The longest government shutdown in American history, 40 days of furloughed feds and finger-pointing, whimpered to an end Sunday night. Eight Senate Democrats, weary of their own party’s lack of a credible path to victory, crossed the aisle to hand Republicans a clean win, invoking cloture on a House funding bill by the slimmest of...
City and county spending has outpaced growth in population and inflation, leading to an increase in the tax burden on Texan taxpayers. Key points: Local government spending continues to outstrip increases in both population and inflation. From 2014 to 2023, local government spending rose by 61.2%, whereas population and inflation increased by only 42.7%. Elevated...
Rising housing costs are delaying marriage and childbearing by preventing young adults from forming independent households, thereby making housing affordability a central driver of declining family formation and demographic stability. Key points: Housing affordability directly shapes whether young adults can form independent households, influencing marriage, fertility, and long-term family stability. Rising housing costs and limited...