Small Town Thievery What to know: The city of Campbell, a small North Texas city located in Hunt County, recently uncovered nearly 150 unauthorized credit card purchases totaling around $30,000 spent on “TikTok Shop, weight loss drugs and more.” City officials are still unsure who is responsible for the misuse of taxpayer money. The TPPF take: Small towns are...
Out of This World What to know: The Texas Education Agency’s newly updated superintendent salary database reveals some eye-popping detail about public education pay. For instance, here’s the total pay for the top 3 highest grossing superintendents: Harlandale ISD, $655,737; Birdville ISD, $551,576; Cypress-Fairbanks ISD, $520,231. The TPPF take: No one should get rich from public service. “Many taxpayers...
Drive a Stake Through It What to know: Governor Abbott is calling for big property tax changes next session, with the goal of “driv[ing] a stake to the heart of property taxes in Texas.” The TPPF take: Texans continue to endure high property taxes, despite the best efforts of past Legislatures. The reason is a loose local environment. “Opportunistic...
SAVE Act What to know: The U.S. Senate has begun debating the SAVE Act, which would ensure election integrity. The TPPF take: Much of the national debate is focused on voter identification. “Voter ID laws require individuals to present identification when casting a ballot; this policy helps ensure elections are conducted fairly and securely,” says TPPF’s Josh Findlay. “The SAVE...
This Could Be the Day What to know: The U.S. Senate could vote on the SAVE Act today; it’s a set of election reforms that will help ensure that every valid vote counts. The TPPF take: Americans deserve to know that their votes count. “Much of the national debate is focused on voter identification,” says TPPF’s Josh Findlay. “Voter...
China is Spying What to know: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has ordered state agencies to investigate possible cybersecurity risks in medical devices made in China. The TPPF take: Chinese spy tech could endanger American lives. “Texans understand that national security doesn’t stop at the border or the battlefield — it extends to the devices monitoring our loved ones in...
Dear Diary What to know: More and more teens are turning to artificial intelligence to express their struggles and feelings: “For many, AI has quietly become the new diary,” Teen magazine reports. The TPPF take: A diary doesn’t talk back, and it doesn’t influence its author. “Interactive systems that appear thoughtful, curious, and empathetic can shape the thinking...
Fraud and Abuse What to know: California is “ground zero” for health care fraud, according to the New York Post. The TPPF take: If you think the fraud in Minnesota is bad, wait until California’s fraud is fully uncovered. “The Golden State’s Covid-19 unemployment insurance debacle at the Employment Development Department was a masterclass in negligence: $177 billion...
School Choice in the Lone Star State What to know: More than 150,000 families have already applied for Texas Education Freedom Accounts, the school choice program passed by the Legislature last year. The TPPF take: High demand and participation show that Texas families want more freedom. “The sheer volume of applications in such a short period shows many Texas...
Votes Vs. Vibes What to know: According to Newsweek, the Democrats’ “pipe dream of turning Texas blue” has taken another “step forward” with state Rep. James Talarico’s primary win in the U.S. Senate race. The TPPF take: That’s truly a pipe dream, according to history and math. “In both 2008 and 2020, Democratic primary turnout exceeded Republican...
Pants on Fire What to know: Dallas ISD wants voters to believe that it can borrow $6 billion, pay back $12+ billion, and it won’t cost homeowners anything extra. That’s a “pants on fire” level lie. The TPPF take: New debt invites higher taxes. Massive new debt invites huge tax hikes. “Dallas ISD—and all other local governments—have been...
The Return of Sanity What to know: President Donald Trump has signed an executive order halting taxpayer-funded trans surgeries in federal prisons. The TPPF take: Why was this even necessary? “America doesn’t want this,” says TPPF’s Sherry Sylvester. “The Washington Post reports that while most Americans do not believe transgender people should be discriminated against, a majority believe gender is...