Even amid the country’s worst economic setback in decades, our updated analysis shows that Texas’ competitive edge over California remains sharp. This paper updates the economic scoreboard we calculated in our study of Texas and California in 2008. Although the policy environment has changed over the last two years, Texas’ edge over California has not.
Local Government
Reinvigorating Federalism and Fiscal Discipline in Texas: Establishing the Office of State Sovereignty
Texas governments received $84.3 billion in federal funding in 2023, raising concerns over financial dependency and regulatory consequences. Creating an Office of State Sovereignty to monitor the application, receipt, and conditions of this aid could mitigate fiscal risk and improve transparency. Key points: Texas lacks a centralized system to oversee federal grants potentially flowing to...
September 9, 2026