Thrown Out at First

What to Know: More and more climate change lawsuits are being thrown out of court, in rulings that say lawmakers, not judges, should make energy policy.

The TPPF Take: Such lawsuits are really all about the notoriety and liberal credentials, not the well-being of citizens.

“Critics of fossil fuels are ignoring the lives saved and the lives improved by the availability of abundant, reliable and affordable energy sources,” says TPPF’s Katie Tahuahua. “In a recent ruling in which he threw out two California lawsuits, the judge noted that ‘Without those fuels, virtually all of our monumental progress would have been impossible. All of us have benefitted.’”

$10 Billion Boondoggle

What to Know: Austin officials may soon ask voters to support a $9.6 billion transit plan that would “increase the city tax rate between 21% and 22.5%” and cost the average homeowner $300 more per year. The centerpiece of the plan is a vastly expanded fixed rail system complete with a “downtown subway system.”

The TPPF Take: Austin’s light rail plan “is both rooted in the past and a burden on future generations.”

“Light rail won’t alleviate traffic congestion, but it will raise taxes, skyrocket city debt, and keep commuters stuck in gridlock,” says TPPF’s James Quintero. “Austinites deserve modern-day solutions to get them moving, not centuries-old schemes intended to force them out of their cars.”

Step Up with Ellen Troxclair

What to Know: Think running for office is the only way to have your voice heard? Think again. In this episode, TPPF’s Ellen Troxclair sits down with philanthropist and TPPF board member Stacy Hock to discuss how women can step up in their communities and country outside of running for office.