AUSTIN – The Texas Public Policy Foundation is pleased to announce a 13th Annual Policy Orientation Exclusive Discussion featuring former Senator Phil Gramm and former Congressman Kent Hance for a firsthand look into how the Reagan tax cuts laid the foundation for the Texas Model. The discussion will take place on Thursday, January 8th, 2015...
Press Release December 19, 2014AUSTIN – The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released state-level labor market data for November 2014. The Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Center for Fiscal Policy Economist Dr. Vance Ginn issued the following statement: “When it comes to providing economic opportunity, Texas continues to set records. Last month the state set the fourth consecutive monthly record...
Press Release December 19, 2014AUSTIN – Texas has the highest level of economic freedom in the United States according to a new study released this month by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank. The report, Economic Freedom of North America 2014, ranks states based on their levels of economic freedom—measured in size of government, taxation, regulation,...
Press Release December 18, 2014AUSTIN – The Texas Public Policy Foundation released a report today by Vice President of Research Bill Peacock on the constitutional right that just and adequate compensation be paid for any property taken under the government’s “inherent sovereign power of eminent domain,” including cases in which the government has extended the power of eminent domain...
Press Release December 17, 2014AUSTIN—The Texas Public Policy Foundation will host the Harris County Justice Summit to address Pre-Trial and Mental Health Solutions TOMORROW, December 12, 2014, at 8:00 a.m. CST at the DoubleTree Hotel in Downtown Houston. County jails are the gateway to the corrections system and are the form of incarceration that affect the greatest number of...
Press Release December 12, 2014AUSTIN – The Texas Public Policy Foundation is pleased to announced that author, entrepreneur, and media mogul Steve Forbes will deliver the opening keynote address at the 13th Annual Policy Orientation for the Texas Legislature. Mr. Forbes’ address will come at the opening luncheon of the Policy Orientation, Wednesday, January 7, 2015, at 12:00 p.m....
Press Release December 10, 2014AUSTIN—The Texas Public Policy Foundation will host the Harris County Justice Summit to address Pre-Trial and Mental Health Solutions THIS FRIDAY, December 12, 2014, at 8:00 a.m. CST at the DoubleTree Hotel in Downtown Houston. County jails are the gateway to the corrections system and are the form of incarceration that affect the greatest...
Press Release December 10, 2014AUSTIN – The Texas Bond Review Board’s newly published local government debt statistics for fiscal year 2014 show a rising tide of red ink. For FY 2014, local government debt outstanding (principal only) stood at an estimated $205.3 billion while local government debt service outstanding (remaining principal and interest) totaled $333.1 billion. Both figures represent...
Press Release December 10, 2014AUSTIN – The Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF) submitted comments in opposition to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed Clean Power Plan rule. Under the proposed rule, states are required to regulate in conformity with EPA’s dictates on a range of matters that lie entirely outside EPA’s statutory authority, including the regulation of their electrical...
Press Release December 3, 2014AUSTIN – The Texas Public Policy Foundation will host a Policy Primer discussing “Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform in Texas: Fighting Contraband, Upholding Civil Liberties” on Monday, December 8, 2014 at 11:30 a.m. CST in Texas State Capitol Conference Center located in room E2.002. Civil asset forfeiture is a common practice in Texas, responsible for part...
Press Release December 3, 2014AUSTIN – Today the Texas Public Policy Foundation released a paper by Center for Local Governance Senior Policy Analyst Jess Fields on how tax abatements increase taxes for taxpayers. The study, “The Failure of Tax Abatements: Corporate Handouts that Just Don’t Work For Taxpayers,” recommends that local governments focus on economic growth by creating overall...
Press Release December 3, 2014AUSTIN – In advance of the Legislative Budget Board’s (LBB) meeting today, the Texas Public Policy Foundation released updates to key budget research, The Real Texas Budget and The Conservative Texas Budget, using the latest Texas budget and economic data. The Conservative Texas Budget uses the actual 6.5 percent increase in population plus inflation during the last two fiscal years...
Press Release December 1, 2014