New state-level jobs report shows Texas’ job creation continues to lead nation
Today, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released state-level labor market information for July 2017.
Press Release August 18, 2017Press
TPPF statement on conclusion of special session
Today, the Texas Public Policy Foundation issued the following statement about the conclusion of the first-called special session of the 85th Texas Legislature.
Press Release August 16, 2017TPPF Statement on Passage of Annexation Reform
Earlier today, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed into law Senate Bill 6, the Texas Annexation Right to Vote Act, which substantially reforms the municipal annexation process. Most importantly, the new law requires large cities to obtain consent from those being annexed before taking action.
Press Release August 15, 2017TPPF Statement on Conservative Texas Budget and Public Education
Today, the Texas Public Policy issued the following statement on the sustainability of a 2018-19 Conservative Texas Budget given proposed increased expenditures related to public education.
Press Release August 14, 2017TPPF statement on initial House passage of property tax reform
The Texas House of Representatives gave preliminary approval to Senate Bill 1, a bill to reform Texas’ local property tax system in some important ways. Specifically, this bill, if enacted, would require certain taxing jurisdictions to lower their rollback tax rates and require an automatic election to ratify any rate adopted above the reduced rollback rate.
Press Release August 12, 2017TPPF Applauds the Passage of Municipal Tree Regulation Reform
The Texas Senate passed House Bill 7, which would reform city regulatory authority over tree removal.
Press Release August 11, 2017TPPF Applauds the Passage of Annexation Reform
The Texas House gave preliminary approval to Senate Bill 6, which would reform municipal annexation practices.
Press Release August 11, 2017TPPF applauds Department of the Interior’s proposal to expand use of public lands
The Texas Public Policy Foundation applauds U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke on his proposal to open or expand opportunities at 10 national wildlife refuges.
Press Release August 11, 2017TPPF and Department of Justice jointly oppose environmental groups’ motion to intervene into warbler lawsuit
On Tuesday, the Texas Public Policy Foundation representing the Texas General Land Office filed formal opposition to a motion to intervene by environmental groups in the case of General Land Office of the State of Texas v. United States Fish & Wildlife Service, et. al. According to a 2015 study published by the Texas A&M Institute of Renewable Natural Resources, the warbler no longer is endangered or threatened. In fact, the A&M study estimates the warbler population as being 19 times greater and having a habitat of five times larger than when the bird was listed under the Endangered Species Act.
Press Release August 9, 2017Right-of-Way Fees Cost Texans Billions
Today, the Texas Public Policy Foundation released a policy perspective on Texas’ municipal right-of-way fees and how they unnecessarily cost Texans billions.
Press Release August 9, 2017TPPF champions local liberty in statewide ad campaign
Today, the Texas Public Policy Foundation makes a strong case for defending local liberty through a full-page ad in five major Texas newspapers. The ad features an abridged article by Dr. Tom Lindsay, TPPF’s senior constitutional scholar and director of the Center for Higher Education.
Press Release August 3, 2017TPPF’s Vance Ginn to testify on eliminating property taxes in Texas
Today, Dr. Vance Ginn, economist with the Center for Fiscal Policy at the Texas Public Policy Foundation will testify before the House Ways & Means Committee on House Bill 285 which would eliminate school district maintenance and operations property taxes and replace them with higher state sales tax rate.
Press Release August 2, 2017