ICYMI: 15th Annual Policy Orientation Panel and Keynote Videos Now Available

The videos are now available from the Texas Public Policy Foundation’s 15th Annual Policy Orientation for the Texas Legislature, which took place from Wednesday, January 11, 2017 to Friday, January 13, 2017 in Austin, TX. This year’s sold-out Policy Orientation featured an array of prominent speakers on the major issues affecting the future of both Texas and the rest of the country as we usher in a new Administration.

Press Release February 2, 2017

TPPF Releases Paper on the Sales Tax Reduction (STaR) Fund

The Texas Public Policy Foundation today released the paper Budget Cutting Through the Sales Tax Reduction (STaR) Fund by the Center for Fiscal Policy’s director The Honorable Talmadge Heflin and economist Dr. Vance Ginn. The paper explains the need for the Sales Tax Reduction (STaR) Fund and describes how it would work as a mechanism to allocate state surplus dollars in order to reduce the bottom line of the budget while keeping more money in taxpayers’ pocket.

Press Release February 2, 2017

TPPF Releases Paper on Eliminating Texas’ Business Margins Tax

The Texas Public Policy Foundation today released the paper Unleashing Economic Growth by Eliminating Texas’ Business Margins Tax by the Center for Fiscal Policy’s economist Dr. Vance Ginn and research associate Malcolm Dang. The paper summarizes the economic research findings that Texas would benefit in terms of higher personal income and more job creation after eliminating the state’s business franchise tax, often called the margins tax.  

Press Release February 2, 2017

TODAY: TPPF’s Brandon Logan to Testify on Child Protective Services Legislation

Texas Public Policy Foundation Center for Families and Children Director Brandon Logan will give invited testimony before the Texas Senate Committee on Health and Human Services hearing to consider Senate Bill 11, relating to the administration of services by the Department of Family and Protective Services TODAY, Thursday, February 2, 2017 at 1:00 pm CST in room E1.028.

Press Release February 2, 2017

TPPF Statement on Gov. Abbott’s Call for Local Pension Reform

The Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Center for Local Governance Director James Quintero issued the following statement on Governor Greg Abbott’s 2018-19 Budget, which calls for getting state government “out of the business of micromanaging local pension decisions while unequivocally making clear that statewide taxpayers will not be on the hook to bailout local pensions.”

Press Release February 1, 2017

NEXT WEEK: Press Conference on Conservative Texas Budget

The Texas Public Policy Foundation and its allies in the Conservative Texas Budget Coalition will hold a press conference Tuesday, February 7, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. CST in the Lieutenant Governor’s Press Room at the State Capitol. Members from the Coalition will call on the 85th Texas Legislature to cap the increase in the total 2018-19 budget at no more than $218.5 billion based on a 4.5 percent in population growth plus inflation during the last two fiscal years, eliminate the state’s costly business margins tax, structurally reform property taxes, and highlight other priorities to build on the success of the Texas model. 

Press Release February 1, 2017

TPPF Statement on Gov. Abbott’s Call for Greater Local Liberty

The Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Center for Local Governance Director James Quintero issued the following statement on Governor Greg Abbott’s 2018-19 Budget. The governor’s budget states: “If local control is interfering with economic freedom, it is the job of the state to intervene and create a regulatory climate that actually makes sense for our citizens, rather than hinders their lives.” 

Press Release February 1, 2017

TPPF Statement on Gov. Abbott’s Comments on Property Taxes in State of the State Address

The Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Center for Local Governance Policy Analyst Bryan Mathew issued the following statement on Governor Greg Abbott’s declaration today in his State of the State address that property tax increases need to be reined in.  

Press Release February 1, 2017

TPPF Statement on Article V Convention of States Comments in State of the State Address

The Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Center for Tenth Amendment Action Director Chip Roy issued the following statement on Governor Greg Abbott’s comments on an Article V Convention of States in the State of the State address today. 

Press Release January 31, 2017

TPPF Statement on Gov. Abbott’s Declaration of Texas Child Protective Services an Emergency Item

The Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Center for Families and Children Director Brandon Logan issued the following statement on Governor Greg Abbott’s declaration today in his State of the State address that child protective services is an emergency item.

Press Release January 31, 2017

TPPF Statement on Gov. Abbott’s Comments on the Franchise Tax in the State of the State Address

The Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Center for Fiscal Policy Director the Honorable Talmadge Heflin issued the following statement on Governor Greg Abbott’s  comments on eliminating the franchise tax in the State of the State address. 

Press Release January 31, 2017

TPPF Releases Paper on Probation Funding Recommendations

Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Center for Effective Justice today released a paper by Senior Policy Analyst Greg Glod on probation funding. The paper, Incentivizing Results: Lessons from other States’ Probation Funding Formula Reforms and Recommendations to Texas Lawmakers, examines incentivized probation outcomes and how to implement reforms in Texas.

Press Release January 31, 2017