AUSTIN, Texas – While other states are still struggling with lagging economies and budget deficits, Texans will likely see a surplus in the next biennium’s budget, according to preliminary figures released Monday by the Comptroller of Public Accounts. The president of the Texas Public Policy Foundation, Brooke Rollins, said the news only underscores the importance...
Press Release January 10, 2005AUSTIN, Texas – Houston businessman John L. Nau III, president and chief executive officer of Silver Eagle Distributors, L.P., has been elected to the Texas Public Policy Foundation’s board of directors. Organized in 1989, the Foundation focuses on Texas policy issues ranging from education and transportation to taxes, health care and natural resources. Individuals serving...
Press Release January 6, 2005AUSTIN, Texas – The Texas Public Policy Foundation will host the 3rd Annual Policy Orientation for the Texas Legislature on January 26 and 27, 2005. The event, which has been sold-out and drawn standing-room-only crowds in previous years, will feature keynote addresses by Governor Rick Perry, Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst and House Speaker Tom Craddick....
Press Release December 29, 2004AUSTIN, Texas – Houston businessman William A. McMinn was elected chairman of the Board of Directors of the Texas Public Policy Foundation, the state’s leading free market policy research institute. The election took place at the director’s meeting on Friday, October 22. Started in 1989, the Foundation focuses on Texas policy issues ranging from education...
Press Release October 22, 2004AUSTIN, Texas – Water fights are not new to Texas; since before the Lone Star State joined the Union, water rights have been bartered, litigated, fought over, bought and sold for years, and are as contentious today as they have ever been. But a new study from the Texas Public Policy Foundation finds an emerging...
Press Release October 19, 2004AUSTIN, Texas — The chief economist of the Texas Public Policy Foundation today greeted with cheer news that federal lawmakers on a House-Senate conference committee had decided to restore sales tax deductibility to federal income taxes for citizens living in states without a state-level income tax. Byron Schlomach, Ph.D., said: “By once again making the...
Press Release October 7, 2004AUSTIN, Texas – A study released this week by the Texas Public Policy Foundation finds that despite sharply increased spending on Medicaid, the state has remained at the bottom of the national rankings of the uninsured. The study, “Medicaid And The Uninsured” by Beau Egert, is available online at www.TexasPolicy.com. The author points out that...
Press Release September 22, 2004AUSTIN, Texas — State District Judge John Dietz issued his ruling in the school finance lawsuit today. Byron Schlomach, Ph.D., is the chief economist for the Texas Public Policy Foundation, and offered this comment: "Judge Dietz, like so many others, has only considered the amount of money spent and not considered how it is being...
Press Release September 15, 2004AUSTIN, Texas – An average family of four in the Lone Star State could have had an extra $1,600 in their pocket last year if the state’s budget growth during the 1990’s had been restricted to population growth and inflation, according to a study released by the Texas Public Policy Foundation. The full study, “Tax...
Press Release August 18, 2004AUSTIN, Texas – The Texas Public Policy Foundation has conducted an analysis of the Texas House’s much-publicized study of public education spending. According to the Foundation’s chief economist, the study is educational, but of limited value for policy and legal decisions. The Foundation has also reviewed the House study’s ranking of school districts by efficiency,...
Press Release July 28, 2004AUSTIN, Texas – The Texas State Auditor today issued a report highly critical of the administration of the Children’s Health Insurance Program by the Health and Human Services Commission. The report (available at the state’s website, www.sao.state.tx.us/reports/2004/04-042.pdf) finds in excess of $20 million in unnecessary or excessive payments by the commission out of CHIP funds...
Press Release July 8, 2004AUSTIN, Texas – While rail transit is a popular solution to traffic woes, a new study published by the Texas Public Policy Foundation raises questions about the effectiveness – and even safety – of the projects. Great Rail Disasters: Impact Of Rail Transit On Urban Livability is available online at www.TexasPolicy.com. “The rush to build...
Press Release July 1, 2004