It’s You, Not Me
What to know: A new state law gives ETJ residents tools to leave city control. Some city councilmembers, like those serving the city of Killeen, are voicing their frustration that “you’ll see a domino effect of a lot of people when they see that ‘wow, that’s easy.’”
The TPPF take: If ETJ residents don’t want to be bossed around by people they didn’t elect nor have any influence over, then they should be free to leave.
“For far too long, ETJ residents have had their property rights trampled and their democratic prerogatives denied. But now, thanks to a new state law that empowers ETJ residents, Texans are free to vote with their feet and seek out a different form of government, if they so choose. That’s freedom at its finest,” says TPPF’s James Quintero.
For more on ETJs, click here.
Running Out of Gas
What to know: President Joe Biden’s energy policies are costing American families more and more.
The TPPF take: One policy driving up liquefied natural gas prices is the administration’s ban on transporting LNG by rain.
“Shipping by rail is one of the safest ways to transport LNG, especially considering modern technological improvements and safety regulations that were implemented in the 2020 rule,” says TPPF’s Matt Eagan. “In fact, there was not a single derailment involving a train carrying LNG from the time of the implementation of Trump’s rule to now.”
For more on shipping LNG by rail, click here.
Catching Up
What to know: Harvard has been ranked as the worst university campus for free speech in the nation.
The TPPF take: The University of Texas at Austin isn’t far behind Harvard in its quashing of free expression.
“One study found that UT Austin students were more comfortable than Harvard students when it comes to shutting down speakers they don’t agree with on campus,” says TPPF’s Sherry Sylvester. “A larger percentage of UT Austin students gave a green light to ‘blocking entry, shouting down and physical violence to prevent on-campus speakers from speaking’ than those at Harvard.”
For more on free speech on campus, click here.