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

Be More Like Texas

 

What to Know: If Louisiana wants to prosper like Texas, the Baton Rouge Advocate says, then it needs to govern—and tax its residents and businesses—more like Texas.

 

The TPPF Take: We can’t argue with that.

 

“For decades, Texas policymakers have generally been good stewards of economic policy by following the Texas Model: spend only what we need to, don’t spend more than we take in, and put some away for a rainy day,” says TPPF’s Vance Ginn. “It’s more important now—as we face an economic downturn caused by government responses to the coronavirus—that we adhere to that model. Other states would do well to imitate this.”
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A Dangerous Policy

 

What to Know: A new survey shows that 81 percent of Black Americans want the same amount or more policing, not less, in their communities. They don’t agree with the “defund the police” movement.

 

The TPPF Take: Defunding the police is a dangerous policy position.

 

“Budget cuts decrease the ability of a police agency to train its officers and hamper its ability to attract quality recruits,” says TPPF’s Randy Petersen. “Furthermore, it will reduce its ability to use innovative programs to improve public safety and public relations.”

Ill Winds

 

What to Know: A Chinese-led effort to establish a massive wind farm near Comstock, Texas is meeting resistance from the residents there, who say it will impact not just wildlife, but also Air Force training missions from nearby Laughlin Air Force Base.

 

The TPPF Take: Wind energy isn’t quite as “green” as environmentalists would have us believe.

 

“Wind farms affect residents, endangered species, the environment, and anyone using the land and airspace between turbines,” says TPPF’s Jason Isaac. “Noise, shadow flicker, safety setback distances, aesthetics and property value issues complicate the narrative that wind energy is inherently good.”