“We are pleased that Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and Speaker Joe Straus are getting out in front of our state’s budget situation by asking agencies for targeted spending reductions. This is a time for state government to prioritize needs and cut some of the least important items, and the letter from Dewhurst and Straus seeks...
Press Release February 2, 2009“We applaud Gov. Rick Perry’s focus on fiscal responsibility in his remarks today. This is the time for state government to restrain spending, not to increase taxes or expand programs. Texas must continue to lead by example, rather than to follow other large states like California down the path to bankruptcy. “We join Gov. Perry...
Press Release January 27, 2009AUSTIN – The Texas Public Policy Foundation called on the 81st Texas Legislature to enact legislation that would end the abuse by political subdivisions of their eminent domain authority. “Property rights and freedom in America were turned upside down with the Kelo decision,” said Bill Peacock, Director of the Foundation’s Center for Economic Freedom. “In...
Press Release January 22, 2009“The first draft of the 2010-11 Texas state budget reinforces the message from Comptroller Susan Combs’ revenue estimate last week. The Texas Legislature needs to get to work on pruning the next state budget back within the available revenue. “The legislature needs to be mindful of the hard lesson it learned in 2001, when it...
Press Release January 20, 2009“The comptroller’s revenue estimate makes clear what we have suspected for several months: while Texas has positioned itself better than just about any other state, we will not be immune to the effects from this national recession. “The Texas Legislature needs to demonstrate leadership this year by pruning state spending now. Already, there are calls...
Press Release January 12, 2009“Almost 53 percent of spending by Texas governments is done at the local level. Unfortunately, detailed information on that local spending is virtually inaccessible to taxpayers, who are the true local control. “As our new report Texas Transparency: Then and Now published earlier this week shows, Texas’ experience with spending transparency undercuts all the excuses...
Press Release December 3, 2008AUSTIN – Today’s issuance of the last school charters allowed under current law makes it essential that the Texas Legislature repeal its cap on charter schools. “Restrictions imposed by the Texas Legislature now deny tens of thousands of students the opportunity to enroll in their preferred public school,” said Brooke Dollens Terry, education policy analyst...
Press Release November 21, 2008AUSTIN – Tens of thousands of Texas school children will be locked out of the school that can best meet their needs once the State Board of Education hits the Texas Legislature’s cap on charter schools later this week. “The State Board of Education has done what it can to promote competition and innovation in...
Press Release November 20, 2008“Next year, the Texas Legislature will reveal whether it has learned the lessons of 2001 or whether it will spend us into another budget crisis. By choosing one of the more conservative options on the 2010-11 spending limit, today’s Legislative Budget Board decision is a positive sign. “In 2001, the legislature convened with a $6...
Press Release November 14, 2008“The Sunset Advisory Commission’s staff recommendations would create a Texas juvenile justice system that produces better results for youths, crime victims, and taxpayers. “Having juvenile probation and juvenile corrections under separate funding streams has not served Texans well. Merging those funding streams will incentivize counties to rely on local, community-based programs that are more effective...
Press Release November 12, 2008AUSTIN – Texas’ efforts to make it the nation’s leading wind energy state have come at a cost – at least $60 billion between now and 2025 – that will be borne by consumers and taxpayers, according to a report released today by the Texas Public Policy Foundation. “The combined cost of subsidies, tax breaks,...
Press Release October 28, 2008“Gov. Perry’s action today highlights a major advantage of privatizing government services. When a function performed by government goes wrong, bureaucratic rules often protect the personnel or programs at fault. But when a private vendor is involved, the state can hold it accountable to its contract and ultimately seek competition from other vendors. “Unions and...
Press Release October 28, 2008