Health Care
Washington’s monopoly policy
Though Washington decries Mylan's monopoly power and price gouging, it is Washington that created and protects Mylan's monopoly.
September 9, 2016
Criminal Justice
How Texas Reduced Both Crime & Incarceration
Texas is proof positive that by filling the spectrum in between these two extremes with effective monitoring and treatment programs, we can both enhance taxpayer responsibility and increase the safety of our communities.
September 8, 2016
Criminal Justice
ICYMI: TPPF, Goldwater Institute Launch Local Litigation Effort
Yesterday, the Texas Public Policy Foundation and its sister think tank, the Goldwater Institute, filed suit against the city of Austin and the Austin Firefighters’ Association challenging the costly and common practice of release time. More from the suit: “The City of Austin (“Austin”) is engaged in a taxpayer-funded practice that diverts firefighters away from...
September 8, 2016
Health Care
Fix, don’t patch, RGV’s Medicaid problems
"Given the current low Medicaid reimbursement schedules, more than 30 percent of American doctors can’t afford to care for Medicaid patients. If more Texas Medicaid dollars were available to pay doctors and hospitals, more Medicaid patients could actually get care. What good is having Medicaid coverage, or any insurance for that matter, if you can’t get timely care?"
September 1, 2016
Economy
Texas bests California in economic opportunity
"Since December 2007 when the last national recession started, total civilian employment increased in California by 1.2 million while it increased by 1.7 million in Texas, with a labor force two-thirds the size of California’s. This increase in employment in Texas constitutes about one-third of all jobs created nationwide — truly remarkable given recent headwinds!"
September 1, 2016
Higher Education
Will The University Of Chicago Shake Up The World Once Again?
The University of Chicago appears intent on shaking up the world once more. But this time it aims not at a particular intellectual discovery but rather at preserving the very conditions of discovery itself: the freedom of the mind.
August 31, 2016
Taxes & Spending
Improving Debt Transparency in Bond Elections
Policymakers should be concerned about the size and growth of local government debt in Texas – a contributing factor is that voters do not have enough information provided to them at the ballot box to make an informed decision about new debt issuances. Voters should be provided with basic fiscal facts at the ballot box to better understand how their decisions will affect their community.
August 31, 2016
Energy & Environment
Your Damn Children are Killing the Planet
America is the world’s engine for technology and innovation, powered by affordable, reliable, plentiful energy. These factors foster an environment that produces health and prosperity for people all over the world, for rich and poor nations alike.
August 29, 2016
Taxes & Spending
Now Hiring in Austin: Social Justice Warrior
Perhaps once the city has hired its Chief Equity Officer it can get started on finding a Chief Efficiency Officer to close bogus programs, eliminate waste, and budget smartly using zero-based budgeting.
August 26, 2016
Energy & Environment
California’s Cap-And-Trade Program Is Sick And Will Take High-Speed Rail Down With It
But the cap-and-trade market is showing dangerous signs of weakness. Not only have auction revenues collapsed in the last two auctions in May and August, but the competitive landscape for the auctions has collapsed as well.
August 25, 2016
Taxes & Spending
Supermajority Vote Requirement Protects DISD Taxpayers
Property taxes in Texas are some of the nation’s most punishing and that burden continues to grow quickly (see pg. 5). Because of the size and growth of Texas’ property tax problem, state lawmakers passed a series of reforms during the last legislative session to help ease the swell of local tax bills. One of...
August 25, 2016
Economy
Austin’s short-term rental ordinance is ‘ridiculous’
The Austin City Council has declared war on short-term rental houses. The constitutional rights of owners and tenants are that war’s collateral damage
August 19, 2016