Austin – Leaders of at least sixteen diverse statewide organizations gathered in Austin today to announce their unanimous support for the Texas Legislature to return at least one-half of the budget surplus to the taxpayers this legislative session as Governor Bush proposed at the beginning of the session. The leaders supported a joint resolution calling...
Press Release May 6, 1999San Antonio—The Texas Public Policy Foundation today issued a statement criticizing the proposed Austin/San Antonio Commuter Rail project. This latest statement is being made upon completion of the official feasibility study of the commuter rail project conducted by consultants to the Texas Department of Transportation. The statement follows on the heels of the release of...
Press Release March 11, 1999Austin, TX—The Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF) today released an analysis of the Capital Metropolitan Transit Authority that documents $288 million in cost saving opportunities over a decade. Moreover, concurrent tax reductions between $300 million to $500 million would allow the agency to maintain current service levels while reducing sales tax subsidies to ½ cent....
Press Release March 2, 1999San Antonio—The Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF) today released a comprehensive analysis of commuter rail projects across the U.S. which will impact the debate over funding of a commuter rail project between Austin and San Antonio. “This report is intended to introduce realism into the discussion over commuter rail between Austin and San Antonio. Before...
Press Release March 1, 1999San Antonio—The Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF) today released an update of its VIA Opportunity Analysis released in 1997. Jeff Judson, President of TPPF stated, “VIA took steps in the right direction by lowering bus fares. However, it has failed to reduce internal inefficiencies and then return those funds to San Antonio riders and taxpayers.”...
Press Release March 1, 1999San Antonio, TX—The Texas Public Policy Foundation today released a survey of private schools in the six largest Texas counties which reveals key facts regarding participation by private schools in a school choice program. Of most significance, a majority of private schools in Texas are willing to be part of a school voucher program thereby...
Press Release February 17, 1999San Antonio, TX—Today, three independent research organizations, in a joint effort, released a 204 page comprehensive analysis of mathematics textbooks under consideration by all Texas school districts for use in grades 1 through 8 along with a separate 21-page report on the differing philosophies of instruction exhibited by the textbooks. The report is being sent...
Press Release January 22, 1999San Antonio – The Texas Public Policy Foundation has expanded its ability to promote limited government by acquiring complex computer modeling capabilities on state tax policy. Once reserved for the Texas Comptroller, the Legislative Budget Board and large firms with powerful mainframe computers, the Texas Public Policy Foundation now has the ability to analyze past...
Press Release October 22, 1998San Antonio – TPPF President Jeff Judson called upon the Bexar County District Attorney to investigate the possible violation of the Texas Election Code by the Northeast Independent School District (NEISD) in its advertising for an upcoming bond election. NEISD purchased a six-page color insert in the Express News on August 5. TPPF believes...
Press Release September 1, 1998San Antonio – The advertising insert in yesterday’s San Antonio Express News paid for by the Northeast Independent School District erroneously asserts that the District must spend over $26 million on computer and technology upgrades as a result of “state mandates.” “No such state mandate exists and any claims by NEISD officials to such...
Press Release August 6, 1998San Antonio – Following its successful Opportunity Analysis of VIA Metropolitan Transit, the Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF) today released an analysis of Bexar County government. The Analysis identifies opportunities to save over $421 million over the next decade, an amount equal to $700 for every household in Bexar County. The Analysis looked at the...
Press Release July 20, 1998San Antonio – The VIA Metropolitan Transit Board will consider tonight a reduction in fares for San Antonio bus riders as well as other policy recommendations affecting cash reserves and contributions to the city, county and suburban governments for street repairs. The consideration of this measure comes on the heels of a Texas Public Policy...
Press Release June 23, 1998