You Don’t Say

What to Know: Most Texans think property taxes are too high—but they also want more funding for public schools.

The TPPF Take: The problem is the way we fund public schools—primarily through local property taxes.

“Building an efficient public school system around an inefficient tax structure creates a wobbly foundation for the school finance system,” says TPPF’s Austin Griesinger. “Eliminating Texas’ reliance on local property taxes would go a long way toward stabilizing the school finance system and satisfying the desires of a majority of Texas voters.”

Bad Faith

What to Know: State Rep. Briscoe Cain points out in a new essay that taxpayers are funding lobbyists to fight against their interests in Austin.

The TPPF Take: Texas lawmakers must end taxpayer-funded lobbying.

“Local governments are spending public money on private lobbyists, oftentimes to advocate against the individual and in favor of greater government control. It’s nothing short of an outrage,” says TPPF’s James Quintero. “Exposing this practice to the light of day is the first step to ending it permanently.”

Step Up with Ellen Troxclair

What to Know: Alice Marie Johnson: You may know as one of the President’s guests at the 2019 State of the Union, from the recent Super Bowl ad featuring her story, or from the attention of a high-profile reality star turned criminal justice advocate. Here’s your chance to hear directly from the woman behind the hoopla you will not be disappointed with her story or her spirit.

The TPPF Take: "Alice was serving a life sentence in prison for a low level drug offense.  Now she's one of the most effective advocates in the country for  criminal justice reform," TPPF's Ellen Troxclair said. "Hear in her own moving words how one of Kim Kardashian's tweets changed her life forever."