As lawmakers consider ways to fund Texas government, some are advocating an expansion of state-run gambling to include video lottery terminals, or VLTs. With some projecting a $2 billion windfall, VLTs are an attractive source of income, but studies indicate the costs may outweigh the benefits. Two background papers are also available; one summarizes the economic impacts of gambling, the other provides the calculations used to identify the additional fiscal cost of VLTs.
Health Care
Transformational Healthcare Reform
Transformational Healthcare Reform Key Points As hospitals and insurance systems have consolidated, patients have faced rising costs and narrower choices, while physicians have lost independence, and control has shifted to a handful of large corporate systems. Price transparency alone is not enough: patients and employers need clear disclosure of actual prices, fees, commissions, conflicts of...
August 21, 2026