Boom What to know: The Texas oil and gas industry paid $24.7 billion in state and local taxes and state royalties last year, a new report shows. The TPPF take: The Legislature must protect oil and gas production, which is vital to the state’s economy. “In 2019, the U.S. became THE global oil and gas leader, decreasing overall US...
A Danger to Children What to know: A study says that 71.2% of tweens and 83.3% of teens experienced bullying on social media platforms last year. And 62.4% of tweens and 82.2% of teens encountered nudity or content of a sexual nature. The TPPF take: Even their executives agree, social media is harmful to minors. “The solution is simple:...
School Choice Helps Everyone What to know: Opponents of parent empowerment are relying on rural Republicans in Texas to block any meaningful bills. The TPPF take: Empowering parents to make the key decisions about their children’s education benefits everyone involved. “Florida’s experience shows that parent empowerment benefits everyone—even rural areas,” says TPPF’s Roy Maynard. “So far, 24 studies show that...
School Choice and Special Education What to know: Special education students can benefit from a greater array of options for their parents to choose. The TPPF take: Every child should have access to the education that best meets their unique learning styles. “Like all children, students with disabilities deserve the opportunity to flourish. But in a nation where education...
School Choice Works What to know: Texas Tech economics Professor Alexander Salter writes in the Austin American-Statesman that data gleaned from other states shows parent empowerment works. The TPPF take: It’s time for Texas lawmakers to empower Texas parents. “Researchers have done important work demonstrating, by any reasonable standard, that school choice works,” says Salter. “Now it’s up to public servants...
School Choice Week What to know: As national School Choice Week begins, Iowa is poised to take a big step toward parent empowerment, as its governor pushes an expansion of education savings accounts. The TPPF take: Support for parent empowerment is strong, even in rural areas of the nation. “Texas politicians, take note: parents aren’t fooled by the...
Republicans Can Fix the Border What to know: As the border crisis rages on, with little effort from the Biden administration to truly fix it, Rep. Chip Roy and former Rep. Mayra Flores are laying out the policies House Republicans could pursue to force the president’s hand. The TPPF take: If Biden will not act, then House Republicans must....
Reforming Higher Ed What to know: Ilya Shapiro and Christopher Rufo make the case that state lawmakers can end the divisive, identity group policies and ideologically driven agenda that permeates university campuses today by shutting down the so-called “diversity, equity and inclusion” bureaucracies at taxpayer funded academic institutions. The TPPF take: Lawmakers can reform higher education and ending “diversity...
Largest Property Tax Cut in History What to know: In in his inaugural speech, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott promised “the largest property tax cut in the history of the state of Texas.” The TPPF take: Such a property tax cut is long overdue and will help Texans everywhere escape from the sixth-highest rates in the nation. “This is a...
Protecting Kids on Social Media What to know: The Dallas Morning News published an editorial suggesting a shift away from the topic of inappropriate and adult information available to kids in school libraries to focus on something they view is far more pervasive – pornography on social media platforms. The TPPF take: Children deserve more safeguards to protect them,...
Texas Schools California What to know: Last year, California Gov. Gavin Newsom touted a $100 million budget surplus. This year, California faces a $22.5 billion deficit while Texas announced a $32.7 billion surplus. The TPPF take: As California tries to end oil and gas, while sticking their residents with high income and gas taxes, their budget problems aren’t going...
Social Media Is Bad For Your Children What to know: Seattle Public Schools filed a lawsuit against TikTok, Meta, Snap, and other social media companies, accusing them of contributing to the youth mental health crisis. The TPPF take: Lawmakers must do more to protect children online. “Academic research and nearly daily tragic stories continue to...