TPPF to testify in support of HB 2158
Press Release April 17, 2013
Press Release April 17, 2013
Last year, Texas was ranked with the 17th highest burden occupational licensing imposes on the workforce. A full one-third of low-income occupations in Texas are licensed. The Texas Public Policy Foundation and Right on Crime have long alerted policymakers to the inherent issues with overusing occupational licensing. This practice inhibits economic growth, restricts employment, and can serve as a form of economic protectionism. In fact, studies have pointed to billions in losses each year attributable to occupational licensing and the lower rates of employment in licensed professions as compared to unlicensed professions. Occupational licensing can and does serve a public purpose—specifically, when there is an information imbalance or public safety issue that occupational licensing can protect against. But when we’ve begun licensing hair shampooers and equine teeth floaters, we have to ask ourselves what purpose our occupational licensing system serves: protecting the public or protecting established industries? Another important question that should be put to each occupational licensing scheme is whether restrictions on applicants with criminal histories play a role in protecting public safety. An occupational license for an ex-offender should take into consideration whether the offense on the applicant’s record is related to the profession or the situations in which the profession would lead the applicant. A recent article from Austin-American Statesman exemplifies the importance of stepping away from overly restrictive occupational license. A security alarm installer, Adam Waters, recently moved to Texas from North Carolina. He was apparently so skilled at his profession (not to mention his 25 years of experience) that he worked on the North Carolina Governor’s home, the home of a mayor, and even some buildings on local air force bases. But Texas denied him a license to install alarms in our state. The reason given was that he received deferred adjudication after failing to pull over in Lee County. (He claims he didn’t hear or see the police officers.) Mr. Waters clearly messed up. He shouldn’t have been speeding and he shouldn’t have failed to pull over immediately. No one would condone his actions. But does this incident make him such a risk that he’s unable to obtain a license to install security systems in Texas? Does this one incident eviscerate 25 years of experience in his occupation? Did the licensing agency here in Texas check and see if he had ever incurred any complaints in relation to his work in those 25 years? Is a Texas agency that doles out occupational licenses a better judge of character than the Governor of North Carolina? Or have we gone just a bit too far with occupational licensing in Texas?
Press Release April 16, 2013Chuck DeVore, Vice President for Policy, said, “The Texas Public Policy Foundation applauds the Governor’s efforts to reduce the state’s tax burden on Texans and put the state in the best position possible to compete nationally. While other large states like California, Illinois, and New York are fixated on ways to raise taxes and fees...
Press Release April 15, 2013AUSTIN- James Golsan, Analyst for the Center of Education at the Texas Public Policy Foundation, will testify before the House Public Education Committee in support of House Bill 1926 on Tuesday, April 16, at 2:00 p.m. in Room E2.036 of theTexas State Capitol. HB 1926 would expand course provider flexibility for online learning in Texas....
Press Release April 15, 2013Press Release April 15, 2013
Press Release April 15, 2013
"The Texas Public Policy Foundation welcomes the Texas Senate's overwhelming vote in favor of a balanced budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Today's vote demonstrates that Texas legislators are heeding the American people's call for a revival of constitutional limitations on federal power. "The Senate resolution calls on the U.S. Congress to propose a constitutional...
Press Release April 11, 2013"With the passage of Senate Bill 2 by Sen. Dan Patrick, the Texas Senate took a strong step toward improving options for Texas parents and students seeking choice within the Texas public school system. With more than 100,000 students currently waiting to attend public open-enrollment charter schools in Texas, the need to allow more of...
Press Release April 11, 2013"The Economic Stabilization Fund, or Rainy Day Fund, represents billions of dollars taken from Texas taxpayers that would otherwise be sustaining our economy and prosperity. The imperative for the 83rd Texas Legislature is to return that money to Texans, rather than spend it on ongoing obligations that the state would ordinarily fund through general revenue. The...
Press Release April 11, 2013AUSTIN – Arlene Wohlgemuth, Director of the Center for Health Care Policy at the Texas Public Policy Foundation, will testify on behalf of House Bill 3185 before the Federalism committee on Tuesday, April 10, 2013, at 2:00 p.m. or upon adjournment in room E2.036 of the Texas State Capitol. The bill prohibits the establishment of...
Press Release April 10, 2013AUSTIN – The Texas Public Policy Foundation issued the following statement on Wednesday’s hearings regarding Senate Joint Resolution 64, which would set up a vote for a state constitutional amendment to allow casino gambling and provision of support for other types of gambling in Texas. “The establishment of gambling in Texas limited to a...
Press Release April 10, 2013AUSTIN – Matthew Ladner, Ph.D., Senior Fellow at the Texas Public Policy Foundation's Center for Education Policy, will testify on Senate Bill 23 before the Senate Education Committee on Tuesday, April 9, 2013, at 8:30 a.m. in room E1.028 of the Texas State Capitol. The bill is in favor of education tax credits. "An...
Press Release April 9, 2013