Hollywood Comes to Texas—on the Taxpayer’s Dime
Taxpayer Dollars for the Austin Swamp, Part Two Texas lawmakers have decided that the best way to promote jobs and culture is by handing Hollywood a $1.5 billion check. On May 29, the Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 22, which allocates $300 million every two...
Taxpayer Dollars for the Austin Swamp, Part One: Student Loan Repayment for Health Care Professionals
It is a difficult time to be a taxpayer in Texas. One example: appropriations of state funds during the recently concluded regular session were up 55% over appropriations in 2021, an $89 billion increase in just four years, while the increase over the last two years...
TFR Sends Letter to Abbott Requesting Veto of SB 646 and SB 974
This week, TFR sent the following Letter to Governor Greg Abbott, requesting that he veto Senate Bill 646 and Senate Bill 974, two bills that grow government and expand entitlements. Dear Governor Abbott, We are writing to respectfully urge you to veto both Senate...
Texas Legislature Wraps 89th Session Amid Soaring Spending Growth, School Choice Rollout, and Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying Debate
Overview The 89th Texas Legislature adjourned last week after approving a record-breaking $338 billion two-year budget, funded in part by a $24 billion surplus. While lawmakers advanced several high-profile measures, including a new school choice program and energy...
San Antonians Pay Their Bills; So Should Their Utility Companies
For a company that touts itself as a “trusted and reliable community partner,” San Antonio-owned utility CPS Energy has some explaining to do. Recent reporting shows that the utility still owes certain energy suppliers roughly $350 million from purchases it committed...
Government Price Controls on Credit Cards Hurt People
As Congress revives the misnamed Credit Card Competition Act and state legislatures push bills to regulate swipe fees, policymakers are quietly setting the stage for a major disruption in how Americans access credit. These proposals aim to cap interchange fees—those...
89th Texas Legislative Roundup: Wins and Setbacks for Texas Taxpayers
The 89th Texas Legislative Session came to an end on June 2nd, culminating with several meaningful wins for fiscal conservatives across the Lone Star State, but also leaving them with much to be desired and far more work to be done in future sessions. Session began...
The Texas Budget Blowout
Taxpayers should be alarmed at final 2026–27 budget passed by the Texas Legislature. What started as competing proposals from the Senate and House has ended in a bloated conference committee budget that dramatically expands state government beyond what key measures...
Vote Notice 5.31.2025
Texans for Fiscal Responsibility has issued the following vote notice for May 31st, 2025 Texas House of Representatives Subject: Conference Committee Report Senate Bill 1 (CCR SB 1) – General Appropriations Act Author: State Sen. Joan...