Energy & Environment

Markets, not ‘renewable energy’ magic, ensure the affordable supply of electricity

California is the home of the original Magic Kingdom — and magical thinking. The California legislature is deliberating whether to mandate 100 percent renewable energy for its electric grid by 2045. In a recent op-ed, the Manhattan Institute’s Robert Bryce points out that simple math demonstrates the futility of this effort. Bryce explains that to fill all of...

August 25, 2018

Economy

How Politicians’ Résumés Drive California Fires And Texas Freedom

Experience informs and shapes perspective. This is true for all people, including lawmakers. A military veteran or business owner will approach problems differently than a community organizer or trial attorney. California’s deadly and destructive wildfires have been blamed on global warming by dozens of politicians and journalists, from Governor Jerry Brown to the editorial boards of the Sacramento Bee and...

August 23, 2018

Criminal Justice

Do ex-cons ever really finish serving their debt to society?

Over the past two months there have been some exciting movements in the right direction regarding prison reform. But in America, overcoming the stigma of prison remains a real issue. The United States has had a long-held history of Judeo-Christian beliefs that has helped guide our Country’s moral compass. “Give me your tired, your poor,...

August 22, 2018

Energy & Environment

100% Renewable? Event Recap

The city of Georgetown made international news when it claimed that it moved to 100% renewable energy. But was that claim a reflection of reality? Not quite. Around 100 people from the Georgetown area gathered at the local library to discuss this claim and understand the situation deeply. Experts from Rice University, the Partnership for...

August 21, 2018

Economy

Film Incentives Continue to Perform Poorly Everywhere

The Beacon Center of Tennessee just released a policy brief on Tennessee’s film incentive program. The report—Calling Cut on Film Incentives—highlights how the program is a poor investment for Tennessee taxpayers. Many of the projects financially supported by the film incentive program with taxpayer money performed poorly commercially. According to the report, 40 percent of...

August 21, 2018

Economy

California Commands The Intellectual Property Landscape — High Taxes And China May Dethrone It

California dominates America’s intellectual property creation landscape, with 45,683 patents granted to California-based people or firms in 2017, 27.3% of the patents assigned in the 50 states and D.C. In 1992, California accounted for 15.5% of the patents granted in America. California accounted for 12.1% of the nation’s population in 1992, so, its 15.5% share...

August 20, 2018

Criminal Justice

Setting the Record Straight

In a recent op-ed published in Wall Street Journal Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) recognized the need for federal prison reform but cautioned against sentencing provisions that have been discussed in recent weeks as possible additions to the House-passed FIRST STEP Act. While we do not know what these sentencing provisions will end up including in the final legislation,...

August 20, 2018

Criminal Justice

IN UPHOLDING THE LAW, POLICY IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN DISCRETION

When a Michigan police officer arrested an 80-year-old woman for possession of marijuana with an expired medical exemption license, the backdrop was set for a debate. But are we framing this debate properly? Some will point out that the officer’s actions seemed excessive, almost punitive. Others will point to marijuana laws in general and question their...

August 16, 2018

Health Care

Personal responsibility added to Medicaid builds on previous welfare reform

In the run-up to President Bill Clinton’s transformation — not simply reform — of welfare, opponents predicted dire consequences such as people dying in the streets of starvation, low-income families driven deeper into poverty, low-wage individuals, especially single mothers, never finding jobs, healthy children turned sickly and driven into foster care. These warnings made great headlines, sold...

August 16, 2018

Local Government

TPPF Judicial Confirmation Letter

TPPF Judicial Confirmation Letter 08-16-18 by texaspolicy on Scribd

August 15, 2018

Taxes & Spending

On Austin’s $925 M Bond Proposal

The Austin city council looks like it will put a massive $925 million bond package in front of voters in November which would be “the largest in Austin’s history.” If approved, the near-billion dollar proposal would raise the city’s property tax rate by another 2 cents per $100 of value, further putting the squeeze on...

August 14, 2018

Criminal Justice

Pricey prison phone calls cost more than just dollars

According to Prison Policy Initiative, on July 18, 2018, the New York City Council passed legislation that requires the city to provide telephone services free of charge to individuals in the custody by the Department of Corrections saving their families nearly $8 million per year.  The new law also prohibits the City or DOC from receiving or retaining...

August 13, 2018