AUSTIN— Yesterday, Travis County Commissioners approved the sale of $328 million in Certificates of Obligation—public debt that is not approved by the voters responsible for paying it—for the construction of a new courthouse facility. Three years ago, voters turned down a similar proposal. “Travis County Commissioners are moving forward on a project rejected by the...
Press Release January 16, 2019AUSTIN—Today, the Texas Public Policy Foundation released the policy perspective, Tax Abatements and the Texas Wind Industry: How Chapters 312 and 313 Are Scarring Rural Texas. The paper raises questions about why Texans are spending billions of dollars to prop up an otherwise unprofitable industry, the main contributions of which are making the electric grid...
Press Release January 10, 2019AUSTIN – Today, Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar released the Biennial Revenue Estimate 2020-21 report that provides the 86th Texas Legislature with an estimate of revenues available to be appropriated for the upcoming 2020-21 budget. Given the state’s constitution requires a balanced budget, this report sets the stage for how much legislators have available to spend and...
Press Release January 7, 2019AUSTIN— The Texas Public Policy Foundation is pleased to announce former Austin City Council Member Ellen Troxclair has joined the Foundation’s Center for Local Governance as a senior fellow. “As the lone champion of conservative principles during her tenure on the Austin City Council, Ellen has proven herself a fearless warrior in the battle to...
Press Release January 7, 2019Today, the Texas Public Policy Foundation is pleased to announce David Balat as the director of the Foundation’s new national healthcare initiative, Right on Healthcare. “David has established himself as a leading healthcare expert which has enabled him to serve as a healthcare advisor for members of Congress and the State of Texas State House...
Press Release January 4, 2019AUSTIN— Today, the Texas Public Policy Foundation announced Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick as a keynote speaker for the 17th Annual Policy Orientation schedule. “Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is a heroic advocate who has championed the fight to advance and protect conservative ideas within our great state,” said TPPF’s Executive Director Kevin Roberts. Who: Lieutenant Governor...
Press Release January 4, 2019AUSTIN— The Texas Public Policy Foundation is pleased to announce Attorney General Ken Paxton will provide the opening keynote address at the Texas Public Policy Foundation’s 17th Annual Policy Orientation on Wednesday, January 9, 2019, at 12 p.m. “Attorney General Ken Paxton is the embodiment of conservative courage with a deep respect of the U.S....
Press Release January 2, 2019AUSTIN – Today, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released state-level labor market data for November 2018. The report shows Texas employers in the government and private sectors created 14,000 net nonfarm jobs and just the private sector created 12,000 of those jobs last month. This brings the net number of total jobs created in the...
Press Release December 21, 2018AUSTIN— Today, the Texas Commission on Public School Finance adopted its final report that includes recommendations to the Texas Legislature. The report has ideas for property tax reform, repurposing existing taxpayer funding to improve student outcomes, and incenting school leaders to adopt practices that will improve student results. “Higher state or local taxes aren’t needed to improve student outcomes across...
Press Release December 19, 2018AUSTIN—Today, the Texas Public Policy Foundation published the paper, Regulation of the Alcohol Beverage Industry: A Sunset Report on the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission. “TABC and the Alcoholic Beverage Code rely on outdated, Prohibition-era regulations that create inconsistent treatment between tiers and give one tier— the middle tier—tremendous power over the other two,” said Policy Analyst...
Press Release December 19, 2018AUSTIN—Today, the Texas Public Policy Foundation published the policy paper “On the Militarization of Our Police” authored by Randy Petersen, senior researcher at TPPF and former law enforcement officer. “The militarization of our police officers carries with it the risk of the accompanying philosophy of militarism, that being a preference for the use of force above...
Press Release December 18, 2018Washington, DC — Today, the U.S. Senate passed the First Step Act by a vote of 87 to 12. The bill is the most comprehensive criminal justice reform package of the last three decades. The First Step Act provides reentry programming to help reduce recidivism, includes modest sentencing reforms, increases public safety and gives those...
Press Release December 18, 2018