The Texas Public Policy Foundation today released a paper on tuition revenue bonds by Trevor McGuire, policy analyst with the Center for Higher Education at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. The paper, “Tuition Revenue Bonds: An Analysis of the History and Use of TRBs in Texas from 1971-2016,” provides an overview of the history of TRBs in Texas, with recommendations for how the TRB authorization process can be improved.
Press Release June 15, 2017Last week, Sen. Donna Campbell, Chair of the Senate Committee on Veteran Affairs and Border Security, petitioned the Texas Attorney General for an advisory opinion on the legality of municipal tree ordinances. The request seeks clarification as to whether these types of ordinances violate the takings clause of the Texas Constitution.
Press Release June 13, 2017Today, the Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Center for Fiscal Policy director Talmadge Heflin, vice president of research Bill Peacock, and economist Dr. Vance Ginn issued the following statement on Gov. Abbott’s signing of the 2018-19 Texas State Budget.
Press Release June 12, 2017On Friday, the Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF) filed an amicus brief in Laredo Merchants Association v. City of Laredo, Texas which is currently before the Supreme Court of Texas. The brief argues that the City of Laredo’s plastic bag ban conflicts with Texas state law, which preempts ordinances that prohibit the use or sale of a container or package for solid waste management purposes. In August 2016, the Fourth Court of Appeals ruled against the plastic bag ban, finding that the City’s ordinance is preempted by state law and “unenforceable as a matter of law.”
Press Release June 12, 2017Today, Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF) joined 12 other leading state and national organizations in sending a letter to Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos praising her outspoken commitment to parental choice in education. The letter outlines the importance of state-led efforts on education choice, emphasizing the need to remain true to the tenets of federalism—in particular, by moving education decision-making out of Washington to states, local school districts, and ultimately parents. In addition, the letter offers support for specific policies that the Administration should champion to bolster parental choice movements across the nation and to keep the education choice movement unified.
Press Release June 7, 2017Today, the Texas Public Policy Foundation filed a lawsuit to delist the golden-cheeked warbler from the endangered species list on behalf of the Texas General Land Office.
Press Release June 5, 2017Last night Senate Bill 715, or the Texas Annexation Reform Act, was filibustered in the Texas Senate past a key procedural deadline. The effect of the delay was to kill the legislation and continue the policy of forced annexation.
Press Release May 29, 2017Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Bryan Mathew, policy analyst with the Center for Local Governance, issued the following statement on Governor Greg Abbott signing House Bill 100, which establishes a predictable system of statewide regulation of ridesharing services.
Press Release May 29, 2017Today, the Texas Public Policy issued the following statements on the passage of SB 1, the 2018-19 General Appropriations Bill, by the Texas Legislature.
Press Release May 27, 2017Today, the Conservative Texas Budget Coalition made the following statement on the release of the Conference Report for Senate Bill 1 and the pending supplemental budget, House Bill 2.
Press Release May 26, 2017The Texas Public Policy Foundation issued the following statements on the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) predicted cost of the American Health Care Act (AHCA), the Republican alternative to Obamacare. Also released this week was an important analysis by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, reporting that healthcare insurance premiums for Americans have more than doubled under Obamacare.
Press Release May 25, 2017Today the Texas House voted to prevent final discussion of HB 21, a school-financing bill that included a parental choice program for students with special needs. The House sent the Senate-amended bill to conference but with the instruction that the parental choice program could not be part of the final version. This action effectively ended the possibility of increased funding for public schools and increased educational opportunities for students with special needs.
Press Release May 24, 2017