Yellowstone
What to Know: Yellowstone National Park attendance took a big hit this year due to flooding that closed parts of the park.
The TPPF Take: More Americans should see Yellowstone and the Great American West.
“A summer trip through the Great American West—ranging from Rocky Mountain National Park to Yellowstone to Grand Tetons and more—reminded me just where our nation’s strength lies,” says TPPF’s Roy Maynard. “It’s in the families who sacrificed for months to afford their trips to Yellowstone, who made sandwiches from ice chests to save money, who navigated Colorado, Wyoming and Utah by the price at the pump.”
For more on the Great American West, click here.
Exodus and Numbers
What to Know: The exodus from California continues, with Los Angeles and San Francisco losing the biggest numbers of residents.
The TPPF Take: There’s a reason so many Californians are making their way to Texas—despite the left’s view that Texas is one of the worst places to live.
“The conservative policies passed by Texans over the last several decades create jobs, help business flourish and ensure that the state continues to effectively compete in the global economy,” says TPPF’s Sherry Sylvester. “The CNBC annual rankings that consistently put Texas at the top show how well this is working for Texans and the world.”
For more on California vs. Texas, click here.
Broadband Done Badly
What to Know: Some Democrats want to use broadband funds contained in the Infrastructure Bill to pay local governments to establish—and run—their own broadband internet networks.
The TPPF Take: Broadband access is important—too important to leave it to wasteful governments.
“Broadband development, deployment, and access is a vital issue for our state—one that if approached correctly will solidify our position as an economic and technological leader among states,” says TPPF’s Zach Whiting. “Texas should utilize federal funds in a way that spurs growth and limits waste and should set an example for fiscal responsibility.”
For more on broadband policy, click here.