The Texas Public Policy Foundation today unveiled the 2017-18 “Legislator’s Guide to the Issues,” a series of recommendations to the 85th Texas Legislature that will keep Texas at the forefront of liberty, prosperity, and economic growth.
Press Release September 8, 2016The Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Director of the Center for Fiscal Policy the Honorable Talmadge Heflin issued the following statement on the state revenue data for fiscal 2016 that ended in August released yesterday by the Texas Comptroller:
Press Release September 8, 2016The Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF) and Goldwater Institute filed a lawsuit in Travis County District Court today against the City of Austin and the Austin Firefighters Association, Local 975 challenging the City’s labor agreement with Austin Firefighters Association, Local 975. The lawsuit, Pulliam, et. al. v. City of Austin, et. al., seeks to halt the practice of “release time” also known as “association business leave,” and “union leave,” which assigns city employees to work for the union at taxpayer expense. The agreement violates the Texas Constitution “gift clause” provision that prohibits government from giving taxpayer funds to private entities without a public purpose.
Press Release September 7, 2016The Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF) and the Goldwater Institute will host a media conference call briefing TODAY, Wednesday, September 7, at 10:00 a.m. CDT to discuss a lawsuit to be filed to against the City of Austin challenging the Austin Fire Department's labor agreement with Austin Firefighters Association, Local 975. The labor agreement allows for “release time,” also known as “association business leave,” and “union leave,” which allows city employees to be assigned to work for the union at taxpayer expense. The agreement violates the Texas Constitution “gift clause” provision that prohibits government from giving taxpayer funds to private entities without a public purpose.
Press Release September 7, 2016The Texas Public Policy Foundation’s leading energy and environment experts are available to discuss President Barack Obama, along with Chinese President Xi Jinping’s recent “ratification” of the Paris Climate Agreement this past weekend at the 11th annual G-20 Summit in Hangzhou, China. Experts include the Foundation’s Distinguished Senior Fellow-in-Residence & Director of the Armstrong Center for Energy & the Environment, Kathleen Hartnett White, and Director of the Fueling Freedom Project, the Honorable Doug Domenech.
Press Release September 7, 2016The Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Vice President of Research and Director of the Center for Economic Freedom Bill Peacock and General Counsel Robert Henneke issued the following statements on the verdict delivered by a state district court in Harris County awarding Professional Janitorial Services (PJS) Houston $5.4 million in damages for the business lost when the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) made false claims against PJS in an aggressive union organizing campaign.
Press Release September 7, 2016The Texas Public Policy Foundation today released a paper by Center for Effective Justice Deputy Director Derek Cohen, Policy Analyst Greg Glod, and Staff Writer Michael Haugen on the Department of Defense’s 1033 program, under which surplus or out-of-date materiel is transferred to law enforcement departments in the states. The paper, Watchmen or Warfighters? A Conservative Proposal for Limiting Military-Grade Weapons Sent to States, examines how these military-grade weapons are disbursed and used by civilian law enforcement, including municipal and county law enforcement, school districts, and environmental enforcement agencies.
Press Release August 31, 2016The Texas Public Policy Foundation today released a paper by Center for Higher Education Director Dr. Thomas Lindsay on unconstitutional restrictions on free speech and debate at universities in Texas and the nation. The paper, “Free to Learn? Think Again,” examines policies that suppress the First Amendment rights of students and makes recommendations on how to restore the First Amendment on Texas public university campuses.
Press Release August 31, 2016The Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF), through its litigation Center for the American Future, filed a lawsuit challenging the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) approval of standards issued by the Air Resources Board for tractors, excavators, and other nonroad vehicles. The case, Dalton Trucking v. EPA, was filed Tuesday with the 9th Circuit federal appellate court in San Francisco. The petitioners argue that EPA violated the Clean Air Act by rubber-stamping California’s stringent standards without inquiring whether those standards were actually needed to protect the health and welfare of California residents, as required by the Act.
Press Release August 31, 2016Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Center for Local Governance Director James Quintero issued the following statement on the prevention of a $100 million tax increase in Dallas. In the 84th Regular Session, state lawmakers passed SB 1760, a taxpayer protection bill aimed at improving transparency and accountability in Texas’ property tax system. One of the structural...
Press Release August 26, 2016The Texas Public Policy Foundation’s (TPPF) Center for Effective Justice Deputy Director Derek Cohen will testify on civil asset forfeiture in Texas before the Texas Senate Committee on Criminal Justice TODAY, Tuesday, August 23, at 1:30 p.m. CDT in Room E1.016 of the Texas State Capitol.
Press Release August 23, 2016The Texas Public Policy Foundation today released a paper by Center for Tenth Amendment Action Director Dr. Thomas Lindsay on an Article V convention of states to propose constitutional amendments. The paper, “Who’s Afraid of an Article V Convention of States? Answering Opponent’s Concerns” reviews the arguments of both the defenders and the critics of the Article V movement.
Press Release August 19, 2016