News and Commentary

Explainers

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…

Explainers

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…

News

After Receiving COVID Welfare, Most Texas Cities Are In More Debt

Recently Truth In Accounting released their most recent Financial State of the Cities for 2022. This report analyzed the financial health of the top 75 cities in America during the COVID-19 pandemic. “The report found that 61 cities did not…

Commentary

In Their Own Words – Part Three – Republican Gubernatorial Candidates on Cutting Government Spending

On January 13, the True Texas Project hosted a Gubernatorial Forum for Republican Candidates for Governor. Among the attendees were former Republican State Sen. Don Huffines, former Florida Republican Congressman and former Republican Party of Texas Chairman Allen West, and…

Commentary

Remember When Abbott Opposed Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying?

During this last session, there was a major push to ban the practice of taxpayer-funded lobbying that fell short. This was spearheaded by Senator Paul Bettencourt (R-Houston) and his bill SB 10. This issue was one of the Republican Party…

Commentary

In Their Own Words – Part Two – Republican Gubernatorial Candidates on a Ban on Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying

On January 13, the True Texas Project hosted a Gubernatorial Forum for Republican Candidates for Governor. Among the attendees were former Republican State Sen. Don Huffines, former Florida Republican Congressman and former Republican Party of Texas Chairman Allen West, and…

Commentary

2021 TFR Taxpayer Champions

  With the primary season quickly approaching TFR always wants to remind its subscribers and all Texas taxpayers of the free resource that we provide to assist in making decisions at the ballot box. Although TFR no longer makes endorsements,…

Commentary

In Their Own Words – Part One – Republican Gubernatorial Candidates on Property Taxes

On January 13, the True Texas Project hosted a Gubernatorial Forum for Republican Candidates for Governor. Among the attendees were former Republican State Sen. Don Huffines, former Florida Republican Congressman and former Republican Party of Texas Chairman Allen West, and…

News

Abbott Releases His “Taxpayer Bill of Rights” But Taxpayers Are Underwhelmed

Yesterday Governor Greg Abbott announced his “Taxpayer Bill of Rights” proposal at a meeting of the Kingwood Tea Party. In response, many grassroots activists reported being underwhelmed after reviewing the plan claiming to put Texas on a path to reduce…

Explainers

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…

Explainers

Explainer: What Is The Relationship Between Interest Rates and Inflation?

With the recent talk about inflation hitting 40-year highs at 7% this past week, there has been a lot of discussions specifically centered on what the Federal Reserve’s strategy is going to be in response. Most of you have probably…

NewsFederal

Inflation Soars to 7% a 40 Year High

  CPI data released this morning revealed that the year-over-year inflation rate has hit 7%. This is the highest rate experienced in 40 years (since 1982) in the USA and there is no sign that we will be inflecting downward…

News

Huffman Named Chairman of Senate Finance

Tuesday, Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick announced that he was naming Republican State Sen. Joan Huffman (Houston) as the new Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, replacing outgoing Republican State Sen. Jane Nelson (Flower Mound) who has chaired the…

Commentary

The Fiscal Responsibility Index, a Resource for Texas Taxpayers Since 2007

  The first Fiscal Responsibility Index was released in 2007 as a tool to provide Texas taxpayers with the transparency needed for a system that was created to protect incumbent lawmakers. Before the existence of the index, no other organization…

News

Property Tax Elimination Proposition on the Upcoming Republican Primary Ballot

  The 2022 Primary Election season is already well underway and for voters choosing to participate in the Republican primary election, among choosing between a litany of candidates up and down the ballot, they will also have the ability to…