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

That’s Bonkers

What to Know: Newsweek is joining other news outlets in hyping the early voting numbers in Texas. Newsweek calls the numbers “bonkers.”

The TPPF Take: Don’t take those claims of “massive early voting” too seriously.

“The contest for Texas’ 38 Electoral College votes, after a week of early voting, doesn’t indicate a surge in turnout,” says TPPF’s Chuck DeVore. “Rather the method of early voting is shifting from in-person to mail-in — a shift that should subside as a share of overall votes as Election Day approaches.”

A Bad Plan

What to Know: A recent report by the Hoover Institution finds that the Biden-Harris campaign’s proposed policy agenda could lead to millions of fewer employed Americans, trillions less in economic output, and thousands of dollars less in the median household income by 2030.

The TPPF Take: Americans should be in charge of their futures so they have their best chance to flourish.

“The Biden-Harris policy agenda of hikes in taxes and regulations puts government more in charge of over our future,” says TPPF’s Vance Ginn. “The Trump-Pence agenda of cuts in taxes and regulations puts Americans in charge of their destiny. The sort of latter agenda that expands liberty and competition has a proven record of supporting prosperity while the former doesn’t.”

Houston, We Have a Problem

What to Know: Houston mayor Sylvester Turner is seeking to raise property taxes by more than 3.5% without asking voters. The administration erroneously believes it has “some flexibility during disaster declarations…[and] is using that flexibility to set a higher rate than it otherwise could.” The administration’s push for a big tax increase is happening despite the fact that “elected officials from both parties have requested that there be no property tax increases in 2020.”

The TPPF Take: COVID is no excuse for big tax increases.

“Now is not the time to raise taxes by any amount. Houstonians can’t afford it,” says TPPF’s James Quintero. “Instead of toying with a tax increase, city officials should be working hard to hold the line and adopt the no-new-revenue tax rate. Or something even lower.”