Former U.S. Senator Phil Gramm Sends Letter to Texas Legislature on Ending Forced Annexation

Today, former U.S. Senator Phil Gramm sent a letter of encouragement to every member of the Texas Legislature to continue on the path to ending forced annexation. By putting a stop to this practice and allowing property owners a chance to vote on annexation, the Legislature will “protect Texans’ rights to self-determination, free association, and private property,” Gramm wrote. The Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Center for Local Governance Director James Quintero issued the following statement on the letter:

Press Release April 12, 2017

TPPF Applauds Senate Passage of Resolution to Restore Federalism

Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Chip Roy, director of the Center for Tenth Amendment Action, issued the following statement on the Senate passage of SCR 3. This resolution claims sovereignty for the state of Texas under the Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution over all powers not otherwise enumerated and granted to the federal government by the Constitution.

Press Release April 12, 2017

TPPF Applauds Senate Passage of Bill to Provide Ballot Transparency

Texas Public Policy Foundation’s James Quintero, director of the Center for Local Governance, issued the following statement on the passage of Senate Bill 461. The bill, which passed the Texas Senate unanimously, would provide voters with greater ballot box transparency. Among its provisions, the Senate-approved bill would require ballots to include the estimated maximum annual tax increase of the proposals under consideration.

Press Release April 12, 2017

TODAY: TPPF’s Quintero to Testify on Local Debt Reforms

Texas Public Policy Foundation’s James Quintero, director of the Center for Local Governance, will testify in support of House Bill 3336, which would enact local debt reforms aimed at enhancing transparency and accountability. Quintero will testify before the Texas House Committee on Investments & Financial Services TODAY, Tuesday, April 11, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. CDT or upon adjournment in Room E2.010 at the Texas Capitol.

Press Release April 11, 2017

TOMORROW: TPPF Co-Hosts Legislative Lunch on Education Freedom

Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF) will co-host a legislative lunch and panel discussion on advancing education freedom in Texas. The event will take place TOMORROW, Wednesday, April 12, at 11:30 a.m. CDT in the Legislative Conference Center, Room E2.002, at the Texas Capitol.

Press Release April 11, 2017

TPPF’s Dr. Vance Ginn Testifies in Favor of Eliminating Auto Safety Inspections

The Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Economist Dr. Vance Ginn testified today before the Texas Senate Natural Resources & Economic Development Committee in favor of Senate Bill 1588, relating to the elimination of regular mandatory vehicle safety inspections.

Press Release April 11, 2017

TPPF Applauds Passage of Texas Resolution to Repeal Obamacare

The Texas Public Policy Foundation’s (TPPF) Chip Roy, Director of the Center for Tenth Amendment Action, and Dr. Deane Waldman, Director of the Center for Healthcare Policy, issued the following statement on the passage of Senate Concurrent Resolution 1 out of the Texas Senate Health and Human Services Committee. The resolution calls on Congress to fulfill its promise and fully repeal Obamacare:

Press Release April 10, 2017

TODAY: TPPF’s Kathleen Hartnett White to Testify on Water Rights

Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Kathleen Hartnett White, Distinguished Senior Fellow-in-Residence and Director of the Armstrong Center for Energy and the Environment, will testify on House Bill 3028, a bill related to groundwater ownership and rights. White will testify before Texas House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Special Water Districts TODAY, Monday, April 10, 2017 upon House adjournment in Room JHR 140 at the John H. Reagan State Office Building.

Press Release April 10, 2017

TPPF Applauds Texas House’s Passage of Supplemental Appropriations Bill

Today, the Texas House unanimously passed House Bill 2, which is the state government’s supplemental budget that funds expenditure shortfalls in Medicaid and other programs to complete the current 2016-17 budget. HB 2amounts of $1.1 billion in state funds from general revenue and $2.9 billion in all funds are below the Conservative Texas Budget (CTB) supplemental appropriations limits of  $1.2 billion in state funds and $6.1 billion in all funds. If the current HB 2 is passed into law, the 2016-17 Texas budget would be a Conservative Texas Budget based on an increase in population growth plus inflation above appropriations in the 2014-15 budget. The Foundation’s Center for Fiscal Policy Director Talmadge Heflin made the following statement:

Press Release April 6, 2017

TPPF Releases Paper on Community-Based Solution for Texas Foster Care

The Texas Public Policy Foundation released a paper on reforming the Texas foster care system in Texas by Brandon J. Logan, J.D., CWLS, director of the Center for Families and Children. The paper, “The Community-Based Solution for Texas Foster Children,” advocates for local control and community ownership of child welfare services. 

Press Release April 6, 2017

TODAY: TPPF’s James Quintero to Testify on Ending Forced Annexation

Texas Public Policy Foundation’s James Quintero, director of the Center for Local Governance, will testify in support of several bills in the House and Senate to end forced annexation. Quintero will testify before the Senate Committee on Intergovernmental Relations TODAY, Wednesday, April 5th, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. CDT in Room E2.026 at the Texas State Capitol.

Press Release April 5, 2017

ICYMI: TPPF’s Chip Roy Discussed Repealing Obamacare on CNN

Texas Public Policy Foundation’s (TPPF) Chip Roy, Director of the Tenth Amendment Center, appeared on CNN with Ana Cabrera to discuss repealing Obamacare. This interview continues TPPF’s effort to repeal Obamacare and support returning much of healthcare decision-making to the people and to the states.

Press Release April 3, 2017