Explainers
Explainer: What Is Keynesian Economics?
Oftentimes when operating in the world of fiscal policy, economists use certain terms and phrases and simply gloss over them, not realizing that everyday taxpayers may not understand. A number of these come up from time to time, and I…
Explainer: What Are 313 Tax Abatements?
A topic that has become more popular recently due to Speaker Dade Phelan’s support for their renewal is Chapter 313 tax abatements. However, when interacting with taxpayers, I have noticed that most people have no clue about the controversial program….
Explainer: What Is the World Economic Forum?
For the last few years, it’s been hard to go to a grassroots gathering without at least a mention of the World Economic Forum or a quote from the infamous Klaus Schwab. If you haven’t heard of the World Economic…
Explainer: What is ESG?
If you are an investor or someone who pays close attention to the economy, you have probably heard the term ‘ESG’. Despite hearing the acronym, many do not understand what it actually is and its implications for our economic system….
Explainer: What Is The Overton Window?
If you have spent any amount of time in politics I am sure you have heard the phrase “The Overton Window” before. Today we are going to talk about what it is, and how to use this concept to our…
Explainer: What Is Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying?
Recently Texans for Fiscal Responsibility (TFR) released its Texas Prosperity Plan focusing on policy goals for the upcoming Texas legislative session set to begin in January of 2023. The plan focuses on three specific issues to reform: 1) Eliminating Property…
Explainer: What is the “No New Revenue Rate”?
In a year that has resulted in crushing property tax burdens for the majority of Texans, Texans for Fiscal Responsibility (TFR) has set its sights on giving as much transparency to the property tax process in Texas as possible. Most…
Party Conventions – Part Three: Building Blocks of the Platform
Those who choose to participate in their respective party convention processes as delegates will have the ability to help craft their party’s platforms among other responsibilities. That process begins at the precinct level with suggestions on changes to the existing…
Party Conventions – Part Two: It All Begins at the Precinct Level
Primary Election Day is March 1st, but it also marks the first step in the state party convention process, attending your individual precinct conventions. The majority of these precinct conventions take place after the polls close, although some larger county…
Explainer: What are the Alternatives to the Property Tax?
Property taxes have been levied by governments in Texas since before its independence from Mexico. How the tax has been levied however has changed over time. In the last few decades, the burden of property taxes has exponentially increased as…
Party Conventions – Part One: The Work Continues After Primary Elections
Early voting begins next week (February 14 through February 25) for the primary elections where both Democrats and Republicans will choose their candidates for the General Election in November. Primary election season is certainly one of the busiest seasons in…
Explainer: How does the Texas Budget Work?
The Texas budgeting process is one that very few people actually understand in Texas politics, let alone how lawmakers arrive at a finalized budget for the next two fiscal years. In this explainer, we aim to give a simple overview…
Explainer: What is the Texas Rainy Day Fund?
Most Texas taxpayers have probably never heard of the Economic Stabilization Fund (ESF) or as it’s sometimes referred to, “the Rainy Day Fund.” Our assumption is that lawmakers are content to keep the ESF hidden because if most taxpayers knew…
Explainer: What Is The Texas Enterprise Fund?
One of many government programs that many Texans have no clue exists is the Texas Enterprise Fund. Millions of tax dollars are distributed from this program, yet it never receives much attention from the public. The program is administered via…
Explainer: What Is Fractional Reserve Banking?
In response to our article defining the correlation between inflation and interest rates, TFR has been asked by many subscribers to explain the system that makes this possible. What is fractional reserve banking? Fractional reserve banking is a system of…