Taxes & Spending
SB 142: Simplify Texas’ Business Franchise Tax Until Elimination
Dr. Vance Ginn's testimony before the Senate Finance Committee in support of simplifying Texas' business franchise tax and SB 142.
March 3, 2017
Property Rights
ICYMI: UT/TT Poll Confirms Texans Yearn for Property Tax Reform
A new poll is spotlighting the fact that property taxes in Texas are out of control, and Texans consider lower property taxes a top Legislative priority. The UT/Texas Tribune poll, conducted Feb. 3-10, 217, asked Texans to identify the Legislature’s top priority and found that lowering property taxes was the overall top choice, getting 20...
March 3, 2017
Economy
California Lurches For A Carbon Tax After Consecutive Greenhouse Gas Auction Failures
For the fourth time in a row California’s cap-and-trade auction for greenhouse gas emissions fell flat, raising only $8.2 million out of a hoped for $600 million, leaving revenues $1.9 billion short over the past 12 months.
March 2, 2017
Taxes & Spending
Invisible Governments: Tax Increment Reinvestment Zones
Bryan Mathew, Center for Local Governance, testified before the House Committee on Special Purpose Districts.
March 2, 2017
Taxes & Spending
In Support of Voter Approval for Pension Obligation Bonds
Should Houstonians be given a chance to vote on the issuance of $1 billion of pension obligation bonds (POBs) as part of the city’s overall reform package? Absolutely. With the possible exception of certificates of obligation issued for emergency purposes, local government debt should almost always be accompanied by a public vote. After all, it’s...
March 1, 2017
Taxes & Spending
SB 17: Texans Benefit from Eliminating Business Franchise Tax
Dr. Vance Ginn, Economist in the Center for Fiscal Policy, testified before the Senate Finance Committee in support of SB 17.
February 28, 2017
Taxes & Spending
21st Century School Finance System in Texas
Dr. Vance Ginn's testimony before the House Public Education Committee on School Finance on February 28, 2017.
February 28, 2017
Taxes & Spending
Texas Legislature Should Pass a 2018-19 Conservative Texas Budget
The Conservative Texas Budget (CTB) Coalition has defined a conservative budget to be one where biennial appropriations (General Appropriations Act and supplemental appropriations, when available) of state funds (excludes federal funds) and all funds—the footprint of government—increase by no more than population growth plus inflation. The 2018-19 CTB limits are $147.5 billion in state funds...
February 28, 2017
Economy
A Battle Of Energy-Producing Native Americans Vs. Report-Producing Federal Contractors
In Northern Arizona, the Navajo Generating Station (NGS) and a coal mine team to produce reliable, affordable electricity while providing 755 good-paying jobs, about 90 percent of whom are Native Americans. A federal report now threatens these jobs.
February 28, 2017
Higher Education
How To Reduce College Costs
The solution to administrative bloat in public universities is less a challenge to the intellect than to the political will and courage of university trustees, chancellors, presidents, and state legislators.
February 28, 2017
Economy
The Problem with Pension Reform
Defined benefit retirement systems in Houston and Dallas are collapsing under their own weight, putting retirees and taxpayers in harm’s way. And while pension reform proposals are right now taking shape (see here and here), there’s a big problem with the outlines of both plans: they leave these systems locked in state law. As I’ve...
February 27, 2017
Higher Education
No College For Old Administrators: Time For Donors/Alums To Defend The Freedom To Learn
Here, then, straight from the horse’s mouth, is the sorry state of American higher education today. Current administrators, we have learned, cannot to be counted on to right the ship.
February 25, 2017