AUSTIN – The Texas Public Policy Foundation’s 15th Annual Policy Orientation for the Texas Legislature enters its second day TODAY, January 12, 2017 with keynotes by Emmy-winning journalist John Stossel and Texas Supreme Court Justice Don Willett. It also includes panels discussing Education Savings Accounts, workers’ compensation, the child-welfare system, criminal justice reform, franchise tax relief, a Convention of the States, the rush to renewable energy, climate intimidation and more.

Keynote and plenary sessions will be live streamed at: http://txpo.li/TPPFlive

To view the complete agenda, visit: http://txpo.li/2hOkNGZ

For over fourteen years, the Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Policy Orientation has been one of the nation’s top policy conferences, selling out each year while bringing together lawmakers, policy experts, and engaged citizens from across the political spectrum to discuss critical issues facing the Lone Star State and America. 

Media can register at https://tppf-po2017.eventbrite.com

Or contact Caroline Espinosa at [email protected] or 512-472-2700 or Elizabeth Lincicome at [email protected] or 919-744-8087.

WHO:             Texas Public Policy Foundation

WHAT:           15th Annual Policy Orientation for the Texas Legislature 

WHEN:           January 11-13, 2017 

WHERE:         Sheraton Austin Hotel at the Capitol

                        701 East 11th Street

                        Austin, TX 78701

AGENDA: 

 

The Texas Public Policy Foundation’s 15th Annual Policy Orientation for the Texas Legislature

 

Day 2: Thursday, January 12, 2017

 

8:00 am

BREAKFAST KEYNOTE

Emmy-winning Journalist John Stossel

 

9:30 am

CONCURRENT POLICY PANELS

 

Education Savings Accounts: The Solution Texas Needs?

Dr. Patrick Wolf • Thomas Ratliff • Senator Larry Taylor • Dr. Marty Lueken • Stephanie Matthews • Rafa Bejar

 

Lone Star Tomorrow: What Do Texas’s Changing Demographics Tell Us about the Future of State Policymaking?

Corrie MacLaggan • Daniel Garza • Dr. James Henson • Erica Grieder • Dr. Steve Murdock

 

Workers’ Compensation in Texas: Non-Subscribing from Orthodoxy

Bruce C. Wood • Jennifer D. Hurless • Commissioner Ryan Brannan • Bill Peacock

 

11:00 am

CONCURRENT POLICY PANELS

 

Change for Children: Reforming Texas’s Child-Welfare System

Representative James Frank • Brandon Logan • Andrew C. Brown • Dr. Wayne Carson • Tymothy L. Belseth

 

Controlling Costs and Correcting Criminals

Bryan Collier • Terry Schuster • Arthur Rizer • Senator Bryan Hughes • Marc Levin

 

Franchise Tax Relief in a Tight Budget Session

 Grover Norquist • Senator Don Huffines • Chairman Jim Murphy • Dr. Vance Ginn

 

Time for a Convention of the States?

 Andrew S. Oldham • Chip Roy • Representative Rick Miller • Mark Meckler

 

12:30 pm

KEYNOTE LUNCHEON

Texas Supreme Court Justice Don Willett

 

2:00 pm

CONCURRENT POLICY PANELS

 

Outcomes-Based Funding and Education Excellence

Trevor McGuire • Chairman John M. Zerwas, M.D. • Dr. Richard A. Johnson III • Commissioner Raymund Paredes, Ph.D

 

“Regulation At Any Cost?!” How Small Business Can Work Together to Challenge Regulatory Overreach

Joseph Rajkovacz • Ted Hadzi-Antich • Skip Brown • Chris Pepper • Billy Howe

 

“Web Of Denial:” Climate Intimidation and the Chilling of Climate Science

Andrew M. Grossman • The Honorable Doug Domenech • Attorney General Ken Paxton

 

3:00 pm

CONCURRENT POLICY PANELS

 

Telehealth: Promise and Problems

Dr. Norman L. Sussman • Nora Belcher • Chairman Jodie Laubenberg • Dr. Ray Callas • Dr.       Deane Waldman

 

Texas and the Rush to Renewables

 Chairman Donna L. Nelson • Tony Bennett • Jeffrey Clark • Senator Craig Estes • The Honorable Kathleen Hartnett White

 

The Californiazation of Texas: Plastic Bag Bans

Phil Rozenski • Lia Colabello • James Quintero • Representative Drew Springer • Robin Schneider

 

5:00 pm

PLENARY SESSION:   

What Makes Ethics Ethical?

 

The Texas Public Policy Foundation is a non-profit free-market research institute based in Austin.

Primary website: www.TexasPolicy.com

Facebook page: www.Facebook.com/TexasPublicPolicyFoundation

Twitter feed: www.Twitter.com/TPPF