over reauthorization of the Endangered Species Act, both property rights advocates and environmental activists agree that the key to balancing species protection with landowner rights is through the implementation of market-based incentives to preserve and create habitat.

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