AUSTIN – With Tax Day 2011 just four days away, the release of a new study by Dr. Arthur Laffer, Dr. Wayne H. Winegarden, and John Childs underscores the importance of simplifying the U.S. tax code as a way to reduce the compliance costs of the tax burden, thereby boosting growth in the economy. Entitled...
Press Release April 14, 2011"The Texas House today strengthened the property rights protections in Senate Bill 18 by adopting the ‘buyback' and ‘public use' amendments. These amendments are essential to fixing Texas' Kelo problem once and for all, and we hope that the Texas Senate accepts them when the bill comes back across the rotunda. "The ‘buyback' amendment by...
Press Release April 13, 2011AUSTIN – Seven policy, business, and grassroots organizations have banded together to form Texans for a Conservative Budget, a coalition that will urge the Texas Legislature to approve a 2012-13 state budget that cuts non-essential programs, does not raise taxes or fees, and does not tap the state’s Economic Stabilization Fund. The coalition debuted at...
Press Release April 6, 2011“Last November, Texas voters sent a loud and unambiguous message that they wanted government to live within its means. Tonight, the Texas House delivered a budget bill for the next biennium that does just that. “As Chairman Jim Pitts noted, Texas has about $5 billion less in general revenue than it did two years ago...
Press Release April 3, 2011AUSTIN – Internationally renowned economist and Texas Public Policy Foundation Senior Fellow Dr. Arthur Laffer issued a research report today, entitled “Texas’ Fiscal Future,” that endorses the Texas House’s passage of CSHB 1, the proposed 2012-13 state budget it will debate tomorrow, and disputes the claim that Texas would lose hundreds of thousands of jobs...
Press Release March 31, 2011Statement by The Honorable Talmadge Heflin, Director of TPPF’s Center for Fiscal Policy: “Claims that adopting a 2012-13 state budget that is within existing revenues would decimate Texas’ economy misinterpret a central point in the Legislative Budget Board’s analysis. The negative 272 thousand change in jobs predicted for 2012 does not imply the state will...
Press Release March 24, 2011“One year ago, Congress completed one of the most audacious power grabs in our country’s history when it gave final approval to ObamaCare. The Texas Public Policy Foundation was a vocal critic of the ObamaCare proposal, as our research showed it would increase health care costs and medical price inflation, slow our national economy, and...
Press Release March 21, 2011“We are disappointed to learn that Texas will likely resort to using its rainy day fund this early in the legislative session. Legislators in both the House and Senate should heed Speaker Straus’ commitment to continue looking for budget savings that will reduce any draw on the rainy day fund. “Having partially depleted the rainy...
Press Release March 15, 2011“The concerns about job security of the teachers attending today’s rally at the State Capitol are understandable. While no one should be completely immune from budget reductions in this tough fiscal cycle, teachers should certainly not be the first cuts – as too many school districts have proposed. “Over the last 20 years, state spending...
Press Release March 12, 2011AUSTIN – The Texas Public Policy Foundation has joined forces with several influential Texas organizations to promote the Health Care Compact, an agreement between participating states that moves authority, responsibility, and control over funding for the health care system to member states. The compact seeks to engage citizens in the development of state-based health care...
Press Release March 8, 2011AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas House on Tuesday voted down important legislation to reform public schools after amendments watered down the bill. The president of the Texas Public Policy Foundation said it was important for lawmakers to keep working in the interest of children, parents and taxpayers. "Texans deserve real tax relief and education reform...
Press Release March 1, 2011AUSTIN – The Texas Public Policy Foundation unveiled a proposal that would replace the federal Medicaid program with a state-driven TexHealth program, dramatically transforming the way medical care and services are provided to low-income individuals. “The federal Medicaid program is structurally designed to make states spend money in ineffective ways,” said TPPF Executive Director Arlene...
Press Release February 22, 2011