TPPF and Department of Justice jointly oppose environmental groups’ motion to intervene into warbler lawsuit

On Tuesday, the Texas Public Policy Foundation representing the Texas General Land Office filed formal opposition to a motion to intervene by environmental groups in the case of General Land Office of the State of Texas v. United States Fish & Wildlife Service, et. al. According to a 2015 study published by the Texas A&M Institute of Renewable Natural Resources, the warbler no longer is endangered or threatened. In fact, the A&M study estimates the warbler population as being 19 times greater and having a habitat of five times larger than when the bird was listed under the Endangered Species Act.

Press Release August 9, 2017

Right-of-Way Fees Cost Texans Billions

Today, the Texas Public Policy Foundation released a policy perspective on Texas’ municipal right-of-way fees and how they unnecessarily cost Texans billions.

Press Release August 9, 2017

TPPF champions local liberty in statewide ad campaign

Today, the Texas Public Policy Foundation makes a strong case for defending local liberty through a full-page ad in five major Texas newspapers. The ad features an abridged article by Dr. Tom Lindsay, TPPF’s senior constitutional scholar and director of the Center for Higher Education.

Press Release August 3, 2017

TPPF’s Vance Ginn to testify on eliminating property taxes in Texas

Today, Dr. Vance Ginn, economist with the Center for Fiscal Policy at the Texas Public Policy Foundation will testify before the House Ways & Means Committee on House Bill 285 which would eliminate school district maintenance and operations property taxes and replace them with higher state sales tax rate.

Press Release August 2, 2017

TPPF’s Bryan Mathew to testify on annexation reform

Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Bryan Mathew, policy analyst at the Center for Local Governance, will testify in support of House Bill 6 before the Texas House Committee on Land & Resource Management today, Wednesday, August 2, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. CST or upon final adjournment in Room E2.026 of the Texas State Capitol.

Press Release August 2, 2017

TPPF releases ads for property tax and annexation reform

Today, the Texas Public Policy Foundation released two radio ads centered on bringing reforms for home and landowners during this special session.

Press Release August 1, 2017

TPPF’s Bryan Mathew to testify on local debt transparency

Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Bryan Mathew, policy analyst at the Center for Local Governance, will testify in support of House Bill 110 before the Texas House Committee on Elections today, Monday, July 31, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. CST or upon final adjournment in Room E1.026 of the Texas State Capitol. 

Press Release July 31, 2017

Congressional review act provides opportunity to strike excessive regulations

The Texas Public Policy Foundation today released a paper on the Congressional Review Act by Ryan Walters, attorney with the Center for the American Future at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. The paper, “The Undervaluation of the Congressional Review Act,” explores how the U.S. Congress and President could use the Congressional Review Act to nullify unnecessary federal rules and regulations.

Press Release July 28, 2017

TPPF’s Vance Ginn to testify on passing a conservative spending limit

Today, Dr. Vance Ginn, economist with the Center for Fiscal Policy at the Texas Public Policy Foundation, will testify before the House Appropriations Committee, specifically on HJR 1 and HB 208 relating to the state’s limitation on the rate of growth of appropriations.

Press Release July 27, 2017

TPPF cheers Senate passage of spending limit reform

Today, the Texas Senate passed SB 9 that would change the statute limiting the rate of growth of appropriations to cover more of the budget, base the growth rate on population and inflation calculated with the average of past and projected data, and raise the threshold to exceed the limit to a three-fifths supermajority. The Foundation’s economist Dr. Vance Ginn made the following statement:

Press Release July 26, 2017

TPPF releases ad against government collection of union dues

Today, the Texas Public Policy Foundation released a radio ad calling for the end of government collection of union dues. The ad identifies ending the practice of dues collection by state and local government entities as a part of comprehensive conservative reform that is possible during this special legislative session. It is currently playing in Austin and will soon be on the air in other key Texas markets.

Press Release July 24, 2017

Texas Senate should seize opportunity to end state collection of union dues

The Texas Public Policy Foundation released a statement in advance of today’s Senate State Affairs Committee hearing to consider SB 7, legislation authored by Sen. Bryan Hughes (R-Mineola), that would end the practice of the state collecting membership dues of public sector labor unions:

Press Release July 23, 2017