Texas’ state government has a $24 billion surplus and a $28.5 billion Rainy Day Fund. Instead of using this overcollected taxpayer money to substantially cut taxes, government spending, and regulations, the 89th Texas Legislature is often advancing legislation in this…

HB 3 Is a Good Start, But More Is Needed. Today, the Texas House Committee on Public Education is hearing testimony (watch here) on HB 3, the school choice bill in the House. This could be the first school choice…

Texas taxpayers have an urgent need for property tax relief, which should include a clear path to eliminating school district maintenance and operations (M&O) property taxes—the largest portion of Texans’ property tax bills. Despite claims of historic tax cuts, Texans…

Texas must take advantage of this moment to rein in its bloated government workforce and put taxpayers first. The resignation of 77,000 federal employees out of 2.2 million—and nearly 3 million including contractors—proves what we already knew: government is too…

The Texas House sells HB 2 and HB 3 as a package deal for education reform, calling them the “Texas Two-Step.” But this so-called two-step is a misstep.  The package prioritizes billions more taxpayer money for a broken public education…

Recent proposals by President Donald Trump to establish a U.S. Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) and by Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick to remove the cap on Texas’s Economic Stabilization Fund (ESF) are deeply flawed. Both ideas assume that government-run investment…

Texas is experiencing economic growth, but the state government isn’t keeping pace with fiscal responsibility.  In December 2024, Texas added 37,000 new jobs, marking its twelfth consecutive month of job gains. Total nonfarm employment reached a record 14,318,700, and the…

The latest Biennial Property Tax Report from the Texas Comptroller confirms what many Texas homeowners and fiscal watchdogs, like TFR, already suspected: property taxes did, in fact, increase in 2023 by $650 Million despite promises of relief.  While this news…

Texas continues to lead as an economic powerhouse in the United States, but challenges persist. With the 2025 legislative session around the corner, it’s imperative that lawmakers address rising government spending, high property taxes, and regulatory barriers to ensure sustainable…

As 2024 concludes, the U.S. economy remains at a crossroads. While recent gross domestic product (GDP) revisions suggest stronger growth, the nation faces significant challenges in inflation, debt, and structural problems. Years of reckless government spending, regulatory overreach, and Federal…

Texas shines as a top contender for economic freedom, ranking 5th in the United States in the latest 2024 Economic Freedom of North America (EFNA) report. Its lower-tax environment and flexible labor market have made the Lone Star State a…

Texans know that economic freedom is the foundation of prosperity. Yet, despite Republican control of the Governor’s Office and Legislature since 2003, state and local government spending has grown far too much, burdening taxpayers and stifling even greater economic growth….

Texas ranks 7th in the 2025 State Tax Competitiveness Index, benefiting from its lack of an individual income tax and a competitive unemployment insurance tax system. However, high property taxes, a complex corporate tax system, and excessive government spending, all…

Property taxes are a financial burden that Texans can no longer afford to endure. Over the past 26 years, Figure 1 illustrates how property taxes have increased by an unsustainable 330%, far outpacing population and inflation growth of 136%. Figure…

States across the country are rethinking tax reform to stay competitive for residents and businesses. Many are exploring ways to phase out personal income, business franchise, and property taxes to attract workers, foster economic growth, and ensure property rights. But…