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

Making the Grade

 

What to Know: Last week, U.S. Sen. Rand Paul introduced the SCHOOL Act, designed to give American families more control over existing federal education funds.

 

The TPPF Take: This is a good move, especially as families grapple with a constantly shifting education landscape—and especially for families facing the added complication of special needs.

 

“Public education across America is in chaos, and no one feels this more than families whose students have special needs,” says TPPF’s Emily Sass. “In many cases, these families have gone without needed services for months now. Having more control over the federal education funding their child generates would give them the flexibility to marshal every available resource on behalf of their child.”

Raising the Stakes

 

What to Know: Richardson joins other cities considering massive tax increases in the middle of a pandemic. The city could soon raise property taxes by as much as 8% without asking voters. The decision would be devastating for struggling families and likely violates state law.

 

The TPPF Take: People are hurting. Now is not the time for a huge tax hike—especially one passed in bad faith. Cities and counties that cut voters out of the process hazard future penalties.

 

“Local officials listening to bad advice beware—Texans are watching,” said TPPF’s James Quintero. “Taxpayers, watchdogs, and state officials are taking note of which cities and counties are imposing massive tax increases without voter approval. Those bad actors risk major consequences.”

Energy and Poverty

 

What to Know: Municipal natural gas bans in California are making the state’s poverty problems worse.

 

The TPPF Take: Costly climate change programs, such as bans on inexpensive natural gas, hurt the poor the most.

 

“Reliable, affordable energy has the power to lift people from poverty,” says TPPF’s Katie Tahuahua. “Making that energy less accessible is a disservice to both the less fortunate and to the environment. Paying more for energy doesn’t just mean a higher utility bill — those costs also balloon the price of essentially every transaction we could ever make.”