Let Texas Lead
What to know: Texas has an opportunity to lead the nation by stopping tax dollars from funding lobbyists. If the legislature acts, it would make Texas “the first state where local governments and political subdivisions are not allowed to hire contract lobbyists.”
The TPPF take: Strong, new laws are needed stop the weaponization of public money.
“Local governments spend tens of millions every session to hire registered lobbyists to advocate for higher taxes, bigger budgets, and more regulatory authority. In fact, in 2021 alone, cities, counties, school districts, and special districts spent as much as $75 million to lobby the legislature for bigger government. It’s time to put an end to this insidious practice,” said TPPF’s James Quintero.
For more on lobbying with taxpaying dollars, click here.
Your Right to Know
What to know: A coalition of Texas organizations is calling for the improvement of Texas’ open records and open meetings laws. The Sunshine Coalition will help ensure that Texans have access to the information that affects their lives.
The TPPF take: As U.S. Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis noted, sunshine is the “best of disinfectants.”
“The Sunshine Coalition hopes to provide citizens with the tools they need to accurately understand what their government is doing and why,” says TPPF’s Caroline Welton. “And in so doing, the public will be better able to hold their government officials to account.”
For more on “sunshine” laws, click here.
Protect the Children
What to know: According to the Texas Tribune and advocacy groups, Texas lawmakers are “targeting” LGBTQ+ residents with new laws this session.
The TPPF take: Texas lawmakers are protecting children.
“Researchers have known for some time that gender dysphoria does not put teens at greater risk of suicide than teens suffering from many other mental health risk factors including depression and anorexia,” says TPPF’s Sherry Sylvester. “We also know that cross-sex hormones and puberty blockers don’t save lives but actually adversely affects mental health, which can increase suicide risk.”
For more on protecting Texas children, click here.