Energy & Environment
What should states do about Obama’s new EPA regs?
The inertia of the environmental industrial complex might still prevail unless affirmative action is taken.
February 16, 2016
Criminal Justice
In America, the law is king
America is exceptional because the men and women who occupy office stand before temptation but accept their limits nonetheless.
February 15, 2016
K-12 Education
10 years of education spending
This post draws from TPPF’s comprehensive explanation of Texas school finance, available here. It’s common to hear support for increased education funding—last year a statewide Texas Tribune / UT poll found that about 60 percent of Texans thought that added funding would improve public schools. [1] This isn’t shocking. Since the early 70s, most Americans have...
February 15, 2016
Economy
Texas title insurance market should be freed from over-regulation
Texas often has the highest title insurance rates in the nation, adding significant costs for both homeowners and businesses engaging in real estate transactions.
February 12, 2016
Other
Dr. Vance Ginn on KRLD to discuss U.S. exports
Center for Fiscal Policy Economist Dr. Vance Ginn explains how Texas is leading the nation in exports for the fourteenth year in a row.
February 11, 2016
Other
Kathleen Hartnett White on The Lars Larson Show to discuss Clean Power Plan halt
Distinguished Senior Fellow-in-Residence & Director of the Armstrong Center for Energy & the Environment Hon. Kathleen Hartnett White discusses in length what the decision by the Supreme Court of the United States to halt the Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Power Plan means.
February 10, 2016
Taxes & Spending
Occupational licensing, zoning, Uber and opportunity
Texas requires licensing for 33 percent of these occupations, but charges slightly more in average fees, $304, and quite a bit less in mandatory training, 326 days.
February 10, 2016
Taxes & Spending
Visualizing state and local government finance
With greater government transparency comes greater government accountability and opportunity. That is, by making it easier for more eyes to be on state and local government spending, there’s a better chance that one or some of us will discover ways to make government more efficient.
February 10, 2016
Economy
Economic liberty: Down in America, up in Texas
Economic freedom in America has steadily declined for the past 15 years as the role of the federal government has expanded rapidly.
February 9, 2016
Taxes & Spending
Funding bad decisions: Urban rail and federal money
Short of ending federal funding for hundreds of programs, Congress needs to resist the urge to micromanage distant states, counties and cities and shift to block grants with few strings attached.
February 9, 2016
Taxes & Spending
American dream dependent on economic freedom
The American people are paying more and more of their hard-earned dollars to satisfy government at all levels, and they’re not getting value in return.
February 8, 2016
Energy & Environment
The EPA’s carbon rule will hurt Virginia
The EPA is mandating that the commonwealth reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by 36 percent.
February 6, 2016