Unaffordable, Unlivable, and Unrecognizable What to know: The average Travis County homeowner will pay $10,823 in local property taxes this year—the highest in Texas. Even still, the city of Austin wants voters to approve a massive 20.2% tax rate hike in November because, according to one council member, “spending big dollars on city services is worth the tax...
Tossing Out TML What to know: Dallas City Council members recently stopped paying membership dues to taxpayer-funded lobby groups, like the Texas Municipal League and others, and instead directed that nearly $100,000 to transportation projects and paying down debt. The TPPF take: Less money for lobbyists means more money for core services. “Taxpayer-funded lobby groups have made a...
It’s a Crosswalk What to know: Gov. Greg Abbott has ordered Austin (and other cities) to remove the rainbow crosswalk at Fourth and Congress avenues. The TPPF take: It’s not a political billboard, it’s a crosswalk. “The city of Austin authorized these ‘decorative street markings’ over the past several years,” says TPPF’s Sherry Sylvester. “But, as Abbott rightly points out,...
That’s Not How History Works What to know: The Texas State Board of Education approved new History materials for grades 3-8 in September. Leftist groups objected, saying they focus too much on Texas and the U.S. The TPPF take: The Texas Council for Social Studies opposes the new curriculum. “TXCSS has a long record of promoting left-wing ideas,” says...
No Longer in Charge What to know: The Texas Supreme Court has signaled that it plans to end the American Bar Association’s authority to accredit law schools. The TPPF take: The ABA has strayed far from its role as an impartial arbiter of educational quality. “The ABA’s recent controversies—condemning the Trump administration’s battles with judges and law firms,...
Columbus Day Reconsidered What to know: President Donald Trump issued a Columbus Day proclamation to “reclaim Columbus Day” for Americans. The TPPF take: Columbus Day is a holiday for all Americans. “We live in a New World made fit for us and our posterity because Columbus saw a horizon and went beyond it,” says TPPF’s Joshua Treviño. “We live in a...
Moneyball What to know: A physics magazine has a new piece showing that a college’s name, image and likeness (NIL) policies can boost its win/loss record. The TPPF take: Oklahoma football coach Mike Gundy is in hot water for saying the same thing. “When Gundy pointed out that Oregon had spent over $40 million on NIL, while Oklahoma...
Inappropriate Use What to know: A Dallas City Council member has admitted to using taxpayer-funded lobbyists to lobby West Texas state senators about some land she owns there. The TPPF take: Hiring lobbyists is an inappropriate use of taxpayer funds. “As this instance demonstrates, it poses a danger to taxpayers and the public trust alike,” says TPPF’s James Quintero. “And...
Reaching for a Better Future What to know: President Donald Trump has boosted funding for historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). The TPPF take: The Left hates to admit that Trump’s policies help HBCUs. “Too often, good news in the Black community is downplayed or ignored when it does not fit a preferred political narrative,” says TPPF’s Richard Johnson. “But...
Unlawful Combatants What to know: President Donald Trump has designated cartels from Mexico and Venezuela as “unlawful combatants,” giving him more power to fight them. The TPPF take: President Trump is right, and it’s about time we acknowledge the facts. “For decades, Washington treated cartel violence as a crime — a problem for prosecutors, not generals,” says...
No More Woke What to know: U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth says the U.S. military is done with wokeness. “Not anymore.” The TPPF take: TPPF’s Selene Rodriguez served in the Marines and applauds the restoration of the military’s mission. “For too long, the service of our men and women in uniform has been distracted by initiatives that drew attention...
The American Miracle What to know: The nation is getting ready to celebrate the 250th birthday of what Regent University is calling the “American Miracle”: the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The TPPF take: America is worth celebrating, but are we teaching our children that? “As we stand on the cusp of 250 years,...