This page includes videos of the keynote address by Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, the conference opening remarks of Dr. William Bennett, the economic policy debate between Dr. Arthur Laffer and Dr. Jared Bernstein, and the Texas Public Policy Foundation/Empower Texans U.S. Senate debate.
Videos from the panel sessions of the Texas Public Policy Foundation's Tenth Annual Policy Orientation for the Texas Legislature. Audio recordings of these sessions are also available.
This page includes videos of the keynote addresses by Texas Gov. Rick Perry, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, and Wall Street Journal editorial board member Steve Moore; and the federalism debate between Ted Cruz (former Texas Solicitor General) and Scott McCown (executive director, Center for Public Policy Priorities).
Even with a budget deficit looming, improving education quality must remain paramount in Texas. We have a broken system that has produced flat-lining test scores for decades. Please join us as we discuss cost effective ways to improve public education in Texas.
Even without the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) and a budget crisis, Medicaid would still be on an unsustainable trajectory. The 82nd Legislature might be the last time to reform Medicaid before it is too late.
Thousands of people are being killed in Mexico's drug-related violence, and there have been signs that some of this violence is spilling over into Texas.
Texas remains the leading energy producer of the country and is now the leading industrial state. Game-changing new technologies give access to vast new stores of Texas oil and gas. Will Texas policy aim to preserve our robust energy markets and diverse energy portfolio or will subsidies, mandates, and regulation, limit production and skew our energy balance?
The state of Texas is facing a multi-billion dollar budget shortfall this session, and in order to bridge that gap, lawmakers will need to develop a comprehensive approach that separates needs from wants. Join us as we discuss the state's looming fiscal crisis and how lawmakers might avert disaster.
Texas state and local government transparency has come a long way in a relatively short amount of time, but much more work remains if the public is truly going to understand how their money is spent. Join us as we speak with experts in the field, including both reporters and watchdogs, about the biggest obstacles facing greater financial transparency.
Higher education in America is at a crossroads. With federal and state dollars dwindling the pressure is on universities everywhere to be more efficient and effective with the resources at their disposal. Join us for a discussion on how we can best achieve this in Texas with leaders in higher education from the public and private sector.
Over the last decade, the telecommunications, electricity, and insurance markets in Texas have all moved in varying degrees toward less regulation. Much discussion has taken place during the current Sunset Review of the agencies overseeing these markets about the success of these efforts, and whether more or less regulation is now needed.
Texas is the national leader in electricity generated from wind and also has an energy efficiency program. Do renewable energy and energy efficiency mandates make economic sense?
• Mark Bruce, Stratus Energy
• Robert Bryce, author of Power Hungry
• Mark Strama, Texas State Representative
• Nat Treadway, Managing Partner, Distributed Energy Financial Group
• Moderated by Kathleen Hartnett White, TPPF
How is competition fairing in Texas’ retail electricity market? This panel will examine the impact of retail competition on Texas consumers.
• Donna Nelson, Commissioner, Texas PUC
• Phil O’Connor, Director, Delphi Financial Group
• Lynne Kiesling, professor, Northwestern University
• Geoffrey Gay, General Counsel, Cities Aggregation Power Project
• Moderated by Ryan Brannan, TPPF
What is the state of competition in Texas’ wholesale market? This panel will examine the future of Texas’ wholesale energy-only market.
• Dan Jones, Independent Market Monitor, Potomac Economics
• Robert Michaels, professor of economics, California State Fullerton
• Ross Baldick, professor, University of Texas
• Philip Oldham, Texas Association of Manufacturers
• Moderated by Bill Peacock, TPPF
Mr. Doggett will discuss the state of Texas’ electricity grid and provide a real-time update on the status of Texas’ transition from a zonal to a nodal electricity grid.
On October 11, 2010, the Texas Public Policy Foundation hosted a panel at the Keep Texas Competitive Summit, that detailed the ways in which a state's sound public policy can lead to economic success. Panelists included:
The Honorable Talmadge Heflin Director, Center for Fiscal Policy - Texas Public Policy Foundation
Dr. Wayne Winegarden Partner, Arduin, Laffer & Moore Econometrics
Will Newton Executive Director, National Federation of Independent Business - Texas
On October 11, 2010, the Texas Public Policy Foundation unveiled it’s latest research report, “Competitive States 2010: Texas vs. California", at the Keeping Texas Competitive Summit in San Antonio. Speakers included:
Brooke Rollins President, Texas Public Policy Foundation
Dr. Wayne Winegarden Partner, Arduin, Laffer & Moore Econometrics
With Texas facing a projected $11 billion to $21 billion shortfall in the coming 2011 legislative session, the Center for Fiscal Policy gathered conservative leaders to discuss the next state budget and what principles should guide its creation. Panelists included:
The Honorable Talmadge Heflin Director, Center for Fiscal Policy - Texas Public Policy Foundation
State Representative Myra Crownover Select Committee on Federal Economic Stabilization Funding, Vice Chair
Bill Hammond Texas Association of Business, President
Michael Sullivan Empower Texans, President
Peggy Venable Americans for Prosperity, Texas State Director
The Texas Public Policy Foundation pulls back the curtain to provide a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of the 2011-2012 Legislators' Guide to the Issues
On September 13, 2010, Capital Metro held a press conference that detailed the agency's new financial transparency initiative. Justin Keener, Vice President of Communication for the Texas Public Policy Foundation, was present to speak on the importance of the agency's efforts. To view the press conference in its entirety, click here.
This primer examined how Texas can enhance its approach to parole and re-entry, in order to break the cycle of youth crimes so there are fewer victims and taxpayers pay less to re-incarcerate the same youths. Panelists included:
The Honorable Jim McReynolds, Chairman, House Corrections Committee
The Honorable Robert Eckels, Former Harris County Judge
This primer examined whether last year’s legislative reforms are working, if they have led to more private insurers writing windstorm policies along the coast, whether the bond market can pay for losses, and what can be handled without a special session of the Texas Legislature. Panelists include:
The Honorable Kelly Hancock, State Representative, District 91
The Honorable Solomon Ortiz Jr., State Representative, District 33
Eli Lehrer, Senior Fellow, The Heartland Institute
On May 20, 2010, the Texas Public Policy Foundation hosted a special policy event on the ramifications of federal health care reform on Texas. The morning panel discussion included:
David Clark Speaker, Utah House of Representatives
Michael Cannon Director of Health Policy Studies, CATO Institute
Edmund Haislmaier Senior Research Fellow, Center for Health Policy Studies, Heritage Foundation
Join us for a special luncheon event featuring Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott, Former Texas Solicitor General Ted Cruz and a panel of experts as we explore the ramifications of federal health care reform on Texas.
On April 14, the Texas Public Policy Foundation hosted a special luncheon on Internet regulation, network neutrality, and the role of markets in the future of the Internet. Luncheon speakers included:
Robert M. McDowell Commissioner, Federal Communications Commission
Deborah Tate former Commissioner, Federal Communications Commission
Barry Smitherman Chairman, Public Utility Commission of Texas
The Texas Public Policy Foundation's Center for Economic Freedom hosted a panel discussion with Economist George Ford, Christopher Bronk of Rice University, and Peter Vogel of Southern Methodist University's Dedman School of Law on the FCC and the future of Network Neutrality
On April 14, the Texas Public Policy Foundation hosted a special luncheon on Internet regulation, network neutrality, and the role of markets in the future of the Internet.
No state has fared better than Texas during the current recession. One reason for this is our robust high-tech sector. Texas’ $39.8 billion in high-tech exports supports more high tech jobs—253,600—than any other state. Texas is attracting high-tech employers and jobs because our low tax and regulatory policies provide a climate for innovation that allows these companies and their employees to thrive. This primer will examine the reasons for Texas success and what else Texas can do to foster innovation and increase jobs in our high technology industries. Panelists included:
The Honorable Mark Strama Chairman, Texas House Committee on Technology, Economic Development, & Workforce
The Honorable Julie Parsley Parsley Coffin Renner LLP, former PUC Commissioner
John Roiko Vice President of Finance, National Instruments
Braden Cox Policy Counsel, Association for Competitive Technology
This primer will explore how the state can focus limited resources to most effectively reduce substance abuse and thereby improve public safety, enhance workforce participation, and reduce long-term dependence on government benefits
The Honorable Kel Seliger Senator, District 31 - Amarillo, Texas
The Honorable John Creuzot Judge, Dallas County DIVERT Drug Court
The Honorable Patricia Lykos District Attorney, Harris County, Texas
Kevin Knight, Ph.D. Associate Director for Criminal Justice Studies, Institute of Behavioral Research, Texas Christian University
Money from the federal government is often thought of as “free,” but, nothing could be further from the truth. The prevalence of federal funds has been shown to adversely affect a state’s economy, increase state government spending, and lead to a decline in state tax revenues.
This page includes videos of the keynote addresses by Texas Gov. Rick Perry and ABC/ESPN college football analyst Craig James, the congressional update by U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, and the global warming debate between Dr. Gerald North (Texas A&M University) and Dr. Roy Spencer (University of Alabama-Huntsville).
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.
Higher education continues to pull on the purse strings of the state legislature while questions arise about skyrocketing tuition and declining graduation rates. Can better transparency improve the quality and lower the cost of higher education in Texas? Our panel will examine the current level of transparency at Texas universities, discuss the improvements that have been made, and make recommendations on the areas that need to be improved. Panelists include:
* The Honorable Dan Branch, Chairman, House Committee on Higher Education
* The Honorable Joaquin Castro, Vice Chairman, House Committee on Higher Education
* Rick O'Donnell, TPPF Senior Fellow and President of the Acton Foundation for Entrepreneurial Excellence
In the 81st session, lawmakers cut funding for state youth lockups by more than $100 million and redirected $48 million of the savings to juvenile probation departments. This program will examine how departments can use these new funds to successfully divert youths from incarceration and simultaneously reduce both recidivism and cost to taxpayers, as well as issues that should be considered in the upcoming sunset review of the state’s juvenile justice agencies. Panelists included:
* House Corrections Committee Vice Chairman Jerry Madden
* Vicki Spriggs—Executive Director, Texas Juvenile Probation Commission
* Harvey Hetzel—Chief Juvenile Probation Officer, Harris County
* Michele Deitch—Adjunct Professor, LBJ School of Public Affairs
On Thursday, September 24, 2009, the Texas Public Policy Foundation hosted a special luncheon event featuring ABC News correspondent, 20/20 co-anchor, 19 time Emmy award-winner, and New York Times best-selling author of Give Me A Break and Myths, Lies and Downright Stupidity. His “Give Me a Break” commentaries take a skeptical look at a wide array of issues, such as education, the economy, parenting, and more.
In his most recent TV special “Sick In America,” Stossel examined what is really ailing our current health care system and how healthy competition is the best medicine for true health care reform.
Featured sessions include: Eminent Domain Discussion featuring Susette Kelo, Dr. Arthur Laffer's Update on the State of the U.S. Economy, Immigration Policy Debate featuring Dr. Arthur Laffer and Mark Krikorian, and Keynote Remarks by Texas Gov. Rick Perry and Texas Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst.
Audio of the panel sessions can be found in the "Audio Gallery."
