Parents’ Rights
What to know: LGBTQ+ activists say that Texas’ new Parental Bill of Rights, passed by the Texas Legislature, goes too far. “Any type of bills that are trying to affect the LGBTQI+ community upsets me,” one activist said.
The TPPF take: Texas lawmakers were right to protect parental rights by keeping gender ideology out of the curriculum and prohibiting social transitioning in schools.
“Senate Bill 12, aka the Parents Bill of Rights, is a monumental step toward solidifying parental rights and ensuring they have the tools to protect their kids,” says TPPF’s Brian Phillips. “If Texas isn’t already the best state for parents, it soon will be.”
For more on parents’ rights, click here.
Nuclear Future
What to know: The Tennessee Valley Authority has filed a permit request to build an innovative new small nuclear reactor (SMR).
The TPPF take: Texas should also lead the way on developing small modular reactors (SMRs), but it cannot do so until it reforms its electric market to properly value the reliability attributes of nuclear relative to unreliable wind and solar.
“Wind, solar, and batteries cannot be built in sufficient quantities to meet our growth over the next decade without huge cost impacts, which means there is an urgent need to build more reliable, affordable, and scalable electricity generation capacity,” says TPPF’s Brent Bennett. “However, until Texas enacts uniform reliability standards for electric generators and pays them according to their reliability, nuclear faces an uphill battle against heavily subsidized and overvalued wind and solar.”
For more on small, modular nuclear reactors, click here.
Downgraded
What to know: San Antonio-based insurance giant USAA has been downgraded by S&P.
The TPPF take: USAA was once known as a company that served veterans and their families.
“Once a low-cost haven for service members, veterans, and their families, USAA’s troubles suggest a company veering off course, prioritizing ideological agendas over its foundational mission,” says TPPF’s Chuck DeVore. “USAA’s drift from its military heritage mirrors a broader cultural shift within the organization, one that prioritizes left-wing activism over the needs of its members.”
For more on USAA, click here.