The Cost of Care

What to know: A new Rasmussen Reports survey says that voters believe cost is the top health care problem, and they favor free market solutions to it.

The TPPF take: Price transparency is the first step in bringing down health care costs.

“A lack of price transparency means providers can hide fees, add costs, or charge different prices for the same services,” says TPPF’s David Balat. “Fortunately, there is a path for policymakers to reform our system to ensure patients are in charge of their care by knowing prices before services are provided and creating more options that bring patients and doctors together.”

To view our new video explaining price transparency, click here.


More Debt on the Way?

What to know: Another Texas school district plans to seek voter-approval for a massive new debt proposal in May. In about a month, Richardson ISD will ask voters to sign-off on a $750 million bond package, “the largest in district history…

The TPPF take: Richardson ISD is one of several school districts looking to go deeper into debt, despite relatively flat enrollment and significant outstanding debt. “Over the past 5 years, the District’s enrollment has grown by 2.3 percent from 38,738 to 39,619.” In 2020, the district’s debts totaled $640 million or more than $16,000 per enrolled student.

“Texas school districts continue to show that neither the pandemic nor flailing enrollment nor large outstanding debts will deter them from seeking more, more, more. Their insatiable appetite for borrowed money is cause for concern,” says TPPF’s James Quintero. “It’s time to put school district debt practices and policies under the microscope, while taxpayers still stand.”

For more on school district debt, click here.


Spending Limits

What to know: An important bill that would better limit spending in the state’s budget has made it out of committee and will now be heard by the full Texas Senate.

The TPPF take: This is the kind of good fiscal policy that Texans deserve.

“People don’t need more government; they need more opportunity,” says TPPF’s Vance Ginn. “And our simple formula reflects that: The state’s total budget, which is the footprint of government funded by taxpayers, ought not to grow faster than our population growth plus price inflation. Government shouldn’t grow faster than the citizens’ ability to pay for it.”

For more on the state budget, click here.