Guard the Gains What to know: Following the erosion of last session’s tax relief, many state lawmakers today are “proposing a host of ideas to make it tougher for local governments to borrow money” and raise taxes. The goal is to protect state-directed tax relief from greedy local governments. The TPPF take: Tax relief should benefit taxpayers,...
Keep Your Doctor What to know: More and more states are limiting the “non-compete agreements” that doctors are often forced to sign. Limiting such agreements can help keep doctors local. The TPPF take: Texas should protect doctors—and their patients—from non-compete agreements. “When a doctor leaves his employer, NCAs can create a significant disruption in patient care,” says...
Justice for Americans What to know: The Trump administration’s Justice Department is setting up a legal showdown with judges that want to stop the deportation of dangerous illegal aliens. The TPPF take: These are violent gang members who should be deported. “After President Donald Trump ordered the immediate deportation of Venezuelan gang members on Saturday, U.S. District...
Don’t Ruin College Sports What to know: College athletic programs are “in crisis now,” Sen. Ted Cruz contends: “Nobody wants to see a handful of super schools with unlimited cash, all the best athletes and nobody else even able to survive,” he says. The TPPF take: Congress can step in and save college athletic programs. “College sports...
Forever Chemicals Too Close to Home What to know: Texas state Rep. Helen Kerwin has filed a bill that would regulate the sale, production and use of PFAs, “forever chemicals” that have found their way into the water supplies used by farmers and ranchers. The TPPF take: Texas farm and ranch land is at risk. “These chemicals...
No More Golden Parachutes What to know: After recent controversy in Keller ISD, the Texas House is taking aim at golden parachutes for government employees. The chamber recently considered a pair of bills, HBs 610 and 762, to limit the size of any severance package for departing public employees. The TPPF take: Some government employees are walking...
This Land is Our Land What to know: Republicans in Congress—as well as in many states—are working on legislation to prevent the Chinese Communist Party and those affiliated with it from owning land in Texas. The TPPF take: The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is turning American freedoms into weapons against us. “SB 17, dubbed ‘Stopping Foreign Adversaries’...
The Highest Court What to know: The fishing industry’s case against offshore wind in New England—the Vineyard Wind project—could soon be heading to the U.S. Supreme Court. TPPF attorneys are representing the fishing industry. The TPPF take: Even before President Donald Trump took office, the offshore wind industry was in trouble. “Costs keep going up, and embarrassing...
Gift Card Grift What to know: A third Austin ISD employee has been “accused of stealing thousands of dollars worth of district-owned gift cards” to spend on his own personal bills, groceries, tuition, and expenses. This means that tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars have likely been stolen over a short period. The TPPF take: Why are...
Grade Inflation What to know: Grade inflation has made college transcripts all but meaningless for employers. The TPPF take: College grade inflation is undermining workforce competitiveness. “This isn’t a sign of smarter students or better teaching—it’s a collapse of standards,” says TPPF’s Tom Lindsay. “Grade point averages (GPAs) at public universities have climbed from 2.7 in the 1960s to...
Children are Safer What to know: A new report shows that child abuse deaths and removals of children into foster care, are down since the Texas Legislature enacted reforms. The TPPF take: The Legislature has worked to strengthen families. “Recent data supports what family advocates have been saying for decades—it is possible to reduce the number of...