“We are pleased by the reports that estimated tax revenue in the next biennium is $1.2 billion more than expected. Any sign of economic vitality is most welcome. The way forward in this budget process is the same now as it always was: make necessary cuts, don’t raise taxes, and preserve the Rainy Day Fund.”...
Press Release May 17, 2011“The conference committee budget continues Texas’ recent progress in emphasizing cost-effective sanctions and treatment in the community for nonviolent offenders, which has led to an 8 percent decline in the state’s incarceration rate since 2004, and most importantly, an 11 percent drop in the serious crime rate over this period. This budget constitutes a well-deserved...
Press Release May 17, 2011AUSTIN, TX – The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has accepted an amicus curiae brief from the Texas Public Policy Foundation in Florida et al v. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services et al, the lawsuit by 26 states – including Texas – challenging the constitutionality of the last year’s federal health care...
Press Release May 16, 2011“The Texas House has shown that the current biennium’s budget can be balanced with taking only $3.1 billion from the rainy day fund. We encourage the House to hold firm on that amount.” The Honorable Talmadge Heflin is Director of the Center for Fiscal Policy at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. Heflin served 11 terms...
Press Release May 16, 2011AUSTIN – The Texas Public Policy Foundation today made public a May 13, 2011, letter from Kathleen Hartnett White, Director of the Foundation’s Armstrong Center for Energy & the Environment, to Texas House Environmental Regulation Chairman Wayne Smith. The letter urges Chairman Smith and his House colleagues to uphold House Bill 2694, the Texas Commission...
Press Release May 16, 2011AUSTIN – The Texas Public Policy Foundation today announced that it has purchased a third week of commercial advertising in its campaign on the Texas state budget. This third week of commercial air time, featuring the Foundation’s existing 10 commercials and running today through May 20, includes an expansion into the Tyler-Longview media market and...
Press Release May 13, 2011“Today’s House passage of HB 274 is a great step forward for Texas – and another step toward getting rid of many frivolous lawsuits that are clogging our courts. “This loser-pays statute will ensure that all tort plaintiffs with meritorious claims have access to the judicial system. Such a statute would cut litigation costs and...
Press Release May 9, 2011"SB 18 is the next step along the road to restoring property rights protections to Texas landowners. It bans taking that are not for public use and improves compensation for landowners. We look forward to moving the debate next session to protecting landowners from harmful regulations that reduce their property value without compensation." Bill Peacock...
Press Release May 5, 2011AUSTIN – The Texas Public Policy Foundation today announced the release of seven new commercials on the Texas state budget debate, to be aired in media markets across Texas from May 5th through 11th. Among the commercials are two featuring the return of former U.S. Sen. Phil Gramm to the television airwaves and one in...
Press Release May 5, 2011“Today’s Senate vote to approve its 2012-13 budget proposal is good news in that the Legislature is back on track to meet its constitutional obligation to pass a budget in the regular session. We congratulate the senators who voted for the bill in spite of strong pressure to the contrary, and appreciate Sen. Steve Ogden...
Press Release May 4, 2011The attached letter was distributed to members of the Texas Senate on May 3, 2011 regarding the position of the Texans for a Conservative Budget coalition on use of the state’s Economic Stabilization Fund. ———- Texas Senate Delivered By Hand Dear Senator, In 2009, we signed a letter urging the Texas legislature to not use...
Press Release May 3, 2011“The Texas Public Policy Foundation welcomes the news that the Texas Senate may shortly consider a 2012-13 budget bill that does not include use of the Rainy Day Fund. This is a credit to the hard work and persistence of Sen. Steve Ogden and the Senate Finance Committee. “The Foundation has consistently opposed use of...
Press Release May 3, 2011