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

What to Watch For

What to Know: Do you know what to watch for in the upcoming election? Election Night promises to be history-making—though we might not yet know how.

The TPPF Take: The Texas Public Policy Foundation held an event recently outlining the possibilities for Election Night.

“In typical TPPF style, we cut through the noise, cut through the spin on both sides, and analyze the predictions from a think tank perspective,” says TPPF’s Kevin Roberts. “Given all of the aspects of the election this year, from the candidates to concerns about mail-in ballots to state-by-state previews, there’s a lot to cover.”

Pre-Existing Problems

What to Know: While President Trump’s new “America-First Healthcare Plan” will protect Americans with pre-existing conditions, the Affordable Care Act—Obamacare—failed to do so.

The TPPF Take: Coverage does not equal care; the ACA drove premiums and deductibles so high that “pre-existing coverage” is illusory. Many patients simply can’t afford to see their doctors.

“Obamacare is a monument of broken promises: You can keep your doctor, you can keep your health plan, the average family will save $2,500 per year, and so on,” says TPPF’s David Balat. “In the end, Obama’s legislative legacy was nothing more than a boon for the insurance industry. President Trump’s plan will put patients—not insurance companies—first.”

What Could Go Wrong?

What to Know: Austin officials want voters to support a 25% city tax increase, much of which would be used to pay for a $2 billion downtown subway system. But those costs are not certain as officials admit: “Capitol Metro has not done its own review to figure out what it might find underground.”

The TPPF Take: Officials want a double-digit tax increase even though they haven’t done their homework. The underground system would run more than 20 city blocks.

“Winging it is not a strategy. Officials should have a firm grasp of the basics before coming to voters with a massive tax increase,” says TPPF’s James Quintero. “Because of the lack planning, it’s not hard to imagine this project going off-the-rails and costing taxpayers even more in future years.”