Spending

Explainers

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…

News88th TXLege

Abbott Signs Corporate Welfare Boondoggle Into Law

On Wednesday, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed legislation purporting to be a “new” economic development tool into law. Despite its similarities to the now-ended Chapter 313 tax abatement program, its supporters insist this new program is a more accountable and…

News88th TXLege

Dismal Legislative Session for Texas Taxpayers

The 88th Texas Legislative Session has come and gone. State lawmakers were faced with a historic budget surplus (over-collected taxpayer dollars) and a historic opportunity to provide Texas taxpayers with much-needed tax relief and a promise for future prosperity. Instead,…

Commentary

Where Are the Fiscal Conservatives?

Lost in all of the noise and chaos surrounding the 88th Legislative Session is the fact that Republican lawmakers, who have enjoyed a comfortable majority in the Texas Legislature for the last two decades, ushered in the biggest spending increase…

Podcast - Taxpayer Talks

Episode 20: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of the 88th Legislative Session

Episode Description πŸ’° In our FINAL EPISODE of this season of π—§π—”π—«π—£π—”π—¬π—˜π—₯ π—§π—”π—Ÿπ—žπ—¦, 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…

Podcast - The Week Ahead

Episode 15: The Session Comes to a Close With Not Much to Show for It

Episode Description πŸ’° In our fifteenth and final episode of π—§π—›π—˜ π—ͺπ—˜π—˜π—ž π—”π—›π—˜π—”π——, 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…

Statements

TFR Statement on Conference Committee Report for HB 1 – General Appropriations Act

With only a few days left of the ongoing 88th Legislative Session, state lawmakers have presented a Conference Committee Report for House Bill 1 that represents perhaps the largest increase in spending in Texas history; it is certainly the biggest…

Podcast - Taxpayer Talks

Episode 19: Will They Get to Property Tax Relief in Time?

Episode Description πŸ’° In this episode of π—§π—”π—«π—£π—”π—¬π—˜π—₯ π—§π—”π—Ÿπ—žπ—¦, we discuss what still has the potential to get done before imminent key deadlines in the near-ended Texas 88th Legislative Session. Will Texas taxpayers get tangible property tax relief? Will we…

Podcast - The Week Ahead

Episode 14: Legislative Session Ending Soon, What is Still Moving?

Episode Description πŸ’° In our fourteenth episode of π—§π—›π—˜ π—ͺπ—˜π—˜π—ž π—”π—›π—˜π—”π——, we discuss the impending deadlines in both legislative chambers as we enter the final full week of the ongoing 88th Legislative Session and what they mean for things like…

Podcast - Taxpayer Talks

Episode 17: Texas House Fails to Deliver on Impactful Border Security Legislation

Episode Description πŸ’° In this episode of π—§π—”π—«π—£π—”π—¬π—˜π—₯ π—§π—”π—Ÿπ—žπ—¦, we discuss the recent failure by Texas House lawmakers to pass a meaningful border security legislative priority, the childish dialogue between elected leadership in both legislative chambers on potential property tax…

Commentary

A Budget Spending Spree Like No Other

Texas is often thought of as a conservative state. Teachers, for instance, complain about inadequate spending on public education and low salaries. Democrat State Rep. James Talarico (Austin) has argued that the low salaries are β€œpushing teachers out of the…

Podcast - Taxpayer Talks

Episode 16: As Session Begins to Wind Down, What Have They Been Up To?

Episode Description πŸ’° In this episode of π—§π—”π—«π—£π—”π—¬π—˜π—₯ π—§π—”π—Ÿπ—žπ—¦, we discuss Texas House lawmakers and the confusing saga around whether they voted in favor of increasing their own pensions, at the further expense of Texas taxpayers. We also discuss the…

Podcast - The Week Ahead

Episode 12: Are Texas Taxpayers About to Get Left Out in the Cold on Property Tax Relief?

Episode Description πŸ’° In our twelfth episode of π—§π—›π—˜ π—ͺπ—˜π—˜π—ž π—”π—›π—˜π—”π——, we discuss what is left to be done ahead of key deadlines in the Texas House, a recent misleading post by former President Donald Trump in relation to the…

Podcast - Taxpayer Talks

Episode 15: House Lawmakers Vote to Increase Their Own Pensions at Expense of Texas Taxpayers

Episode Description πŸ’° In this episode of π—§π—”π—«π—£π—”π—¬π—˜π—₯ π—§π—”π—Ÿπ—žπ—¦, we discuss Texas House lawmakers voting in favor of increasing their own pensions, at the further expense of Texas taxpayers. We also discuss the corporate welfare revival effort moving in the…

Podcast - The Week Ahead

Episode 11: Spending Out of Control, What HasΒ the Texas LegislatureΒ Done With the Budget Surplus?

Episode Description πŸ’° In our eleventh episode of π—§π—›π—˜ π—ͺπ—˜π—˜π—ž π—”π—›π—˜π—”π——, we discuss what the Texas Legislature is proposing to do with the budget surplus (over-collected taxpayer money), the budget proposal nearing the final stages of its consideration and the…