Reopening Texas

What to Know: Gov. Greg Abbott has appointed a team to oversee the phased-in reopening of the state’s economy, and changes are coming soon.

The TPPF Take: TPPF Executive Director Kevin Roberts has been appointed to a special advisory board to the governor’s task force.

“I am honored and humbled to be a part of this important work,” says Roberts. “I appreciate the Governor for putting together the task force and his unwavering focus on helping Texas and Texans during this difficult time.”

Not Now. Not Ever. Just… No.

What to Know: The Texas Municipal League, a publicly-funded lobbying organization, is advising its member cities that “because Gov. Abbott issued an emergency disaster declaration, these governments could increase their budgets to just under 8 percent instead of 3.5 percent to avoid elections.” Such advice deviates from the spirit of the new law (Senate Bill 2) and conflicts with economic realities on the ground

The TPPF Take: Last session, Texas lawmakers stopped local governments from raising property taxes excessively without voter approval.

"Today, some organizations are using the Coronavirus crisis to counsel governments to revert back to their old ways. That’s bad advice in many ways,” said TPPF’s James Quintero. “Now is not the time for massive tax increases. Now is not the time for small tax increases. Now is the time to protect Texas taxpayers.”

Reaffirming Parenthood

What to Know: TPPF will argue before the Texas Supreme Court this week on whether a father must share custody of his child with a non-relative—the late mother’s boyfriend.

The TPPF Take: Parental rights must be paramount in legal proceedings.

“It is undisputed in this case that the father is a fit parent with full rights to make decisions he believes are best for his daughter and family,” says TPPF’s Robert Henneke. “Both Texas law and the U.S. Constitution presume that parents are fit and naturally act in the best interests of their children. Accordingly, government and the courts are prohibited from substituting their own judgment for that of a fit parent—even in situations in which they believe a better decision could have been made.”

Correction: Due to flawed data from the Texas Education Agency, a previous Cannon entry incorrectly listed the Point Isabel ISD superintendent’s annual salary. That actual salary is $147,350.