Other
Ginn: Imagine Texas without property taxes
The vastly greater opportunity to prosper in those states without an income tax provides evidence that Texas would be wise to never pass an income tax.
November 25, 2014
Criminal Justice
Americans Deserve an Attorney General Who Will Uphold Rule of Law
Perhaps the largest hurdle facing Lynch in her upcoming Senate confirmation hearings is her affinity for seizing real and financial assets to be put to use in her office... The Wall Street Journal reported that Lynch's office made $904 million dollars in criminal and civil asset seizures in fiscal year 2013.
November 18, 2014
Other
How to fix property taxes: Get rid of them
A study led by the prominent economist Arthur Laffer recommends raising the total sales tax rate, which includes the state and local portions totaling 8.25 percent, to 11 percent. This plan would also broaden the tax base by taxing property and all goods and services taxed in at least one other state.
November 17, 2014
Property Rights
ICYMI: CLG Talks Property Tax Reform in Forbes Magazine
Americans generally dislike paying taxes, and this sentiment is especially true when it comes to property taxes. According to a study produced by the American Enterprise Institute, of all taxes imposed on the general public, property taxes are the form for which citizens hold the highest degree of indignation. The public’s ill-will is not without merit, according...
November 14, 2014
Higher Education
What Do Last Week’s Election Results Mean for Texas Higher Education?
Attempting to keep pace with these price hikes, students and their parents have amassed historic debt, which now stands at $1.2 trillion. For the first time, national student-loan debt is higher than national credit-card debt.
November 11, 2014
K-12 Education
Michael Barba: Rebuild Middle Class with Educational Choice
In fact, Texas is now spending $10,549 per student every year, which means we're spending upwards of $250,000 on the average classroom. (Teacher pay, by the way, averages $48,821.)
November 10, 2014
Taxes & Spending
The Great Texas Budget Debate of 2015 – Continued
There they go again. In what has become a familiar refrain, proponents of making big government even bigger are claiming that past increases in Texas state spending aren’t really as bad as they seem if you make an adjustment here and there. In this case, we are told that “Texas’ practice” for the last decade...
November 7, 2014
Criminal Justice
Meet The Fisherman Who Faced 20 Years In Prison For Losing Three Fish
There are now so many federal criminal statutes, and prosecutors can so broadly interpreted them, that anybody can be accused of anything at any time. Like losing fish.
November 6, 2014
Economy
Houston’s New Ridesharing Regulations Move the City in the Wrong Direction
Onerous new ridesharing regulations are set to go into effect tomorrow in the City of Houston that will make services like Uber and Lyft more expensive for the average consumer and create additional costs for local taxpayers. Among other things, the new rules will require drivers of transportation network companies (TNCs) to undergo additional background...
November 3, 2014
Economy
Middle-Class Americans and the Housing Affordability Crisis
Within this country’s most populous, developed cities, a disturbing trend is emerging as middle class families are being forced out due to the struggle of income inequality and affordable housing. According to a study produced by residential real estate magnet, Trulia, among the United States’ 100 largest metros, nearly 63 percent of homes can be categorized as...
November 3, 2014
Property Rights
ICYMI: TPPF Releases Study on Denton Fracking Ban
Last month, the Texas Public Policy Foundation published a short study on the city of Denton’s proposed fracking ban that explores the ramifications a fracking ban would have on the economy, taxes, and property rights. With the issue close to being decided, it’s worth rehashing the crux of this analysis once more. From the study:...
November 3, 2014
Property Rights
Texas can lead the nation on property tax reform
No American ought to suffer the slings and arrows of a punishing property tax system to pay for our government. Not only is a break from the status quo possible, but it’s also potentially prosperous for all Texans in a big way.
October 31, 2014