Today’s Texas Supreme Court decision on municipal plastic bag bans reaffirms the fact that home-rule cities are not above the law. Much like everyone else, city officials must observe and respect laws put in place by the state legislature.
Press Release June 22, 2018As both TPPF and the Trump Administration recognize, the ACA remains unconstitutional. But, until we have a final resolution from Congress or the Courts, we support the Trump Administration doing whatever it can, in its limited capacity as the executive branch, to improve health care options and outcomes for all Americans.
Press Release June 19, 2018Like any energy source, wind energy comes with tradeoffs. The reality is that wind energy comes at a great cost, particularly to nearby homeowners. One of the great drawbacks of wind turbines is the noise.
Press Release June 19, 2018The Foundation for Excellence in Education (ExcelinEd) and the Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF) today released a new case study to answer pressing questions about why public charter schools are growing at slower rates despite strong demand and serving communities well. Over the past four years, the annual rate of charter school growth declined precipitously...
Press Release June 18, 2018This is another outstanding jobs report for Texans and for many Americans nationwide. Employers in most private-sector industries continued to hire at a robust pace across the Lone Star State. There continues to be indications that the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that Congress passed last December contributed to more economic activity and job creation and near historic highs in business and consumer confidences. Also, early data indicate the reduction in state and local tax deductions supports faster job creation in low-tax states like Texas compared to high-tax states like California.
Press Release June 15, 2018Renewable energy subsidies have cost Texans more than $13 billion since 2006. But even more than that, they have harmed people and wildlife through the proliferation of wind turbines that never would have been built if not for the subsidies. Wind and solar generation are inefficient and simply can’t compete in the energy marketplace without subsidies. Texas policymakers need to be proactive in deciding how the next decade of energy policy will unfold.
Press Release June 13, 2018The Texas property tax system is terribly broken and harming our economy, employers and families. Our plan holds down state and local spending, and eventually, will eliminate a significant portion of the property tax.
Press Release June 12, 2018Today’s filing by the Trump Administration is a death blow to the ACA. This filing shows President Trump standing by his word to repeal ObamaCare even as Congress remains gridlocked and fails to act. If the Court agrees with today’s DOJ filing, the ACA will be left as no more than a combination of onerous regulations and burdensome taxes – all of which should be fully repealed.
Press Release June 8, 2018AUSTIN — Today, thirty prominent Texas conservative leaders sent a letter to Senators Ted Cruz and John Cornyn urging them to support the FIRST STEP Act, which would provide reentry programming to help reduce recidivism, increase public safety, and give those incarcerated a second chance once they have paid their debt to society. The legislation passed...
Press Release June 7, 2018Rod’s record speaks for itself. He is one of the most effective, leading reformers of the regulatory state, which has become an enormous obstacle to liberty and prosperity in Texas. We are thrilled to have his insights and expertise guiding our work at TPPF and are eager to put an end to one-size-fits all title insurance policies.
Press Release June 7, 2018Our research shows that rural pretrial incarceration has grown more than 400 percent since 1970. Possible reasons include the epidemic of opioids and other drugs, the inability of many defendants to afford high bail amounts, the reluctance of judges to release defendants on their own recognizance, and the lack of accessible treatment alternatives. Fortunately, our paper provides many solutions that policymakers can act on to ensure constitutional rights while also promoting public safety and reducing the burden on taxpayers.
Press Release June 5, 2018Texans and out-of-state visitors must pay exorbitant taxes for overnight stays in hotels or short-term rentals. As visitors seek to experience the beauty of the Lone Star State, they are required to financially ‘enhance and promote tourism and the convention and hotel industry’ through the hotel occupancy tax, but it really hurts local businesses instead. Without the tax, visitors could stay longer and spend more instead.
Press Release May 24, 2018