The Foundation’s Center for Local Governance Senior Policy Analyst Jess Fields and Armstrong Center for Energy & Environment Leigh Thompson issued statements on House Bill 40, which clarifies that the regulation of oil and gas operations is under the jurisdiction of the state.
Press Release May 5, 2015The Texas Public Policy Foundation will host a debate on “Free Speech and the Non-Profit Community: Freedom of Association vs. Forced Disclosure” TOMORROW, Tuesday, May 5, 2015 at 5:00 p.m. CDT in the Joe B. Hogsett Theater at the Texas Public Policy Foundation.
Press Release May 4, 2015The Texas Senate yesterday adopted an amendment to Senate Bill 1760 that would help limit the growth of property taxes. The amendment requires local government bodies, such as school boards, to get a 60 percent vote to adopt tax rates above a certain amount, rather than a simple majority of the board.
Press Release May 1, 2015The Texas Public Policy Foundation today released a paper by Center for Effective Justice Director Marc Levin on providing timely counsel for indigent defendants. The paper, Bringing Balance to Pretrial Proceedings: Solutions for Early Representation of Indigent Defendants, identifies improvements in pretrial justice for those unable to afford counsel.
Press Release April 30, 2015The Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Center for Local Governance Director James Quintero testified today before the Senate Committee on State Affairs on Senate Bill 1806, which would ensure the conformity of local ordinances and regulations with state law.
Press Release April 30, 2015Today, the Texas House passed a $4.9 billion tax-cut package, which includes House Bill 31 and House Bill 32. HB 31 cuts the state’s sales tax rate from 6.25 percent to 5.95 percent and puts in place a mechanism to use funds to further cut the rate in the future at a potential savings to taxpayers of $2.31 billion. HB 32 lowers the business franchise tax rates by 25 percent, raises the cap to $20 million to file an EZ form at a lower rate, requests a study on full repeal of the margin tax, and puts in place mechanisms to eventually phase out the tax at an additional savings to taxpayers of $2.56 billion.
Press Release April 29, 2015The Texas Public Policy Foundation today commended Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin for issuing an executive order stating that Oklahoma will not file a State Implementation Plan (SIP) with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulating carbon dioxide emission produced by Oklahoma power plants.
Press Release April 29, 2015The Texas Public Policy Foundation will host a debate on “Free Speech and the Non-Profit Community: Freedom of Association vs. Forced Disclosure” on Tuesday, May 5, 2015 at 5:00 p.m. CDT in the Joe B. Hogsett Theater at the Texas Public Policy Foundation.
Press Release April 28, 2015The Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Kathleen Hartnett White, Distinguished Senior Fellow-in-Residence and the Director Armstrong Center for Energy and the Environment, will testify before the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations on Wednesday, April 29, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. EDT in 1334 Longworth House Office Building in Washington, D.C. Ms. White will testify at a hearing on “Zero Accountability: The Consequences of Politically Driven Science.”
Press Release April 27, 2015High taxes and regulations have become an unfortunate feature of many of our Texas cities. As a result, Liberty Cities have begun to emerge in Texas which focus on limited government policies and the protection of individual liberty above all else.
Press Release April 27, 2015The Texas Public Policy Foundation’s (TPPF) Center for Economic Freedom Policy Analyst Kathleen Hunker testified today before the Texas House Insurance Committee on House Bill 3646, relating to insurance claims and certain prohibited acts and practices in or in relation to the business of insurance; amending provisions that are or may be subject to a criminal penalty.
Press Release April 22, 2015A new poll released today by the Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Center for Health Care Policy shows voters strongly support dental workforce reform in Texas through the creation of licensed dental hygiene practitioners (DHPs). These midlevel providers would be trained to work under the supervision of a dentist to provide restorative and routine dental services like filling cavities, extracting teeth, and administering local anesthesia.
Press Release April 21, 2015