TPPF Statement on New Local Debt Data

The Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Center for Local Governance Director James Quintero issued the following statement on the Texas Bond Review Board’s new data on public debt owed by Texas’ cities, counties, school districts, and special districts. According to the agency’s estimates, the total debt owed by all local governmental entities rose to $342.1 billion in FY 2016, an increase from $338.4 billion owed in the previous fiscal year. Total local debt owed per capita is slightly above $12,450.  

Press Release December 6, 2016

TPPF Statement on New Moody’s Report on Texas’ Public Pension Problems

The Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Center for Local Governance Director James Quintero issued the following statement on the new report released by Moody’s Investor Services suggesting that unfunded pension liabilities in Austin, Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio have grown to a collective $22.6 billion. The report states, “Rapid growth in unfunded pension liabilities over the past 10 years has transformed local governments’ balance sheet burdens to historically high levels.”

Press Release December 6, 2016

Texas Public Policy Foundation Files Amicus Brief on “Swipe Fee” Case before SCOTUS

The Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF) and 10 research and educational institutions filed an amicus curiae brief in Expressions Hair Design, et. al., v. Eric T. Schneiderman, et.al, opposing state “swipe fee” laws to ban surcharges that pass through the costs imposed by credit-card companies and banks for credit-card transactions. The brief was filed in the Supreme Court of the United States.

Press Release December 6, 2016

TPPF Statement on Texas Senate Committee’s Call for Local Ordinance Integrity

The Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Center for Local Governance Director James Quintero issued the following statement on the Texas Senate Committee on Intergovernmental Relation’s Interim Report to the 85th Legislature, which recommends strengthening and improving the local policymaking process. The committee’s recommendations come in response to growing concerns about inconsistent, misleading, and opaque ballot language and local ordinances.

Press Release December 6, 2016

TPPF Statement on the Legislative Budget Board’s Recommended 2018-19 Spending Growth Limit

Today, the Legislative Budget Board (LBB) released the official 2018-19 appropriations growth limit based on projected personal income of 8 percent for the upcoming two fiscal years. The Texas Public Policy Foundation’s (TPPF) Director of the Center for Fiscal Policy, the Honorable Talmadge Heflin, and TPPF Economist, Dr. Vance Ginn, made the following statements to highlight a conservative budget that increases by no more than the increase in population growth plus inflation of 4.5 percent in the last two fiscal years.

Press Release December 1, 2016

TPPF Statement on Property Reform & Tax Relief Legislation

The Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Center for Local Governance Director James Quintero issued the following statement on the announced drafting of Senate Bill 2 (SB 2), The Property Tax Reform & Relief Act of 2017, which is expected to overhaul Texas’ property tax system. SB 2 comes in response to the Texas Senate Select Committee on Property Tax Reform & Relief’s Interim Report to the 85th Legislature, which puts forward several structural property tax reforms recommendations for the upcoming legislative session.  

Press Release November 30, 2016

TPPF Statement on Texas Senate Committee’s Call for Local Debt Transparency

The Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Center for Local Governance Director James Quintero issued the following statement on the Texas Senate Committee on Intergovernmental Relation’s Interim Report to the 85th Legislature, which recommends several reforms to improve transparency and accountability in the local debt issuance process. The report’s recommendations include providing Texas voters with “basic essential information that will inform voters of the potential impact of the issuance of new fiscal obligations.”

Press Release November 30, 2016

TPPF Statement on Texas Senate Committee’s Call for Annexation Reform

The Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Center for Local Governance Director James Quintero issued the following statement on the Texas Senate Committee on Intergovernmental Relation’s Interim Report to the 85th Legislature, which recommends substantial reforms to the current involuntary annexation process. The report’s recommendations include that the incoming legislature “strengthen the annexation process by encouraging greater citizen participation from those affected by a proposed annexation plan.”

Press Release November 30, 2016

TPPF Files Motion for Summary Judgment in Bone Cave Harvestman Lawsuit

The Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF) filed a motion for summary judgment in the pending lawsuit seeking delisting of the Bone Cave Harvestman from the Endangered Species Act. TPPF’s Center for the American Future is representing Williamson County resident John Yearwood and Williamson County, Texas in the lawsuit, which challenges the authority of the federal government to use the Interstate Commerce Clause to regulate non-commercial interactions with the Bone Cave Harvestman arachnid, which only exists in two central Texas counties, is not bought nor traded in interstate commerce, and does not otherwise affect interstate commerce.  

Press Release November 16, 2016

TPPF Releases Outline for “Restoring Liberty through the States”

The Texas Public Policy Foundation today released “Restoring Liberty through the States—and the People,” which is a road map for America to re-center federal governance on only constitutionally enumerated powers, which maximize liberty and prosperity by leaving all other governing authority with the states, or the people. To read “Restoring Liberty through the States—and the People,” please visit:http://txpo.li/2g1KRPa  

Press Release November 10, 2016
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