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

Cart and Horse, Out of Order

What to Know: President Biden’s immigration policies could grant migrant farmworkers here illegally immediate legal status.

The TPPF Take: Immigration reform must begin with border security. The coming border crisis will be the topic of an important livestream event today.

“Both the state and unauthorized immigrants themselves are ill-served by a status quo that fails to align with legitimate labor needs that exist in Texas and other states, and which should be the primary basis for bringing in both temporary foreign workers as well as immigrants to the United States,” says TPPF’s Josh Jones.

To view today’s livestream event, click here.

Local Debt

What to Know: School districts across Texas continue to push bond issues, even as local debt skyrockets, revenues are up and student enrollment drops.

The TPPF Take: Local governments are addicted to debt.

“The borrowing binge continues in spite of widespread economic misery, business closures, and joblessness,” says TPPF’s James Quintero. “State lawmakers must do more to wean local governments from their debt dependency. Legislative reforms should focus on: maximizing public participation by requiring bond elections to be held in November, encouraging stakeholder engagement via the elimination of certificates of obligation, and promoting efficiency through the use of third-party audits. Now is the time for big, bold reforms.”

For more on local debt, click here.

Election Integrity

What to Know: Lawmakers are filing bills to bolster election integrity in Texas.

The TPPF Take: TPPF will be working with state officials and organizations to bolster the security and integrity of our election systems.

“The 2020 election has highlighted several areas in which the administration of our elections can be improved,” says TPPF’s Kevin Roberts. “The American people deserve a process that is transparent, secure, and efficient. The Constitution vests authority to administer elections in the states. The goal of the Election Protection Project is to promote best practices to combat voter fraud and protect legitimate votes.”

For more on the Election Protection Project, click here.