Taxes & Spending

Spotlight series recap of Articles in the Texas budget

To provide increased budget transparency, the Foundation released six papers in the Spotlight series that highlight each of the ten articles of the Texas budget. In addition to providing taxpayers with timely information about where their tax dollars are going, this series also provides more information about budget trends since the 2004-05 budget in each article and identifies functions that increase by more than 6.5 percent from the previous budget.

May 27, 2016

Higher Education

Higher education and the shape of things to come

On top of this enrollment drop, state lawmakers have threated to cut the school’s funding, while nearly $2 million in donor pledges have been rescinded. I, for one, hoped that the situation at Mizzou would restore sanity on our college campuses. Other universities might see the writing on the wall and get back to the real business of higher education.

May 26, 2016

Local Government

Was America’s 1787 Constitutional Convention illegal?

Moreover, the Constitution crafted at the Philadelphia Convention is among the greatest, if not the greatest, governing document produced in history. If it was the child of a 'runaway convention,' then, given the crisis of our overreaching federal government, one is inclined to suggest that we have another.

May 25, 2016

Higher Education

Texas college tuition is unjustifiably high

From 1974-75 to 2012-13, tuition fees nationwide rose 138 percent in constant dollars at public four-year universities receiving state appropriations and nearly the same - 131 percent - at private universities getting little or no appropriations.

May 25, 2016

Criminal Justice

What conservative criminal justice reform isn’t

The federal government is overdue in taking a step forward for a system that is gravely lagging behind the states and the success they have seen with right-sizing their criminal justice system.

May 24, 2016

Economy

Rivalry helps drive Florida and Texas to economic success

Over the past decade, Texas has added 1.3 million jobs — the most of any state in the country — and has become the nation's leader in exports. Each year, more companies flock to Texas from nearby states to do business.

May 24, 2016

Economy

Austin’s tornadic short-term rental regulations

As of November 2015, the City of Austin implemented a ban on short-term rentals for all residential single-family homes, unless the owner lives on the premises... Basically, these vacation rentals were deemed 'party homes,' thus the decision to ban them.

May 24, 2016

Property Rights

Testimony: Involuntary Annexation

Center for Local Governance Policy Analyst Allegra Hill presented testimony on involuntary annexation to the Texas Senate Committee on Intergovernmental Relations. Hill's testimony, in part, reads: Is the invasion of people’s rights—to the extent such an invasion is permitted under current statute—justified in light of the desire for municipal growth? Do the ends justify the means? I would simply submit to you that the answer is no; municipal expansion does not justify bowling over the minority, and depriving people of the right to vote.

May 19, 2016

Economy

New White House overtime rule slams conservative states

Rather than pay 50% more for labor that isn’t 50% more productive, business owners are likely to instead hire more part time workers or ask more productive—and higher paid workers—to fill the gap.

May 18, 2016

Taxes & Spending

Testimony: Conservative Path to Limiting the Footprint of Government, Texas House

Testimony presented to the House Appropriations Committee to strengthen Texas’ limit on appropriations by the Honorable Talmadge Heflin.  Texas has done better economically and fiscally than most states during the last fifteen years. However, one area that still needs improvement is consistently controlling the state’s budget growth. Since all government spending must ultimately be paid for by taxation, limiting budget increases is essential for a competitive economy that supports prosperity.

May 18, 2016

Energy & Environment

Dissent must be silenced

The report reviews much of what climate apologists insist is true including the myth that 97 percent of all climate scientists agree on global warming. That is a powerful rhetorical point and often quoted by the President, but it is also false.

May 17, 2016

Taxes & Spending

Testimony: Conservative Path to Limiting the Footprint of Government, Texas Senate

Testimony presented to the Senate Finance Committee to strengthen Texas’ limit on appropriations by the Honorable Talmadge Heflin.  Texas has done better economically and fiscally than most states during the last fifteen years. However, one area that still needs improvement is consistently controlling the state’s budget growth. Since all government spending must ultimately be paid for by taxation, limiting budget increases is essential for a competitive economy that supports prosperity.

May 17, 2016