AUSTIN – Abuses of the Home Rule Amendment to the Texas Constitution have led to more and more cities practicing involuntary annexation. Property owners and residents currently have no opportunity to consent to or contest their annexation under the law. To discuss how to address the issue of private property rights and forced annexation, the Texas Public Policy Foundation will host the plenary session “No Voice, No Vote: Forced Annexation in Texas” at the 14th Annual Policy Orientation for the Texas Legislature on Wednesday, January 6, 2016 at 4:30 pm CST at the Hilton Austin Hotel in the Austin Grand Ballroom.
“It’s quite unlike the Lone Star State to prioritize big government over self-determination and property rights,” said Allegra Hill, policy analyst with the Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Center for Local Governance. “Right now, Texas law allows cities to forcibly annex people without their consent. This often means inflicting big city taxes and regulatory systems on people who didn’t vote for it and don’t want it.”
Panelists include:
- The Honorable Phil Gramm, Former United States Senator, Texas
- Senator Donna Campbell, Texas State Senate
- Representative Dan Huberty, Texas House of Representatives
- The Honorable Chuck DeVore, Vice President of National Initiatives, Texas Public Policy Foundation (Moderator)
Earlier this year, TPPF released research on forced annexation, which is available at:http://txpo.li/ending-forced-annexation
Senator Phil Gramm recently spoke out on forced annexation in a recent video, which can be viewed at: http://txpo.li/Sen-Gramm-forced-annexation
For over thirteen 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. This year’s program includes more than 35 panel discussions and debates on the major issues affecting Texas’ future.
Members of the public and media who wish to attend may register and view the agenda at: www.PolicyOrientation.com
The Honorable Chuck DeVore is vice president of national initiatives at the Texas Public Policy Foundation.
Allegra Hill is a policy analyst with the Center for Local Governance at the Texas Public Policy Foundation.
The Texas Public Policy Foundation is a non-profit, free-market research institute based in Austin, Texas.