Profiting off Public Schools
What to know: School districts throughout Texas have put bond elections before the voters in May; these include a $6.2 billion bond proposal for Dallas ISD.
The TPPF take: A network of consultants, vendors, and special interests have been profiting off of the state’s school bond system at taxpayers’ expense.
“This is a system that has been hijacked,” says TPPF’s Judge A. Shepard. “Small political contributions from interested vendors can translate into massive taxpayer-funded payouts once bonds pass. That creates a powerful incentive structure that drives up debt and undermines accountability.”
For more on bond elections and profits, click here.
Lift the Veil
What to know: It’s high time to lift the veil on Qatari influence on U.S. education, the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies says.
The TPPF take: Qatar must not be allowed to exert “soft power” over U.S. education institutions.
“Qatar and its affiliates’ extensive financial investments in Texas universities, political institutions, and public programs represent a coordinated influence campaign that poses serious risks to American security, academic integrity, and democratic values,” says TPPF Liberty Leadership Council member Jordan Cope. “Qatar’s ties to extremist figures and organizations highlight the national security risks underlying its global influence efforts.”
For more on Qatar, click here.
Missing the Point
What to know: According to comedian Leslie Jones, “marriage is legal slavery… don’t do it.”
The TPPF take: Marriage—and motherhood—matter.
“When fewer people form stable families, the effects are not confined to those individuals,” says TPPF’s Hannah Bruck. “To pretend otherwise is not just dismissive; it is willfully blind to the interconnected nature of social life.”
For more on marriage and motherhood, click here.