It’s Not a Revenue Problem What to know: The city of Austin just proposed a new $6.6 billion budget that calls for raising taxes and fees, despite residents struggling with an affordability crisis. In all, “the increases would cost the average Austin homeowner nearly $346 a year,” with more than half of that amount stemming from higher property...
Public Education Elites What to know: Austin ISD’s highest paid employees make more than $200,000 per year and also receive cell phone stipends, travel stipends, retirement benefits, and subsidized healthcare. “The combined total pay for all top 30 employees was about $5.9 million” for the 2025-26 school year. The TPPF take: Education elites complain about inadequate funding even...
Home Prices What to know: Illegal immigration drove up housing prices, the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas says in a draft report. The TPPF take: There’s no mystery here; millions more people means millions fewer affordable homes. “Housing markets are governed by the same economic principles as every other market,” says TPPF’s John Bonura. “When millions of additional people enter...
Higher Ed Indoctrination What to know: The American Association of University Professors (AAUP) is suing Texas Tech over rules restricting how controversial subjects are taught. The leftist group claims that the new rules are causing teachers to “self-censor.” The TPPF take: Texas is working to contain the ideological indoctrination that has contaminated the culture on most university campuses. “For...
It’s Not About the Money What to know: New York City spent nearly $40 billion on government schools—or $36,293 per student—in fiscal year 2024 and yet, “More than 400K New York City children [are] enrolled in failing public schools.” The lesson here is that more spending does not mean better outcomes. The TPPF take: New York’s disastrous example should...
Homeless in Austin What to know: The city of Austin cleared out dozens of homeless encampments. They didn’t stay cleared. The TPPF take: As Austin demonstrates, devoting more money to poor policy does not solve the problem of homelessness. “The data suggest the problem may be worsening, despite the ample resources devoted to it,” says TPPF’s John Bonura. “Thus,...
We’re Not Ashamed to Love America What to know: Time magazine seems uncomfortable with the Fourth of July celebrations and the larger observance of America’s 250th birthday. It warns that “America’s 250th should not become an active celebration of people who enslaved other human beings.” The TPPF take: Hating on America is quite fashionable these days—but it’s still wrong....
Detransitioning What to know: The Texas Children’s Hospital has until the end of the year to establish a “detransition clinic” for former gender modification patients, as part of its settlement with the state of Texas. The TPPF take: One of those former patients, Soren Aldaco, appears on a new TPPF podcast talking about her life and her struggles. Just...
Halting Harris County What to Know: Yet again, Texas courts have halted Harris County activists. On Friday, the Texas Supreme Court put a stop to a county program that “provide[d] taxpayer-funded legal defense to illegal immigrants facing deportation,” finding that it likely violates the state constitution. The TPPF take: Progressive activists in Harris County continue to bend, if not...
Big News in the Bay Area What to know: Even the San Francisco Chronicle is covering TPPF’s new lawsuit against the city of Oakland for its decision to fine a couple nearly $1 million for removing dead and dying trees from their own property. The TPPF take: The city’s actions constitute an uncompensated taking of private property. “You can...
Independence Day What to know: America will soon celebrate her 250th birthday. The TPPF take: It’s time for a renewal of civic literacy. “Civic literacy is not a conservative or liberal project; it is a prerequisite for democratic self-rule,” says TPPF’s Richard Johnson. “As James Madison warned, a people who mean to govern themselves must arm themselves with knowledge. Stated...
Central Texas Fat Cats What to know: Superintendent salaries are sky-high. For instance, in the Central Texas area, the Lake Travis ISD superintendent took home “$468,716” this year, excluding benefits. The TPPF take: Every dollar spent on supersized salaries is a dollar that doesn’t make it to the classroom. “Classrooms are starved for resources. Teachers are living...