AUSTIN— Today, Comptroller Glenn Hegar released state sales tax numbers for April 2020 showing a 9.3 percent reduction from 2019 and also indicated that next month’s numbers will likely show an even steeper decline. As sales tax revenues are a primary funding source for the state of Texas, the need to tighten the state budget...
Press Release May 1, 2020Washington, D.C. – Today, the Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Right on Immigration initiative published the paper Perfect Storm: The Pull and Push Factors Driving the Central American Migration Crisis. “The ability to achieve the ‘American Dream’ and earn dollars to send home to loved ones are substantial push factors in Central America,” said David Agren,...
Press Release April 30, 2020AUSTIN – Today, the Texas Public Policy Foundation and the Crime Prevention Research Center announced a joint partnership to commission safety and gun usage research by John R. Lott, Jr., one of America’s foremost scholars on gun rights. Lott will look into several critical topics, such as state ‘red flag’ laws in America and the relationship between...
Press Release April 28, 2020AUSTIN – Today, the Texas Public Policy Foundation applauded new plans announced by Governor Greg Abbott to focus on protecting the most vulnerable Texans from exposure to COVID-19 while beginning to gradually open up some businesses to bring back jobs. The Governor publicly outlined his Strike Force to Open Texas as part of a three...
Press Release April 27, 2020AUSTIN – The Texas Public Policy Foundation compiled a list of some of its top experts available to speak with media about policy issues relating to COVID-19. “In these uncertain times, analysis from those with expert knowledge and experience is critical to informing the public debate,” said TPPF’s Director of Communications Alicia Pierce. “This guide is a resource to connecting reporters with our experts who...
Press Release April 24, 2020AUSTIN – The Federal District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan declared the Township of Canton’s tree ordinance unconstitutional under the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution. The court dismissed all of the Township’s state counterclaims and entered judgment on behalf of the Texas Public Policy Foundation’s client, Frank Powelson and his business...
Press Release April 24, 2020AUSTIN – Today, the Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Life:Powered project published the paper The Siren Song that Never Ends: Federal Energy Subsidies and Support from 2010 to 2019. “Since 1913—the same year as the introduction of the federal income tax—politically-connected businesses have lobbied for energy-specific tax breaks and spending under the guise of stimulating energy production...
Press Release April 23, 2020WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Trump administration measure that primarily halts the issuance of family-based visas for the next 60 days as the U.S. seeks to stop the spread of the coronavirus is both a prudent and modest step, says Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF) Vice President for Federal Affairs John Hostettler. “As we work to...
Press Release April 23, 2020AUSTIN – Today, the Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Right on Healthcare campaign launched its “Healthy Recovery” legislative agenda to increase patient access and lower costs for all Texans. The plan includes seven separate policy items to improve health care price transparency, increase options to help patients cover medical expenses, and open up better access to health care professionals. Each...
Press Release April 22, 2020AUSTIN— Today, the Texas Public Policy Foundation published the paper Is Medicaid Expansion Worth It? A Review of the Evidence Suggests Targeted Programs Represent Better Policy. “The primary impact of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has been significantly expanding enrollment in Medicaid,” said Brian Blase, senior fellow with the Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Right on Healthcare...
Press Release April 21, 2020AUSTIN—Today, the Texas Public Policy Foundation’s litigation center filed an opening brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit challenging the EPA’s Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) regulation of carbon dioxide emissions from power plants. “Carbon dioxide is a natural substance in the air essential to life on Earth,” said Ted Hadzi-Antich, a...
Press Release April 17, 2020AUSTIN – Today, the Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Executive Director Kevin Roberts was appointed to serve on the Special Advisory Council to Governor Greg Abbott’s Statewide Strike Force tasked with developing plans to safely and gradually reopen the state. As a member, Roberts will join with other health, business, and community leaders to provide critical...
Press Release April 17, 2020