AUSTIN, Texas – With no agreement likely to be reached before the end of the First Called Session of the Texas Legislature on a tax bill, the following statement was issued by the vice president of the Texas Public Policy Foundation: “It’s unfortunate that an agreement hasn’t been reached on property tax relief, but the...
Press Release July 19, 2005AUSTIN, Texas – With the early morning passage of CSHB3, the Texas Senate set the right direction for conference committee negotiations with the state house, according to the Texas Public Policy Foundation’s chief economist. “Taken on the whole, the Senate’s tax bill represents a good policy direction for the state. It’s not perfect, but it...
Press Release July 11, 2005AUSTIN, Texas – With Texas Senate Finance Committee Chairman Steve Ogden’s refusal to use fiscal analysis from the Legislative Budget Board coming under attack, the chief economist for the Texas Public Policy Foundation said the senator is right to be suspicious. “Too many people in and around the legislative process have taken to using the...
Press Release July 10, 2005AUSTIN, Texas — Governor Rick Perry expanded the Call of the Special Session to include private property rights protection in response to the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision, Kelo v New London. “The Supreme Court’s decision exposed significant weaknesses in Texas law when it comes to protecting Texans’ private property rights,” said Bill Peacock, the...
Press Release July 10, 2005AUSTIN, Texas — With passage by the Texas Senate today of the education reform package, the director of research at the Texas Public Policy Foundation issued the following statement: “The senate’s education reform measure brings some real strengths to the conference committee, complimenting the work the house did earlier in the week,” said Chris Patterson....
Press Release June 30, 2005AUSTIN, Texas — The House Ways & Means Committee on Wednesday adopted a tax plan offered by State Rep. John Smithee that reduces property taxes without creating new classes of taxes. The vice president of the Texas Public Policy Foundation issued the following statement: “The committee has chosen a plan that reflects good economic policy,”...
Press Release June 29, 2005AUSTIN, Texas – The Texas House passed House Bill 2 late Tuesday night, and was praised for its “forward-thinking approach” to improving public education by the research director of the Texas Public Policy Foundation. “House Bill 2 brings together key reforms that will improve our public schools by raising academic standards and increasing financial accountability,”...
Press Release June 28, 2005AUSTIN, Texas – At a press conference today, the president of the Texas Public Policy Foundation praised the reforms found in House Bill 2 as “good for all Texans.” “These reforms mean a lot to me, as I consider their impact on my son,” said Brooke Rollins. “All Texas children deserve to be educated in...
Press Release June 24, 2005AUSTIN, Texas – Governor Rick Perry today announced his tax proposal as lawmakers convene on the first day of the special session. The president of the Texas Public Policy Foundation, Brooke Rollins, offered the following statement. “The governor’s plan recognizes that we cannot stifle economic growth by applying burdensome new taxes, but we still need...
Press Release June 21, 2005AUSTIN, Texas — With the governor’s call of a special session, the following statement was issued by Brooke Rollins, president of the Texas Public Policy Foundation: “It’s our hope that legislators will come to Austin with the desire to enact true tax reductions and important education reform. Lawmakers have the chance to do right by...
Press Release June 18, 2005Austin, TX – With today’s veto of HB2193, the Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Center for Effective Justice director Marc Levin issued the following statement: “Texans recognize that the current probation system is broken with unacceptably high rates of revocations and recidivism. While HB 2193 contained positive reforms such as progressive sanctions and the expansion of...
Press Release June 17, 2005AUSTIN, Texas – The Texas House on Sunday followed the Senate’s lead in passing a $139.4 billion budget, which the Texas Public Policy Foundation’s vice president, Michael Quinn Sullivan, today described as “too big, even for Texas.” “We are not seeing the same fiscal discipline that marked last Session’s budget process. Two years ago, lawmakers...
Press Release May 29, 2005