TFR Staff

Podcast - Taxpayer Talks

Episode 15: Thomas McNutt, Fiscal Issues Facing State & Election Impacts

Episode Description πŸ’° In this episode of π—§π—”π—«π—£π—”π—¬π—˜π—₯ π—§π—”π—Ÿπ—žπ—¦, we briefly discuss our recent interview with Thomas McNutt and his thoughts on impacting local governments. We also discuss property tax, corporate welfare, school choice, and the upcoming elections.   Articles…

Commentary

Should We Have Secret, Nonpartisan Local Elections in Texas?

As we find ourselves in the midst of election season, it is a great time to talk about how elections are conducted in Texas. In my time traveling the state and speaking to taxpayers about a myriad of issues related…

Podcast - Taxpayer Talks

Episode 14: BONUS EPISODE: State Representative Kyle Biedermann

Episode Description πŸ’° In this bonus episode of π—§π—”π—«π—£π—”π—¬π—˜π—₯ π—§π—”π—Ÿπ—žπ—¦, we talk with outgoing Republican Texas State Representative Kyle Biedermann about fiscal issues facing Texas including the property tax and the appetite in the Texas Legislature to address them, the…

Podcast - Taxpayer Talks

Episode 13: Kyle Biedermann & Texas House Appropriations Committee

Episode Description πŸ’° In this episode of π—§π—”π—«π—£π—”π—¬π—˜π—₯ π—§π—”π—Ÿπ—žπ—¦, we highlight some of the more interesting points to come out of our recent interview with Texas Republican State Representative Kyle Biedermann, as well as the recent Texas House Appropriations Committee…

NewsState

No… We Don’t Need More Corporate Welfare in Texas

It never seems to amaze me how often “conservative” politicians are willing to give your money over to corrupt corporations in the form of corporate welfare. Recently, disgraced former Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives Dennis Bonnen (then-state representative…

Podcast - Taxpayer Talks

Episode 12: BONUS EPISODE: Texas State Representative Jeff Cason

Episode Description πŸ’° In this bonus episode of π—§π—”π—«π—£π—”π—¬π—˜π—₯ π—§π—”π—Ÿπ—žπ—¦, we talk with outgoing Republican Texas State Representative Jeff Cason about fiscal issues facing Texas including the property tax and the appetite in the Texas Legislature to address them, his…

Podcast - Taxpayer Talks

Episode 11: Jeff Cason, Quid Pro Joe and a Political Culture of Spending

Episode Description πŸ’° In this episode of π—§π—”π—«π—£π—”π—¬π—˜π—₯ π—§π—”π—Ÿπ—žπ—¦, we highlight some of the more interesting points to come out of our recent interview with Texas Republican State Representative Jeff Cason, the recent “Quid pro-Joe” scandal regarding Saudi Arabian oil,…

Explainers

Explainer: What Is Keynesian Economics?

Oftentimes when operating in the world of fiscal policy, economists use certain terms and phrases and simply gloss over them, not realizing that everyday taxpayers may not understand. A number of these come up from time to time, and I…

NewsFederal

Biden Caught in Another ‘Quid Pro Joe’

Where is the outrage for the many obviously corrupt business and political dealings of Joe Biden? In the last week, the government of Saudi Arabia made public that U.S. President Joe Biden was engaged in yet another quid pro quoβ€”or,…

Podcast - Taxpayer Talks

Episode 10: BONUS EPISODE: Bill Peacock, Host of The Liberty Cafe Podcast

Episode Description πŸ’° In this bonus episode of π—§π—”π—«π—£π—”π—¬π—˜π—₯ π—§π—”π—Ÿπ—žπ—¦, we talk with Bill Peacock, host of The Liberty Cafe Podcast and curator of ExcellentThought.net about fiscal issues facing Texas including what changes, if any could benefit the state budgeting…

Podcast - Taxpayer Talks

Episode 9: Bill Peacock, Local Government Property Tax Loophole & Election

Episode Description πŸ’° In this episode of π—§π—”π—«π—£π—”π—¬π—˜π—₯ π—§π—”π—Ÿπ—žπ—¦, we highlight some of the more interesting points to come out of our recent interview with Bill Peacock, we discuss a loophole local governments are exploiting related to setting property tax…

NewsFederal

Inflation Increase Is More Than Expected

Consumer Price Index (CPI) data for the month of September was released Thursday morning, and with it came more bad news with regard to our economic outlook. Inflation (year over year) came in at 8.2%. Though this is down from…

NewsState

Cities Using Loophole to Raise Taxes Without Approval Elections

Many taxpayers have reached out to us regarding cities and other local political subdivisions raising taxes beyond their voter approval thresholds without triggering an election. Many have wondered how this is possible after the supposed “historic property tax reform” of…

Podcast - Taxpayer Talks

Episode 8: Texas Gubernatorial Debate & Property Taxes

Episode Description πŸ’° In this episode of π—§π—”π—«π—£π—”π—¬π—˜π—₯ π—§π—”π—Ÿπ—žπ—¦, we discuss the recent and only Texas Gubernatorial Debate and more specifically the candidate’s thoughts on property tax in Texas, as well as a Texas House Appropriations Subcommittee which was apparently…

NewsState

In Debate, Abbott Says He Will Eliminate School Property Taxes

Last Friday, Texas taxpayers had a chance to watch the one and only debate between former U.S. Congressman Beto O’Rourke (D) and incumbent Governor Greg Abbott (R) before the November general election. The two addressed several issues important to Texans,…