Over the course of our nation’s history, the structure of teacher compensation has varied and changed to fit the needs of the time. The current pay structure, introduced over 85 years ago, was designed for another era. If policymakers are serious about improving the quality of teachers in the classroom, they need to tie teacher pay to teacher quality.
Local Government
When Government Lobbies Itself: Why Texas Should Ban Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying
Texas local governments use taxpayer dollars to hire lobbyists to influence state legislation—creating conflicts of interest, distorting democratic accountability, and undermining the interests of Texas taxpayers. Key points: Taxpayer-funded lobbying expenditures more than doubled from the 85th to the 89th Legislature, now reaching as high as $111.5 million. Taxpayer-funded lobbyists consistently opposed legislation involving property...
April 6, 2026