TPPF Statement on Texas Attorney General’s Amicus Brief in Bone Cave Harvestman Case

The Texas Public Policy Foundation’s (TPPF) General Counsel and Director of the Center for the American Future Robert Henneke issued the following statement on theAmicus Curiae filed by the Texas Attorney General in a lawsuit seeking delisting of the Bone Cave Harvestman from the Endangered Species Act (ESA). TPPF’s Center for the American Future is representing Williamson County resident John Yearwood and Williamson County, Texas in American Stewards of Liberty, et al. v. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, et al., which challenges the authority of the federal government to use the Interstate Commerce Clause to regulate non-commercial interactions with the Bone Cave Harvestman arachnid, which only exists in two central Texas counties, is not bought nor traded in interstate commerce, and does not otherwise affect interstate commerce.

Press Release December 15, 2016

Texas Public Policy Foundation Files Amicus Brief on Plastic Bag Ban

The Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF) filed an amicus curiae brief in Laredo Merchants Association v. City of Laredo, Texas which is currently before the Supreme Court of Texas. The brief opposing the City of Laredo’s ordinance that directly contradicts Texas law by prohibiting retailers from providing customers with plastic bags. In August 2016, the Fourth Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the Laredo Merchants Association’s case against the City of Laredo’s plastic bag ban, finding that the ordinance is preempted by existing state statute and “unenforceable as a matter of law.”    

Press Release December 13, 2016

TPPF Statement on ‘Fair Chance’ Hiring Legislation

The Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Senior Policy Analyst for the Center for Effective Justice Greg Glod, J.D., issued the following statement on Representative Paul Workman’s bill, House Bill 577, which would prohibit local “Ban the Box” and “Fair Chance” hiring ordinances. Under the bill, which was introduced today, local entities will be prohibited form enacting a law that prohibits, limits, or regulates a private employer’s ability to look into a prospective employee’s criminal history when considering them for a job. The bill still allows local bodies to enact a law when the company is entering into, or doing business with the local body, such as a public sector position or a contract between a private and public entity.

Press Release December 13, 2016

TPPF Statement on Texas Senate Bill to Reform Texas Child Protective Services

The Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Director of the Center for Families and Children Brandon Logan, J.D., CWLS, issued the following statement on Senate Bill 11, the 85th Legislature’s first substantial legislation to reform Texas Child Protective Services (CPS). Among other things, the bill expands the continuum of services provided under the State’s foster care redesign initiative, which began in 2011. Under the bill, regional single-source contractors that currently provide foster care services could eventually have responsibility for case management and family preservation services, subject to meeting quality benchmarks.

Press Release December 8, 2016

TPPF Statement on New Local Debt Data

The Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Center for Local Governance Director James Quintero issued the following statement on the Texas Bond Review Board’s new data on public debt owed by Texas’ cities, counties, school districts, and special districts. According to the agency’s estimates, the total debt owed by all local governmental entities rose to $342.1 billion in FY 2016, an increase from $338.4 billion owed in the previous fiscal year. Total local debt owed per capita is slightly above $12,450.  

Press Release December 6, 2016
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