The Texas Public Policy Foundation supports Senate Bill 1717 (2025) and Senate Joint Resolution 63 (2025), introduced by Senator Middleton. These legislative measures propose to rename the “Gulf of Mexico” to the “Gulf of America” within Texas statutes and the Texas Constitution. This paper outlines the rationale behind this proposal, provides historical and geopolitical context, and highlights the economic significance of this body of water to Texas and the United States.
Local Government
Who Were Austin’s Highest Paid Public Employees in 2025?
Last month, the Austin American-Statesman launched an interesting new city salary database that shines a light on the “top-paid city of Austin employees of 2025.” The new details are quite interesting, especially given the city’s own recent admission that “Austin is experiencing a housing affordability crisis”—which is, of course, chiefly driven by government action. Using this tool, it’s obvious that city workers have become numerous and well-compensated. As the Statesman itself notes: “The city of Austin employed 13,567 full-time workers...
March 27, 2026