TFR Staff
Federal Budget Deficit Has Nearly Doubled Under President Biden
The federal budget deficit has doubled from one year to the next a few times before. Usually, those occurrences happen in conjunction with economic bad news, something the current administration consistently says does not exist. The Numbers Game First off,…
Understanding Texas’ Financial Health: Takeaways from a 2023 State Report
Recently, Truth in Accounting (TIA), a fiscal watchdog organization, published a report titled “Financial State of the States 2023” shedding light on the perceived fiscal health of all 50 states in the United States based on key factors. According to…
A Brief Examination of a Texas House Hopeful’s Record
The race to fill the vacant seat for Texas House District 2 is underway, with the special election now less than a month out. One candidate, Jill Dutton, has thrown her hat into the ring, hoping that Voters in HD-2…
School Choice for All… Some… Not That Many
What does it say about a state that has to pay off government schools and those within the government school system in order to potentially adopt a school choice system that benefits only some students? That scenario is exactly what…
Texas House Lawmakers Join the Call for Audit of Impeachment Investigation
Friday, three Texas House lawmakers called on both the Texas House Speaker, Dade Phelan (R-Beaumont) and State Rep. Andrew Murr (R-Junction) to conduct a “complete audit and providing an itemized account of taxpayer funds spent on the impeachment investigation and…
Stopgap Passage Results In Vacating McCarthy’s Speakership
In recent developments, the budgetary decisions and the political maneuvering in the U.S. Congress have taken an unforeseen turn, spotlighting the fiscal discourse that underpins our nation’s governance. The passage of the stopgap resolution, a temporary measure to prevent a…
Understanding School Choice: A Comprehensive Guide
In the realm of education, the term “school choice” has become a buzzword, sparking discussions, debates, and policy changes across the globe. But what exactly is school choice, and why is it significant? Let’s delve into the concept and explore…
Dan Patrick Demands Audit on Failed House Impeachment Attempt
After this exciting weekend, there is no doubt that you have heard that the Texas House Board of Managers’ attempt to impeach Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has failed. On Saturday Paxton was acquitted on all charges and able to…
In Latest CPI Release, Inflation Rears Its Ugly Head Again
After months of significant declines in CPI inflation, today the CPI (Consumer Price Index) numbers for August showed a resurgence of inflation in the U.S. In August, the CPI rose by 0.6 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis, marking a…
The Gold-Backed BRICS Currency and the Danger to the Fiat Dollar
Introduction In the realm of global finance and economics, the potential introduction of a gold-backed currency by the BRICS countries—Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—has gained attention as a potential challenge to the established fiat dollar system. This proposal…
This Independence Day, Remember We Fought A War Over Taxes
Taxation has always been an integral part of a nation’s economic system, enabling governments to fund public services and fulfill their obligations. The Revolutionary War marked a turning point in American history, as colonists fought for independence from British rule….
2023: Tops & Flops List
Since 2007, Texans for Fiscal Responsibility (TFR) has attempted to provide Texas taxpayers with a tool to easily discern how their lawmakers perform on issues related to the size and role of government. The Fiscal Responsibility Index uses votes taken…
Explainer: What Is Tax Compression?
Introduction As the debate about the superior property tax relief package continues, many would imagine the most common question that TFR gets is whether we support tax compression or increasing the homestead exemption. Although that is a safe assumption, that…
Episode 20: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of the 88th Legislative Session
Episode Description 💰 In our FINAL EPISODE of this season of 𝗧𝗔𝗫𝗣𝗔𝗬𝗘𝗥 𝗧𝗔𝗟𝗞𝗦, we are joined by special guests Vance Ginn, Ph.D., and Bill Peacock to discuss the 88th Legislative Session, what happened, what did not happen, the good, the…
Episode 15: The Session Comes to a Close With Not Much to Show for It
Episode Description 💰 In our fifteenth and final episode of 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗪𝗘𝗘𝗞 𝗔𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗗, we discuss the end of the 88th Legislative Session and lack of successes for things on Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s “emergency agenda” and items important to Texas…