Endangered Species Act an Inefficient Tool for Protecting Endangered Species

The Texas Public Policy Foundation today released a paper on the Endangered Species Act by Megan Ingram, policy analyst with the Armstrong Center for Energy & the Environment at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. The paper, “The Endangered Species Act in Texas: A Survey and History”, provides an overview of the Endangered Species Act as a policy tool, a survey of key species in Texas, and guidance reform. 

Press Release June 26, 2017

TPPF Outlines Top Ten Ways Senate Healthcare Bill Fails to Repeal Obamacare

Today, the Texas Public Policy Foundation released a summary outlining the top ten ways the U.S. Senate leadership’s Better Care Reconciliation Act, released yesterday, fails to repeal Obamacare and ultimately address healthcare issues.

Press Release June 23, 2017

TPPF Releases Analysis of Senate Bill’s Failure to Repeal Obamacare and Fix Healthcare

Today, the Texas Public Policy Foundation released a summary of the U.S. Senate leadership’s Better Care Reconciliation Act. The summary, by TPPF Senior Healthcare Analyst Chris Jacobs, provides a detailed breakdown of the draft legislation that aims to repeal and replace Obamacare.

Press Release June 22, 2017

Opt-in Option the way to Fulfill Obamacare Repeal Promise

Today, The Texas Public Policy Foundation released a paper on repealing Obamacare by Drew White, senior federal policy analyst with the Center for Tenth Amendment Action at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. The paper, “Unity Through Federalism: Repealing Obamacare’s Regulations and Providing an Opt-In for the States,” argues that reversing the state waiver from an opt-out to an opt-in approach is the only chance Congress has to salvage both its credibility and America’s battered healthcare system.

Press Release June 21, 2017

TPPF Releases Paper on Tuition Revenue Bonds

The Texas Public Policy Foundation today released a paper on tuition revenue bonds by Trevor McGuire, policy analyst with the Center for Higher Education at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. The paper, “Tuition Revenue Bonds: An Analysis of the History and Use of TRBs in Texas from 1971-2016,” provides an overview of the history of TRBs in Texas, with recommendations for how the TRB authorization process can be improved.

Press Release June 15, 2017

TPPF Applauds Request for Opinion on Private Tree Ownership

Last week, Sen. Donna Campbell, Chair of the Senate Committee on Veteran Affairs and Border Security, petitioned the Texas Attorney General for an advisory opinion on the legality of municipal tree ordinances. The request seeks clarification as to whether these types of ordinances violate the takings clause of the Texas Constitution.

Press Release June 13, 2017

TPPF Statement on Gov. Abbott vetoing $120 million in the 2018-19 budget

Today, the Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Center for Fiscal Policy director Talmadge Heflin, vice president of research Bill Peacock, and economist Dr. Vance Ginn issued the following statement on Gov. Abbott’s signing of the 2018-19 Texas State Budget.

Press Release June 12, 2017

TPPF Files Amicus Brief in Plastic Bag Ban Case

On Friday, the Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF) filed an amicus brief in Laredo Merchants Association v. City of Laredo, Texas which is currently before the Supreme Court of Texas. The brief argues that the City of Laredo’s plastic bag ban conflicts with Texas state law, which preempts ordinances that prohibit the use or sale of a container or package for solid waste management purposes. In August 2016, the Fourth Court of Appeals ruled against the plastic bag ban, finding that the City’s ordinance is preempted by state law and “unenforceable as a matter of law.”

Press Release June 12, 2017

TPPF Leads National Coalition of Education Choice Advocates and Releases Letter Applauding Education Secretary Betsy DeVos

Today, Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF) joined 12 other leading state and national organizations in sending a letter to Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos praising her outspoken commitment to parental choice in education. The letter outlines the importance of state-led efforts on education choice, emphasizing the need to remain true to the tenets of federalism—in particular, by moving education decision-making out of Washington to states, local school districts, and ultimately parents.  In addition, the letter offers support for specific policies that the Administration should champion to bolster parental choice movements across the nation and to keep the education choice movement unified.   

Press Release June 7, 2017

TPPF Files Lawsuit to Delist Golden-Cheeked Warbler from the Endangered Species Act

Today, the Texas Public Policy Foundation filed a lawsuit to delist the golden-cheeked warbler from the endangered species list on behalf of the Texas General Land Office.

Press Release June 5, 2017

TPPF Statement on Filibuster of Annexation Reform

Last night Senate Bill 715, or the Texas Annexation Reform Act, was filibustered in the Texas Senate past a key procedural deadline. The effect of the delay was to kill the legislation and continue the policy of forced annexation.

Press Release May 29, 2017

TPPF Applauds Governor Abbott for Signing Ridesharing Reform Bill

Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Bryan Mathew, policy analyst with the Center for Local Governance, issued the following statement on Governor Greg Abbott signing House Bill 100, which establishes a predictable system of statewide regulation of ridesharing services.

Press Release May 29, 2017