Eat Healthy What to know: More and more states are banning some junk foods from being purchased with food stamps (SNAP benefits). The TPPF take: Texas is leading the way. “Since 75% of Americans are overweight or obese, you may wonder why this didn’t happen sooner and why Red States are acting first,” says TPPF’s...
More Pay, But Why? What to know: Keller ISD has money troubles and declining enrollment, but nevertheless, its newly-hired superintendent has just been given “a higher salary than his predecessor.” The new superintendent’s starting pay: $285,000 (excludes benefits). The TPPF take: Money is tight and students are fleeing. So why are some education elites getting...
Now Witness the Firepower What to know: The Texas “Death Star bill,” which limits how much local government can regulate Texans, has survived its court challenges. The TPPF take: The Death Star bill is a beacon of freedom for Texas families. “Hundreds of city ordinances hang over Texas residents like a giant orbiting space station,...
That’s No Moon What to know: TPPF attorneys are taking aim at 133 Dallas city ordinances that violate the “Death Star” law, which prohibits cities from overregulating Texans. The TPPF take: The Death Star bill is fully operational—for freedom. “The city of Dallas—and other cities—have continuously expanded their powers over residents during the last several...
Living Large at Taxpayer Expense What to know: The Austin American-Statesman recently investigated the city of Austin’s spending proclivities and discovered that: “Austin leaders used taxpayer funds for [fancy] solo lunches, steak dinners and upgraded flights,” among other things. The controversial findings come as Austin officials are debating whether to ask voters for a major...
Local Liberty Trumps Local Control What to know: The Dallas Morning News’ editorial board is no fan of the Legislature’s super-preemption law (aka the Death Star), arguing that: “state lawmakers should step in with targeted policies only in cases necessary to address local problems in which the whole state has a compelling interest.” The TPPF...
Rebuilding in the Hill Country What to know: Volunteers remain committed to rebuilding areas in the Texas Hill Country that were devastated by deadly flooding in July. The TPPF take: When official response was delayed by red tape, volunteers stepped up. “This wasn’t just a natural disaster,” says TPPF’s Ammon Blair. “It was a cascading...
The Death Star What to know: TPPF attorneys, representing Dallas residents, could sue over 133 city of Dallas ordinances that are in conflict with state law. The TPPF take: The bill preempts, and makes unenforceable, city ordinances that duplicate and add to regulations already imposed by the State of Texas. “All Texans deserve the freedom...
Stop Digging What to know: A school district in northeast Bexar County, Judson ISD, was recently discovered to be “paying an outside consultant $1,500 a day to help the school board understand the budget and reduce the deficit.” This outrageous expense comes at a time when the ISD is facing a $37 million deficit for...
That Was It What to know: An NPR whistleblower—who was fired after sounding the alarm about NPR’s bias—says that its leftward lurch resulted in its defunding. The TPPF take: Taxpayers shouldn’t be funding a biased “news” outlet like NPR. “NPR and PBS have always been among the most biased news sources, because they don’t even...
Smaller Government What to know: The Washington Post reveals that the Trump administration is intent on reducing the size and scope of government. The TPPF take: That’s exactly what the American people voted for. “This week, Trump won at the Supreme Court again when the high court ruled he could fire 1,300 employees at the...
School Supplies What to know: Cell phones won’t be on any Texas public school’s list of school supplies for the upcoming year. The Legislature has banned them in classrooms. The TPPF take: This move will have positive effects for Texas education—and Texas kids. “While technology plays an essential role in education, personal devices often serve...