“Today’s LBB vote for a state spending limit greater than population growth and inflation opens the door to a budget that increases the cost of government on every Texan. We appreciate the verbal commitments today by Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and Senate Finance Chairman Tommy Williams that the Senate’s budget will not pass through that...
Press Release November 15, 2012“Senate Bill 11 strikes the right balance between civic generosity and personal responsibility. It strengthens the work requirements and personal responsibility agreements so that welfare recipients are engaging in activities that will lead to personal success and financial independence. “Texas taxpayers should not be asked to subsidize a welfare recipient’s poor lifestyle choices that sabotage...
Press Release November 13, 2012AUSTIN – Texas Public Policy Foundation analysts Bill Peacock and Josiah Neeley today released a new report, The Cost of the Production Tax Credit and Renewable Energy Subsidies in Texas. The Production Tax Credit (PTC), a federal tax credit which subsidizes the production of renewable energy, is set to expire at the end of 2012....
Press Release November 12, 2012AUSTIN – The Texas Public Policy Foundation applauds Sen. Craig Estes for his filing of Senate Bill 113, repealing Texas’ margin tax, and offers its full support of the legislation. “The Texas margin tax is an experiment that has failed,” said Talmadge Heflin, Director of TPPF’s Center for Fiscal Policy. “We look forward to working...
Press Release November 12, 2012AUSTIN – The Texas Public Policy Foundation congratulates Barack Obama on his reelection as President of the United States. “The American people have chosen our direction, and we congratulate Barack Obama on his reelection,” said Foundation Chairman Wendy Gramm, “Whatever our political persuasion, the fact of fifty-seven quadrennial national elections without interruption over two centuries...
Press Release November 7, 2012Center for Effective Justice policy analyst Jeanette Moll will offer recommendations to improve Texas’ school discipline practices AUSTIN – Jeanette Moll, policy analyst for the Center for Effective Justice at the Texas Public Policy Foundation, will testify before a joint hearing of the Senate Education and Criminal Justice Committees at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, October...
Press Release October 30, 2012AUSTIN – The best solution for the problems associated with Texas’ margin tax is to phase out the tax over the next five years, according to a paper released today by the Texas Public Policy Foundation. “A lack of revenue is not the problem with the margin tax,” said Talmadge Heflin, director of the Center...
Press Release October 30, 2012AUSTIN – The school finance trial beginning Monday in Travis County State District Court will have major implications for the education of Texas public school students, according to experts from the Texas Public Policy Foundation. “Given the number of districts asserting inequities in our current system of funding public schools through local property taxes, this...
Press Release October 22, 2012AUSTIN – The Texas Workforce Commission’s (TWC) recent unemployment report once again illustrates that the Texas Model of doing business is alive and well in the Lone Star State, according to the Texas Public Policy Foundation. The TWC reported that September 2012 saw the addition of 21,000 net new jobs, the largest month-over-month increase in...
Press Release October 19, 2012AUSTIN – The Texas Supreme Court ruled today that the state’s margin tax does not violate the constitution, which puts the responsibility for reforming this complex tax squarely with the Legislature, according to the Texas Public Policy Foundation. “Despite the documented harm caused by the margin tax, Texas remains an economic leader and the number...
Press Release October 19, 2012AUSTIN – The Texas Public Policy Foundation has published a new education report, Pre-Kindergarten Effectiveness and the San Antonio Initiative, that finds the city of San Antonio’s pre-kindergarten initiative to be a poor investment of taxpayer funds. In November, San Antonio residents will vote on an initiative that would increase local sales tax by 1/8...
Press Release October 18, 2012AUSTIN – Today, the Texas Public Policy Foundation unveiled “Keeping Texas Competitive 2013,” a series of recommendations to the 83rd Texas Legislature that will keep Texas at the forefront of prosperity, job creation, and economic growth. “Texas’ economy has dominated the last decade because of wise decisions by our state’s policymakers, but other states are...
Press Release October 17, 2012