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Connecting today’s news with the research & opinion you need.

Separating Doctors from Patients

What to Know: Insurance companies are dropping doctors from their networks, and patients are caught in the middle of the disputes.

The TPPF Take: Health care decisions shouldn’t be made by insurance companies—or for that matter, government bureaucrats.

“Insurers’ business plans are getting in the way of the doctor/patient relationship,” says TPPF’s David Balat. “If the doctors can’t be controlled by the insurance companies, they get dropped. We need a sane system that gives patients and their physicians the power over health care decisions.”

A Cleaner Environment

What to Know: From 1970 to 2017, as the U.S. population grew 44 percent, the economy grew 262 percent and energy consumption rose 59 percent, emissions of the “big six” pollutants dropped by 73 percent.

The TPPF Take: Energy abundance and a thriving economy mean a cleaner environment.

“History has shown that economic prosperity and environmental quality go hand in hand,” says TPPF’s Katie Tahuahua. “Though the environmentalist Left loves to hate fossil fuels, our air and water are cleaner than ever because of them."

Lesson Plans

What to Know: Lawmakers are criticizing the Teacher Retirement System over its now-sidelined plan to rent lavish office space for $326,000 per month.

The TPPF Take: The real problem isn’t the luxury lease, it's TRS' overpromised and underfunded pension plan.

“Today, TRS' pension debt stands at more than $49 billion--and that tsunami of red ink is swelling fast,” says TPPF’s James Quintero. “TRS’ ability to make good on its pension promises without a massive tax increase or benefit reduction is in doubt. To protect today's retirees and tomorrow's taxpayers, the agency must address the core problem: its fundamentally flawed defined benefit system.”