Taxes & Spending

Texas stands ready to fight overreach by Biden administration

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton recently sued the Biden administration over immigration policies. It’s the first lawsuit from Texas, and it surely won’t be the last. But Paxton won’t be alone. The Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Center for the American Future, where I am lead counsel, will also challenge unconstitutional federal government overreach through the courts. Three areas...

February 1, 2021

Health Care

Ending Obamacare Won’t Eliminate Insurance

When Senate Democrats aren’t making thinly veiled criticisms of Judge Amy Coney Barrett‘s deeply held religious beliefs, their strategy to make Americans scared of the Supreme Court nominee is to focus on health care. Specifically, they argue Judge Barrett would be a deciding vote to declare the fatally flawed Affordable Care Act (ACA) unconstitutional—which, they say,...

October 16, 2020

K-12 Education

Paxton offers needed school guidance

As the beginning of the school year approaches, Texas parents want two things — clarity and choice. We want to know what schools will be offering in the fall, and we want a say in what our children will be doing. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s new legal guidance on school reopening is helping provide...

August 3, 2020

Criminal Justice

Texans are paying to keep officers subject to discipline

Are you concerned about cops with a history of misconduct on the police force? Chances are you are paying to keep them on. It’s increasingly clear that a small percentage of police officers who have committed misconduct remain on the force when they should have been pushed out long ago. Derek Chauvin, the officer charged...

June 28, 2020

Election Integrity

Texas Supreme Court Reminds Cities There Is No Pandemic Exception to the Constitution

Four Justices on the Texas Supreme Court just fired a shot across the bow of government officials continuing draconian COVID-19 restrictions in Texas. In a concurring opinion, Justices Blacklock, Guzman, Boyd, and Devine reminded everyone that the “Constitution is not suspended when the government declares a state of disaster.” “As more becomes known about the...

May 20, 2020

Family

Why should Texas father have to share custody of daughter with mother’s ex-boyfriend?

Next week, the Supreme Court of Texas will hear the case of a father seeking to vindicate his fundamental rights from being forced to share custody of his daughter with her mother’s former boyfriend. This case, known as In Re C.J.C., has profound implications for all Texas families. It centers on a provision of Texas custody law that...

April 16, 2020

Economy

Seeking a balance in coronavirus response

Late last month, Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven urged people to take responsibility and follow the government’s recommendations, AFP (Agence France-Presse) reports. “Those include working from home if you can, staying home if you feel sick, practice social distancing, and stay home if you belong to a risk group or are over the age of 70.”...

April 6, 2020

Local Government

Austin’s Shelter in Place Order is Flawed

With demands to “do something” ringing in their ears, it’s tempting for mayors and county judges to respond to COVID-19 with heavy-handed measures that at least give the appearance of action. That temptation is powerful. On Tuesday, city of Austin officials, along with Travis County and Williamson County, issued “shelter-in-place” orders, affecting millions of us. But...

March 26, 2020

Health Care

Stay the Course on the ACA

When the U.S. Supreme Court declined recently to expedite review of our Affordable Care Act case, justices accomplished two things. And both will help replace a failed system with something that works for American families. That’s why Republicans must stay the course and push ahead with Texas v. Azar, the lawsuit that could eventually scuttle the ACA. First,...

February 14, 2020

Property Rights

A step back for property rights

Property rights in Texas suffered a setback recently when the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department approved an unprecedented expansion of regulatory power under the state’s endangered and threatened species laws. Even though the proposal was opposed by the Texas Public Policy Foundation and Texas Farm Bureau, and written concerns were expressed by Texas Railroad Commissioner...

February 4, 2020

Economy

Josh Hawley Is Right To Tell Nancy Pelosi To ‘Fish Or Cut Bait’ On Impeachment

For House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), it’s time to fish or cut bait. Most Missouri voters are familiar with this colloquial expression; it means either take action or step back —and do something useful instead. That’s the position Pelosi finds herself in, now that Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) has introduced a resolution that would allow the Senate...

January 7, 2020

Health Care

After Fifth Circuit decision, let’s ditch Obamacare. Empower people’s own medical choices.

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals decision on Wednesday holding the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate unconstitutional does two things. First, it affirms the argument we’ve been making all along — that despite the promises and assurances all Americans received, Obamacare hurt families by taking away their insurance, taking away their doctors, limiting their choices and...

December 19, 2019