Eyes on Local Debt
What to know: Thanks to a new state law (HB 103), the Texas Comptroller’s office recently unveiled the Local Government Bond, Tax, and Project Transparency Database, enabling Texans to “see exactly how much debt their local governments carry, what bonds voters approved, and how those dollars are being used.”
The TPPF take: Texas’ new transparency tool gives Texans the ability to track how their tax dollars are being spent and why.
“Local government debt has exploded in recent years, putting upward pressure on everyone’s property tax bills. One factor exacerbating this problem has been the fractured information environment, wherein important data, documents, and details were typically housed in different places online, thus making it hard for the average person to understand the pros and cons of new debt proposals. Now, with the introduction of the state’s new transparency tool, that problem has been addressed in a big way,” says TPPF’s James Quintero.
For more on local debt, click here.
Not Happy, Bob
What to know: Americans are not happy with the Affordable Care Act and the overall U.S. health care system.
The TPPF take: The Republicans have better options for health care than the moribund ACA.
“The One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) has opened up opportunities for better medical care at a fraction of the cost,” says TPPF’s Dr. Cliff Porter. “These reforms allow alternatives to traditional higher cost plans for individuals and businesses who were previously forced into high cost and frustrating Obamacare plans or Medicaid. This is a huge boon for Texans and Americans—more options, less costs, better access.”
For more on Obamacare, click here.
Trade Negotiations
What to know: The free trade agreement between the U.S., Mexico and Canada (USMCA) is up for renewal, and this provides American officials with an opportunity to address Mexico’s failings.
The TPPF take: Renewal of the USMCA is an opportunity for the U.S. to rein in Mexico’s corrupt administration.
“The U.S. needn’t accept the Mexican government’s hypocrisy any longer,” says TPPF’s Joshua Treviño. “The U.S. armed forces went into harm’s way and did more for liberty in Latin America in a single night than the Mexican state has achieved in a generation—and that state condemns us for it. That is its choice. Whether to continue granting Mexico the benefits of American trade and forbearance is our choice.”
For more on Mexico, click here.