When the Feds Go Rogue

AUSTIN – The Texas Public Policy Foundation will host “When the Feds Go Rogue: the States’ Duty to Respond” this Thursday, August 7, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the State Capitol Legislative Conference Center, room E2.002. New instances of federal overreach are revealed at an alarming rate: the EPA regulating without restraint, the...

Outcomes bleak for Texans faced with regulatory takings

AUSTIN – The Texas Public Policy Foundation released a report today by Kathleen Hunker on the lack of protection for property owners in regulatory takings law entitled, Private Property Interrupted: A Blueprint for Protecting Texas Property Owners from Regulatory Takings Abuse. “Local governments essentially have carte blanche authority to halt, alter, and even eliminate, without compensation,...

TPPF releases Putting the Student First School Finance for Texas

AUSTIN – The Texas Public Policy Foundation today released Putting the Student First – School Finance for Texas. This report, authored by Foundation Senior Fellow James Golsan, discusses the history and future of school finance in the Lone Star State. “School finance is a complex, contentious issue that has been argued in the Texas courts, repeatedly re-worked,...

Bill Peacock testifies on government-induced poverty

AUSTIN – Texas Public Policy Foundation Vice President of Research Bill Peacock testified in front of the Economic Development Incentives Commitee of the Texas House of Representatives this morning on the unintended consequences of government spending.    “The real cause of poverty—the unchecked power of the state against poor people without rights—is confirmed by the...

Brief: Millions of dollars collected in fees at consumers’ expense.

AUSTIN – The Texas Public Policy Foundation released a report today by Managing Editor Carine Martinez-Gouhier and Vice President of Research Bill Peacock highlighting the burden of franchise fees on the Texan consumer.   “Cities claim that franchise fees are a kind of ‘rent’ for the use of public right-of-ways,” said Vice President of Research...

Texas Model Supports Job Creation

Every year, municipalities levy hundreds of millions of dollars on utilities in right-of-way (ROW) fees, largely in excess of what is needed for the maintenance of ROWs. Consumers end up paying the bill. “

ICYMI: Conservative Texas Budget Coalition holds press conference on The Conservative Texas Budget report

AUSTIN – The Texas Public Policy Foundation joined its allies in the Conservative Texas Budget coalition Tuesday in the release of The Conservative Texas Budget. The report recommends capping the growth of state funds and all funds for the 2016-17 biennium at 6.2 percent. The Foundation’s Talmadge Heflin, Director of the Center for Fiscal Policy, and Dr....

ICYMI: “Sugar Shakedown” Heritage releases new report exposing effects of sugar lobby cronyism in the farm bill

The Conservative Texas Budget coalition releases The Conservative Texas Budget report

AUSTIN – The Texas Public Policy Foundation joined its allies in The Conservative Texas Budget coalition today in the release of The Conservative Texas Budget. This report establishes recommended limits on the growth of state funds and all funds for the 2016-17 biennium. The Foundation’s Talmadge Heflin, Director of the Center for Fiscal Policy and Dr. Vance Ginn,...

TPPF releases new report: Texas Education: Original Intent of Texas Constitution

AUSTIN – The Texas Public Policy Foundation announced today that attorney Kate E. Murphy has joined the Foundation as a Hogg Foundation Mental Health Fellow through the Hogg Mental Health Policy Fellow Grants program. The program provides recent graduates of law, social work, public policy or other graduate programs with intensive training, education and experience...

Attorney Kate E. Murphy joins TPPF as a Hogg Foundation Mental Health Fellow

AUSTIN – The Texas Public Policy Foundation announced today that attorney Kate E. Murphy has joined the Foundation as a Hogg Foundation Mental Health Fellow through the Hogg Mental Health Policy Fellow Grants program. The program provides recent graduates of law, social work, public policy or other graduate programs with intensive training, education and experience...

TPPF statement on the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals The Aransas Project v. Shaw verdict

AUSTIN – The Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Kathleen Hartnett White, Distinguished Senior Fellow and Director for the Armstrong Center for Energy and Environment issued this statement regarding The Aransas Project v. Shaw verdict: “Yesterday's decision represents a major victory both for Texas and for the rule of law. Had the district court's ruling been allowed to stand,...