AUSTIN – A federal judge in Plano issued an injunction yesterday stopping the city of Dallas from enforcing its mandatory paid sick leave mandate that was set to go into effect on April 1. “Once again, Texas courts are unanimous that it is unconstitutional for cities to mandate paid sick leave,” said Robert Henneke, lead counsel for...
Press Release March 31, 2020AUSTIN – Today, the Texas Public Policy Foundation applauds Gov. Abbott and Phil Wilson, HHSC Executive Commissioner, for their commitment to support front-line medical workers with a second Section 1135 waiver request submitted to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. “We fully support removing barriers to make care more accessible for patients,” said David Balat, Director of the...
Press Release March 30, 2020AUSTIN — Last week, Governor Greg Abbott announced that the Texas Health and Human Services Commission had submitted a Section 1135 Medicaid Waiver to the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Approval of this waiver would grant the needed flexibility for the Medicaid program in response to the COVID-19 viral pandemic. “Targeted initiatives to increase healthcare...
Press Release March 30, 2020AUSTIN – Today, a group of more than one dozen family rights activists submitted a letter to the commissioner of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services with nine recommendations for protecting the rights of parents and children during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Children in foster care are especially vulnerable to the uncertainty caused by the COVID-19...
Press Release March 27, 2020AUSTIN – Today, the Texas Public Policy Foundation’s General Counsel Robert Henneke published the commentary Austin’s Shelter in Place Order is Flawed. On Tuesday, the City of Austin, Travis County, and Williamson County issued “shelter-in-place” orders. “The orders represent the worst kind of ‘balance,’” writes Henneke. “It appears restrictive, but for the vast majority of Austin residents, the order...
Press Release March 26, 2020AUSTIN – Today, the Texas Public Policy Foundation published its first annual ranking of state higher education systems determined by the ability of students to repay student loans based on post-graduation income. “More than 5,000 programs at public universities do not pass this debt-to-earnings test which indicates approximately 500,000 graduates per year are using federal...
Press Release March 25, 2020AUSTIN – Today, a group of more than 20 leading policy experts from around the country submitted a letter to Congress expressing concerns about including tax incentives for renewable energy in the three stimulus packages intended to help in the recovery period following the COVID-19 crisis. Initiated by the Texas Public Policy Foundation through its Life:Powered project, the letter includes the...
Press Release March 23, 2020Washington D.C. – The Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF) today endorsed the joint U.S.-Mexico decision to temporarily restrict travel between the two countries to only essential trade and commerce. “In the face of the Chinese coronavirus, the health and safety of American citizens must be paramount,” said TPPF Executive Director Kevin Roberts. “This is a prudent measure...
Press Release March 20, 2020AUSTIN – Today, the Texas Public Policy Foundation released a recovery plan for Texas in response to the coronavirus pandemic. “In this unprecedented and rapidly changing epidemic, state and local officials must act swiftly to implement the measures outlined in the Foundation’s Recovery Agenda to protect Texas’ vibrant economy and the families, employers and employees who call this great...
Press Release March 19, 2020AUSTIN—Today, two of the state’s leading policy and advocacy organizations commended Texas Governor Greg Abbott for his work during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. Specifically, they noted his waiving of regulations related to telemedicine and trucking, that can be important life-saving measures that improve health care and the rapid delivery of goods to grocery stores. In addition, they praised...
Press Release March 19, 2020AUSTIN – Today, the Texas Public Policy Foundation published the policy perspective Red Ink Rising in the Lone Star State: FY 2019. “Our new research reveals that the state of local government debt in Texas is both at an all-time high and accumulating quickly,” said Grace Watson a legislative fellow with TPPF’s Think Local Liberty Initiative....
Press Release March 17, 2020AUSTIN – Today the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that Texas continues to lead the nation in job growth year over year through January 2020. “This may be more important than ever. As we continue to prepare and protect ourselves and our loved ones from the effects of the coronavirus, it is important...
Press Release March 16, 2020