Tax Cuts What to know: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has signed a $10 billion property tax cut into law (though portions must still be approved by voters in November). The TPPF take: The tax relief package is expected to lower taxes for the average homeowner by $484 per year while elderly and disabled homeowners will pay $938...
Housing Boom What to know: Texas lawmakers have laid the groundwork for a housing boom by clearing away red tape. The TPPF take: One of the leading causes of the housing affordability crisis is a matter of supply. “Zoning regulations in many major metropolitan areas have created an artificial scarcity of houses, which in turn...
The Root of the Problem What to know: Governor Abbott is highlighting the real problem with property taxes—despite the state lawmakers’ best efforts to get tax bills down, local governments continue “diminishing the impact of state cuts by continually raising rates.” The TPPF take: We’re caught in a cycle where the state provides tax...
Here They Come What to know: One school district is accelerating its plan to pitch voters on a massive $290 million bond “after bills limiting when districts could have elections died in the Texas Legislature.” Expect more local governments to follow suit. The TPPF take: The failure of key legislation invites local governments to...
Caught Red-Handed What to know: The Department of Justice has arrested another Chinese researcher smuggling biological materials into the U.S. The TPPF take: Texas has taken measures to protect itself. “Concern over China’s potentially harmful infiltration of Texas first took practical effect in 2021, with a law, known as the Lone Star Infrastructure Protection...
Parents’ Rights What to know: LGBTQ+ activists say that Texas’ new Parental Bill of Rights, passed by the Texas Legislature, goes too far. “Any type of bills that are trying to affect the LGBTQI+ community upsets me,” one activist said. The TPPF take: Texas lawmakers were right to protect parental rights by keeping gender...
Protecting America and Americans What to know: President Donald Trump has sent the National Guard into Los Angeles as rioting continues. The TPPF take: TPPF’s Chuck DeVore was a member of the California National Guard during the 1992 Rodney King riots. “Today’s riots are fueled by open-borders radicals and their enablers, not anger over...
No More Anarchy What to know: President Donald Trump deployed the National Guard to quell rioting in Los Angeles. The TPPF take: The president moved fast to prevent a repeat of the 1992 riots. “Predictably, California Gov. Gavin Newsom and LA Mayor Karen Bass clutch their pearls, whining about ‘cruel’ immigration enforcement while the...
Food Stamp Fraud What to know: The U.S. Department of Agriculture has uncovered a $66 million fraud scheme that was bilking the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), or food stamps. The TPPF take: States have no incentive to stop fraudsters from stealing taxpayer funds. “States administer the program and essentially bill the federal government for SNAP subsidies paid...
That’s Illegal What to know: The state of Texas has agreed to abide by federal law, which says illegal immigrants can’t get the reduced “in-state tuition” fees enjoyed by Texas citizens—but denied to other American citizens. The TPPF take: TPPF attorneys have litigated this issue in the past. “Federal law stipulates that universities...
Never Enough What to know: The 89th Texas Legislature provided public schools with a massive $8.5 billion funding increase. Despite this spending spike, some education administrators are already complaining that “it’s still not enough.” The TPPF take: It will never be enough. “There is no amount of money that will ever satisfy public school spenders....
New Grads, New Horizons What to know: The fastest growing jobs for college students are construction, utilities and mining—all of which require no college degree in the first place. The TPPF take: The “college for all” mantra is losing its appeal. “In this shifting landscape, the Texas State Technical College System (TSTC) offers a proven...