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

Talking About Real Money

What to Know: The Green New Deal, supported (in some form or another) by all of the major Democratic presidential candidates, will cost trillions.

The TPPF Take: The costs to Texas families would be astronomical.

“Under the Green New Deal, the average Texas family’s annual electricity bill would rise from about $1,500 today to nearly $14,000 in 2030,” says TPPF’s Brent Bennett. “And the Green New Deal would require Texas to replace this efficient, dense and scalable energy system with a system of wind and solar energy that is many times less efficient, less dense, and more expensive.”

Deadlines Are Important

What to Know: Some cities—including Austin—are complaining about a new state law that requires them to review development plans on a timely basis.

The TPPF Take: Time is money, and development delays help drive up the cost of housing—a particularly urgent issue in Austin and elsewhere.

“Taxes and fees cost developers significantly more in Austin, but that’s not the only expense,” says TPPF’s Ellen Troxclair. “Delays during the process also affect the bottom line, and drive many developers to take their business elsewhere.”

Lawsuit Lotteries

What to Know: Government lawsuits against companies that manufacture opioids could serve as a model for lawsuits against energy companies.

The TPPF Take: Lawsuits against energy companies—like drug makers—aren’t serious attempts to address public policy issues.

“This kind of litigation is being sold to cities, counties and states as a get-rich-quick scheme,” says TPPF’s Rob Henneke. “Even if it eventually adds to government coffers—and that’s a big maybe, based on the shaky legal arguments—these matters are best left to the legislative branch, not the judiciary.”