National Debt Surpasses $37 Trillion
$37 trillion. Written another way $37,000,000,000,000. The Treasury Department confirmed this week that the national debt has officially surpassed $37 trillion. Even with record income from Trump’s tariffs, July’s deficit rose 20% year over year with interest and...
Quorum Break, Vice-Chairs, and the Cost to Taxpayers
The Standstill In a display of political obstructionism, over 50 Texas House Democrats fled Austin on August 3, 2025, breaking quorum and paralyzing the chamber during Governor Greg Abbott's first-called special session. As of August 12, 2025, the standoff has...
Texans for Fiscal Responsibility Announces Destin Sensky as Executive Director
Austin, TX—Texans for Fiscal Responsibility (TFR) is proud to announce that Destin Sensky has joined the organization as its Executive Director, effective immediately. With a background in public service and conservative advocacy, Sensky brings a wealth of experience...
Special Session Update: Where Things Stand
As the Texas Legislature's first special session of 2025 surpasses its halfway mark, several efforts are underway to address key taxpayer issues, though progress is hampered by the ongoing lack of quorum in the House. Governor Greg Abbott called this 30-day session to...
Will the Texas Legislature Provide Meaningful Property Tax Relief This Summer?
A Review of Legislation in the 1st Called Special Session Executive Summary Texas’ property tax system is broken. And so is the method of property tax relief Texas politicians have been touting to voters over the last seven years. Despite spending at least $35 billion...
SB9 May Slow Property Tax Growth, But It Won’t Deliver Real Relief
As part of the first 30-day special session of 2025, property tax relief is once again on the agenda—and rightly so. Texans continue to struggle under the weight of one of the highest property tax burdens in the nation. Governor Abbott’s call for the special session...
Texans for Fiscal Responsibility Applauds Senate Passage of SB 12 to Ban Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying
TFR applauds the passage of SB 12, the bill to ban the unethical practice of taxpayer-funded lobbying, on second reading in the Texas Senate. AUSTIN, TX — Texans for Fiscal Responsibility (TFR) is celebrating a major victory for Texas taxpayers as the Texas Senate has...
Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying: Texas Senate Faces Redemption Moment with SB 12 Votes
The Texas Senate is set to deliberate and vote on Senate Bill 12 (SB 12) during the current special session, a pivotal measure introduced by State Senator Mayes Middleton (R-Galveston) to ban taxpayer-funded lobbying by local governments. This bill follows Senate Bill...
The Path to Real Property Tax Relief: Stopping Local Government Revenue Growth
Executive Summary Texas’ political leaders claim they will spend $51 billion (of taxpayer money) the next two years on public schools to provide property tax relief to homeowners, small businesses, and other landowners. Yet over the last six years of legislative...