State of the State

What to Know: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott says election integrity is a top priority for the Legislature.

The TPPF Take: TPPF commends Gov. Abbott for working to ensure that Texas elections are secure.

“In Texas, poorly maintained voter lists may include more than 100,000 non-citizens, deceased voters, and people who have moved out of state,” says TPPF’s Chuck DeVore. “Failure to address ineligible voters disenfranchises all Texans and we applaud the Governor prioritizing reforms that restore trust in our system.”

Labor Shortages

What to Know: America’s labor shortages in the skilled trades is getting worse.

The TPPF Take: It’s vital that Texas’s career and technical education (CTE) funds are aligned with future job prospects.

“Now is also the time for lawmakers to consider granting more flexibility to districts in how they spend their CTE allocations,” says TPPF’s Erin Davis Valdez. “We can incentivize schools to collaborate with community organizations and businesses, which are racing to rebuild civil society and local economies.”

Not This Again

What to Know: President Biden’s executive orders have shut down construction on the Keystone pipeline, as well as new oil and gas leases on federal land.

The TPPF Take: This return to Obama-era energy policies will devastate the industry—with no tangible benefits.

“President Biden’s executive overreach will grow government, hurt responsible energy producers, and make the energy we need expensive and scarce — damaging every sector of our economy,” says TPPF’s Jason Isaac. “What’s even worse is that none of these actions will affect climate change in the slightest.”