We’ve Got Issues

November 15, 2024

Brian Phillips

For over a decade, Brian Phillips has helped policymakers and political candidates develop effective messages and communication strategies. Phillips is a veteran of presidential, congressional, and gubernatorial campaigns, and has extensive experience working in the United States Congress and public policy think tanks. Previously, he served in a senior communications role as the Director of Rapid Response for Senator Ted Cruz’s presidential campaign. Prior to joining Cruz, Phillips worked as Communications Director for U.S. Senator Mike Lee of Utah, who has played a role in nearly every major policy debate since joining the Senate in 2011, including Obamacare repeal, fighting Obama’s unconstitutional executive orders, protecting Americans’ Second Amendment rights, as well as promoting numerous innovative policy reforms. Before going on to hold several senior positions in House, Senate and gubernatorial campaigns, Phillips worked for the highly-respected conservative Heritage Foundation as a Media Adviser promoting conservative policy reforms.

Now that we’re past the election, it’s time to start thinking about the 89^th Legislative Session, which starts exactly two months from today. Tuesday marked the first day members could start filing legislation, so in honor, here are a few of the top issues you’ll see making news next year:

Universal Education Savings Accounts (School Choice)

Thanks in large part to Governor Abbott, the House appears poised to finally end our national embarrassment of being one of only a handful of states that doesn’t let parents choose the best school for their children. The devil is in the details, of course, though Abbott, in true Texas fashion, has committed to having the best and biggest program in the country. (Reminder for our friends in the media, ESAs are not “vouchers.”)

Ending Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying

It’s bad enough that millions of your tax dollars end up in the bank accounts of high-priced Austin lobbyists, but it adds insult to injury to find out much of that money comes from supposedly “broke” school districts. And it compounds abuse to then see them use your tax dollars to lobby for higher taxes and more debt. We’ve got nothing against lobbying and there’s always going to be government entities that beg for more money, but they shouldn’t use our tax dollars – especially the ones that go to schools – to do it.

Securing the Border

The Biden Administration not only refused to do its job but took every opportunity to undermine Texas’ efforts to stop illegal immigration and keep our communities safe. Now, with a true partner in the White House, we can get back to securing the border. Attempts to create a Texas Border Force ran out of time last session. Texas should revisit that to create a command structure that can plan, coordinate, and execute border security and counterterrorism operations in Texas.

Responsible Artificial Intelligence Reform

AI is the wild west – fascinating, inspiring, and dangerous. I’m all for innovation and progress, but Big Tech doesn’t inspire much confidence that it will have humanity’s best interest at heart. If we had taken a more responsible approach to, say, social media, perhaps we wouldn’t have created a generation riddled with anxiety, depression and pornography addiction. Texas should be the national model for balancing ethics and growth in this highly consequential field of technology.

This commentary is published on Thursdays as part of TPPF’s subscriber-only newsletter The Post. If you would like to subscribe to The Post, click here.

Brian Phillips

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