In the waning days of the 2015 Texas Legislative Session, the Conference Committee is in the process of resolving differences the two chambers’ versions of the 2016-17 Texas budget before sine die on June 1. Though much could happen before then, there is a good opportunity for legislators to pass a conservative budget.
But the magnitude of Texas’ property tax problem has become so immense that not even these influential groups seem to be able to stop what’s coming.
Whatever the outcome of the lawsuit, we should all agree that local governments ought to observe and abide by state law.
In other words, the feds are attempting to force the hand of these states, which have declined to expand Medicaid.
Almost any way you cut it, it’s become clear that long-term structural reform is needed to protect Texans moving forward. Long-lasting changes, similar to what’s been proposed by the Texas Senate, are of the utmost importance.
"Testimony: Franchise Tax Reform Benefits Texans" includes Dr. Vance Ginn's testimony before the House Ways and Means Committee in support of Senate Bill 7, which pertains to the franchise tax.
One can only hope that the evidence provided by Campos, Ginsberg, and others will drive a stake through the heart of the 'funding-cuts-made-us-raise-tuitions' myth. But don’t count on that happening just yet.
According to the latest Bond Review Board data, total school district debt, including principal and interest, grew to more than $112.2 billion in fiscal year 2014—more than any other type of local government. Compared to the whole, school district debt accounts for about one-third of the total.
Universal schooling means little if children born into poverty are assigned to schools that fail their genius. I cannot stand up and oppose parents having options, because research shows that when parents have options, kids win.
The longstanding liberal approach is to levy high, progressive taxes to redistribute wealth from the haves to the have-nots; implement large government programs to assist the poor; and meddle with housing markets, using government rules to force the construction of low income housing. This is the California model.
On Tuesday, TPPF hosted its first debate at the Joe B. Hogsett Theater on the issue of freedom of association versus forced disclosure. The issue examines whether it is a right of the individual or for the overall public good that donations to “politically active” non-profit groups be publicly revealed.
How? By taking control of the electricity sector of the economy, which forces states and utilities to pick energy fuels by the 'content of their carbon' rather than price, affordability, reliability, or any of the other metrics utilities use to perform in the marketplace.