A Special Problem What to know: A new Houston Chronicle report is highlighting a big and growing problem for Texas taxpayers—special purpose districts. As the article notes: “The number of special purpose taxing districts has nearly doubled since 1998, reaching 2,300 last year and far outpacing the state’s population growth.” With each new taxing unit created, the burden...
A Win for Texas What to know: Texas voters approved Proposition 1 on the November ballot to provide a funding stream for Texas State Technical College. The TPPF take: Texas voters gave the green light to power up our workforce by approving Proposition 1, creating a permanent endowment for the Texas State Technical College System (TSTC). “This victory strengthens...
Iberian Blackout What to know: A spring blackout on the Iberian Peninsula was caused by excess voltage, the EU says. The TPPF take: Could the same thing happen in Texas? “The North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) identified problems in Spain that apply to Texas and other parts of North America: insufficient voltage regulation, poor tolerance of inverter-based resources...
U-Turn What to know: After being threatened with a loss of funding, the city of Laredo finally voted to “cover up a 5-year-old anti-border wall street mural” that was criticized for pushing politics on public property. The woke message read: DEFUND THE WALL – FUND OUR FUTURE. The TPPF take: At last, Laredo recognizes that public roads...
Not Human What to know: In a new lawsuit filed by distraught parents, a company that designs artificial intelligence claimed that its AI bots have First Amendment rights. The TPPF take: Humanity is at an inflection point. Artificial intelligence (AI) offers boundless promises while also presenting critical challenges to civilization. “Industry and legislators must balance technological innovation with...
Scary Socialism What to know: New York City voters seem to be embracing socialism, as they cheer mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani. The TPPF take: Socialism leads to frightening results. “As the mayoral race continues, there’s no shortage of love for government programs and centralized power,” says TPPF’s Austin Prochko. “This is, of course, not surprising—socialists and communists love...
Early Voting What to know: Early voting continues in the November constitutional amendments election. The TPPF take: Bail reform, embodied in Prop. 3 on the ballot, will save lives. “Since 2021, at least 162 people in Harris County have been murdered—allegedly by suspects who are out on bond. According to the mayor of Houston, the county’s largest city,...
Here They Come What to know: Several money-hungry school districts in the DFW region are angling for a major tax increase. In fact, “[s]even school districts” are pushing voter-approval tax rate elections, or VATREs, that threaten to spike homeowners’ property tax bills. The TPPF take: Government schools don’t need any more money. They need to learn how to...
Cashing In What to know: Public school superintendents are among the state’s highest-paid government employees. So much so that: “The average 2024-25 salary for a big district superintendent was $372,664,” which nearly exceeds the President of the United States’ annual salary ($400,000). The TPPF take: Superintendents are cashing in at the expense of others. Namely, students, teachers,...
Getting Technical What to know: Proposition 1 on the November constitutional elections ballot in Texas would secure funding for Texas State Technical College and its 11 campuses. The TPPF take: TSTC focuses exclusively on technical education, aligning its programs with the demands of Texas’ dynamic economy. “Texas faces a looming workforce crisis, with projected shortages of 7,000 plumbers, 4,500...
More Water What to know: Early voting has begun for the November elections. The TPPF take: Texas faces serious water challenges. “Consider that Texas’ population will increase by an estimated 73% by 2070 to 51.5 million, while water supplies are projected to decrease by about 18%,” says TPPF’s Larry French. “Inaction is not an option. Cities, farms, and industry...
Mob Rule? What to know: A left-wing internet mob convinced an Austin farm to cancel an event with young people from the Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Liberty Leadership Council The TPPF take: Words like “fascist” aren’t just insults; they’re weapons. “When you call someone Hitler or label them a fascist, you’re not debating policy — you’re signaling that elimination...