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Needless Suffering

What to Know: Even the United Nations now fears that the cure—the economic shutdown—could be worse than the disease, COVID-19. The U.N. warns that millions could starve (World Vision puts the number at 30 million children alone).

The TPPF Take: Shutting down the economy will clearly have deadly, devastating effects—going far beyond what the coronavirus has done.

“We can save lives by protecting the most vulnerable among us—the elderly and the immune-compromised—and we can save livelihoods by allowing all businesses to open,” says TPPF’s Kevin Roberts. “The data shows that a targeted lockdown is the most efficient means mitigating both the damage done by the coronavirus and the harm caused by the shutdown itself.”

Mayors Want a Bailout

What to Know: Fifteen Texas mayors authored a joint op-ed calling on Congress to “provide direct and flexible fiscal assistance” lest some cities be “forced to cut or reduce services.” Reducing the size of government, according to these mayors, would cause any economic downturn to be deeper and longer.

The TPPF Take: Cities need to make tough decisions and find ways to make ends meet—just like Texas families have done. Controlling government spending is the best way to spur economic growth.

“Instead of spending time petitioning Congress for a bailout, Texas mayors should be laser-focused on rightsizing their budgets and operations,” says TPPF’s James Quintero. “Ample opportunity exists to find savings. Cities have, for years, enjoyed enormous budgetary growth. Mayors need only muster the political will and use the right tools—i.e. zero-based budgeting, Lean Six Sigma, and efficiency audits—to get the job done."

Big Frowny Face

What to Know: A Dallas Morning News editorial laments the fact that Elon Musk’s Tesla car company could move to Texas because California is over-regulated. “Texas would love to have Tesla, but not like this,” it says.

The TPPF Take: Coming to Texas makes sense—and not just for Tesla.

“With California’s higher taxes, greater red tape compliance costs, higher labor and land costs, and more litigious environment, business analysts estimate that companies can save 32 percent of their operating costs by moving out of California to states such as Texas,” notes TPPF’s Chuck DeVore. “As a former Californian myself, I say—along with Sen. Ted Cruz—‘welcome to Texas!’”