Talking Down to Minorities
What to know: Former state Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr., a Democrat, has responded to a school board official who told the Legislature that minority parents couldn’t see through the “marketing,” and that’s why they chose charter schools.
The TPPF take: Lucio says that official’s comments about minority parents were insulting.
“Minority parents in Texas aren’t being fooled, they’re being failed—by a one-size-fits-all education system,” Lucio writes. “That’s especially true in Pflugerville. Let’s take TEA’s 2022 report card on Pflugerville ISD. Less than half, 42% of Black students can read at grade level or above. And the rate for Hispanic children is 45%. Black and Hispanic parents are right to be concerned.”
For more about minority families and parent empowerment, click here.
Solve Affordability through Free Market Forces
What to know: This session, Texas lawmakers have an opportunity to ease the affordability crisis by passing reforms that get government of the way and enable free market forces to bring more housing supply online quicker and cheaper.
The TPPF take: The free market can solve the affordability crisis, if policymakers will let it.
“Progressive policies are reducing the supply of housing through restrictive land-use policies, over-taxation, and excessive regulation. It’s time for the Texas Legislature to rein in these left-leaning local governments and let free-market forces meet demand,” says TPPF’s James Quintero. “Such reforms might include eliminating minimum lot size requirements, enabling third-party review in the development process, sunsetting local regulations, and allowing property owners to build Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) by right.”
For more on housing, click here.
ESG
What to know: Banks are facing increasing pressure to pull funding from fossil fuel projects.
The TPPF take: The ESG (environmental, social and governance) movement is pushing this anti-human agenda.
“For a cleaner Earth, we should invest in — not divest from — the fossil fuels that make our modern lives possible,” says TPPF’s Jason Isaac. “Nothing improves quality of life like access to affordable, reliable energy. Energy makes every aspect of our lives easier….And as quality of life improves, communities gain the benefit of increased capacity to focus on causes like environmental protection.”
For more on ESG, click here.