Food, Flight, Four-Star Hotels
What to know: A bombshell new report from the Beeville Bee-Picayune reveals waste, fraud, and abuse are rampant in Beeville ISD. According to the outlet, from February and May 2024: “Significant portions of the $459,259.95 in credit card charges were spent on 4-star hotel rooms, flights, out-of-town trips, fast food/restaurant chains and local retailers.”
The TPPF take: School districts are abusing taxpayers, in Beeville ISD and elsewhere.
“Beeville ISD stands accused of flagrant taxpayer abuses and violating the public trust. These allegations should be investigated fully and people held accountable,” says TPPF’s James Quintero. “There’s far too much taxpayer abuse in the government-run school system. It’s out of control.”
For more on local spending, click here.
If the Shoe Fits…
What to know: The American left is aghast that President Donald Trump has designated the Mexican criminal cartels as terrorist organizations.
The TPPF take: Cartels are terror organizations, and even the Mexican government should acknowledge this reality.
“For years, Mexico has either turned a blind eye or been too weak to confront these monstrous syndicates, allowing them to terrorize both Mexicans and Americans,” says TPPF’s Melissa Ford. “Meanwhile, Trump’s bold move has redefined U.S. policy, marking the first time in a generation that the U.S. has stood up to Mexico’s inaction on cartels.”
For more on the cartels, click here.
Homelessness
What to know: The city of Austin has declared homelessness a “top financial priority.”
The TPPF take: Austin council members have decided to continue throwing money at the problem; this time, it’s $350 million over 10 years.
“While purchasing more housing and investing in providing services on its face seems like the best the city can do to help contend with the vexingly large homeless population in Austin, in reality it could be what is making the problem worse,” says TPPF’s John Bonura. “The problems that plague homelessness services in Austin and beyond are systemic and require a complete reevaluation of how cities approach the issue.”
For more on homelessness, click here.