TX - TPPF + ALEC FULL REPORT

8/14/2019 TX - TPPF + ALEC FULL REPORT

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TPPF +ALECprominent Washington

Report by Progress Tex

expense. November 201


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Executive SummaryIn-depth analysis of the Texas Public PolicyFoundations most recent legislative agenda

shows that TPPF supported legislation that

mirrored at least 28 different ALEC bill

templatespre-voted on by corporate

lobbyists on ALEC task forcesduring the

2013 regular session of the Texas Legislature.

Whether writing policy papers or testifying incommittee, TPPF rarelyif ever

acknowledges the ALEC positions, talking

points, or money that has undoubtedly shaped

its conclusions.

The money trail connecting TPPF to ALEC as

well as dozens of other cookie-cutter think tanks across the country remainsvast, extensive, and unknown by many in Texas. A close examination of their

work makes one thing clear: the Texas Public Policy Foundation cannot be

trusted as the independentvoice it claims to be in Texas policymaking.

TPPF pretends that it is an independentnonprofit. That may be technically

true, but a thorough examination of their work reveals it is not independent at

allrather, it has ceded its decision making to national Tea Party partners,

special interests, and out-of-state donors like those connected with ALEC.

The following report offers a case study of TPPFsposition on growth in the

state budget and makes it clear that TPPF will say and do anything to protect

the corporate interests of those who fund it and its allies.


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Overview: TPPF + ALECThe Texas Public Policy Foundations 2013-2014 legislative agenda

championed at least 28 different ALEC modelbills. As ALECs home-away-from-home in the Lone Star State, TPPF ensures that think tanks and

corporate lobbyists from Washington D.C. have a strong hand in Texas laws

changed to that increase corporate profits at Texans expense.

For example, on May 10,

2013, the Texas Public

Policy Foundationdelivered a letter to Texas

Governor Rick Perry

about the budget. They demanded that Perry do all he could to limit spending

growth in the states two-year budget to population plus inflation growth. They

also didnt want any money spent from the states savings account, better

known as the Rainy Day Fund.1

The letter warned that Texas must avoid becoming like California at all

costs. The missive was signed by 14 Tea Party-connected groups, including

several prominent conservative organizations based out of Washington D.C.

At the center of the letterhead, with its logo prominently displayed at the top,

was the American Legislative Exchange Council, better known as ALEC.

The letter championed two ALEC billsthe Tax and Expenditure Limitation

Act and the Super Majority Act that reflect a core assumption of so-called

conservativeideology: if state spending is suppressed, lawmakers will keep

taxes low for businesses, thus insulating profits for corporations and keeping

them away from building public institutions and promoting public good.


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May 10, 2013 letter masthead displaying logos from ALEC, other Tea Party groups

The letter carried a lot of weight considering that many staffers at TPPF have

worked for Perrys office orhis campaigns, or both over the years.

Additionally, TPPFs senior staff includes former GOP officials who worked

with Perry at the Capitol.2

TPPF and ALEC frequently echo Tea Party talking points and vice versa,

lifting up free market rhetoric and an intractable allegiance to tax cuts over

investments in the publicsinfrastructureeducation, health care, water and

transportationeven in states like Texas that could desparately use an influx

of revenue to better secure a strong economy for the future. There is little

original work from the Texas Public Policy Foundation, except for its unique

capacity to get the ear of lawmakers with its distortions.


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During a recent luncheon hosted at the Texas Capitol, TPPF proudly

proclaimed that a donor purchased enough copies of TPPFs recent book to

ensure every Republican official in the Texas Legislature had a copy. The

same lunch was sponsored by AT&T, the top lobby client in the recentlycompleted legislative session

3

and a major, long-time contributor to ALEC.4

TPPF is also a member of the State Policy Network (SPN), a national web of

what right-wing talking head Michelle Malkin called do thanks5

that have

been funded across the nation for a total of nearly $80 million a year

cumulatively, according to the Center for Media and Democracy (CMD).6

Like

TPPF, SPN is a long time sponsor and member of ALEC. Several SPN staff

members sit on ALEC task forces, proposing, voting on, and promoting ALEC

bills. SPN, which echoes ALECs agenda in the states, is one of ALECs

largest financial sponsors, as a Chairman level sponsor of ALECs 2011 and

20137

annual conference, which equated to at least a $50,000 contribution each

year8

, according to CMD, which publishes ALECexposed.org.9


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Texas Public Policy Foundation:ALECsHome Away From HomeFor forty years, ALEC has served as a national consortium for corporate

lobbyists and conservative lawmakers. The 501(c)3 nonprofit organization

claims to have more than 2,000 dues-paying legislators along with hundreds of

corporations as members.10

ALECs primary purpose is to ensure corporate

model bills are shipped across the country with conservative state lawmakers

eager to please lobbyists that canthanks to ALECs nonprofit statuswine-and-dine legislators without concern of violating any state ethics and gift laws.

With the help of TPPF, ALEC, and the corporate donors that help keep the two

501(c)3 nonprofits afloat, businesses from across the country and foreign

corporations can rest assured their cookie-cutter model laws are pushed. TPPF

and ALEC have worked closely together for well over ten yearsmaking

TPPF a home-away-from-home for ALEC right here in Texas.

As Progress Texas previously documented in LEC Exposed in Texas:11Through its policy work and its fundraising efforts, ALEC and TPPF are

closely linked and regularly work hand-in-hand to promote the profits of

global corporations over creating better lives for Texans

In the past, TPPF staff has submitted policy papers to be reproduced inthe InsideALEC publications, they have spoken at ALEC functions and

events, and senior TPPF staff also sits on ALECstask forces. TPPF has

even taken the lead in crafting legislation that it then sends off to

ALECTPPF will regularly cite ALEC model legislation and

resolutions in their policy papers and testimony.


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In March 2012, ALEC came under attack forpushing the Stand Your

Ground law across the country. On February 26, 2012, a Florida man, George

Zimmerman, had shot an unarmed 17-year old African-American high-

schooler named Trayvon Martin, butZimmerman had not been arrested based on

that law, which ALEC had ratified as a

national model after it passed in Florida in

2005. The closed-door meeting where

corporate lobbyists secretly voted with

legislators to push that legislation happened

in Grapevine, Texas, in August 2005. Sincethen ALEC had pushed for that bill to

become law in numerous states, including

Texas. After the Trayvon Martin shooting,

national and state groups, including Progress

Texas, pressured businesses and lawmakers

to leave ALEC.12

In crisis control mode, ALEC was aided by an op-ed in the

Wall Street Journal from the Texas Public Policy Foundationwho was happyto rush to ALECs defense.

13

Zimmerman was ultimately tried for the killing

but was not convicted after the jury was instructed that he had a right to stand

his ground and no duty to retreat, under that new law.

At ALECs recent Spring Task Force Summit in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

during the first week of May 2013, lawmakers and lobbyists did more than

wine and dine. Behind closed doors and with armed security guards protecting

their meeting rooms, lawmakers and lobbyistsincluding staffers from the

Texas Public Policy Foundationdiscussed bills to change state laws on

education, energy, health care and tax reform.


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Within a week of the ALEC meeting, those TPPF staffers were in Texas,

urging Perry to support two major ALEC model billswith ALECs logo on

their letterhead:

- The Tax and Expenditure Limitation Act which would limit statespending growth to population plus inflation

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; and

- The Super-Majority Act which would require a two-thirds, insteadof majority, threshold for passing tax incrases.

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Case Study on Budget Numbers:TPPF Makes Up Fuzzy Math

TPPF didnt just sign the letterit put its muscle

into making it binding law. Complete with a brand

new 501(c)(4)Texas Public Policy Action16

TPPF joined with Tea Party groups from Texas

and across the country, including Grover

Norquists Americans for Tax Reform and

Michael Quinn Sullivans Texans for Fiscal

Responsibility, to push these ALEC policies.

When it was all over, TPPF lost, but only

temporarily. Lawmakers passed a bill, celebrated

by Governor Perry, allowing voters to authorize drawing down $2 billion in

Rainy Day Fund money to pay for desparately needed water infrastructure

improvements in drought-ridden Texas.17

This went against the TPPF + ALEC

call to leave the Rainy Day Fund untapped. However, it appears theey won a


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commitment to keep growth in the state budget below the population plus

inflation growth factor, as they had sought. As the Associated Press reported18

:

Gov. Rick Perry and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst havepromised to limit

government spending to Texas population growth plus inflation, which

is forecast to be 8 percent in 2014-15. As long as they stay under $95.58

billion, they will claim to have passed a conservative budget.

For 2013-2014, general revenue spending came in at 94.61 billion19belowALECs coveted population + inflation growth limitation.

But then something happened that no one expected: TPPF lashed out againstGovernor Perry and Texas lawmakers, and created what Texas Senate Finance

Chairman Tommy Williamsa chief budget writer in the Legislature and

among the staunchest conservatives in the statecalled fuzzy math.20

Unhappy with lawmakers decision to undo numerous accounting tricks

utilized in the previous budget cycle, TPPF created a series of convoluted

numbers that concluded that rather than limiting state spending to population-

plus inflation growth, Texas spent $22 billion more in the budget.21

GOP

officials accused TPPF of convincing the Wall Street Journal(whose editorial

board has close ties to ALEC22

) to write an editorial that harkened back to that

May 10 letter signed by ALEC and used their research.23

In response, Governor

Perryfor the first time in recent memoryshot back at TPPF, saying:24

I did read some of the criticism, and Im not sure that those who were

making that criticism have a really good handle on the Texas budgeting

process. Frankly I dont understand their math.


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Undaunted, TPPF kept the pressure on Perrybut not before they emphasized

that their political power was far more important than whose math was right.

In a statement on their website, TPPF wrote (emphasis added):25

We can agree to disagree about exactly how much the 2014-15 budget

grew and what methodology should be used to measure that growth; but

what we cannot not do is ignore the fact that groups all across the

nationall of whom have a vested interest in the success of

conservatismwatched as the Texas budget process unfolded and were

alarmed enough by all the new spending to take action.

The Texas Public Policy Foundationa 501(c)(3) with a mission statementtouting academically sound research

26

didnt care about the math.

By making it clear that cherry-

picking numbers and distorting the

truth didnt matter, TPPF was

telling Perry and conservative

lawmakers that their political poweris what mattered most. Perhaps

thats why TPPF, in chastising

Perry for the alleged massive increase in state spending, cited the viewpoints

of Republican primary voters instead of focusing on sound research:27

Governor Perry, Texans want less government growth, not more. For

instance, 94 percent of Texas voters in the 2012 Republican Primary

supported the ballot proposition that called for limiting any increase in

government spending.

Why is a nonpartisan

nonprofit charity threatening

Republican lawmakers with

primary vote numbers?


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Why would TPPF make up budget numbers to drive a wedge between

Governor Perry and the Texas Legislature? Why is a nonpartisan nonprofit

charity threatening Republican lawmakers with primary vote numbers?

One reason could be loyalty to ALEC. After all, opposing using the states

rainy day fund and limiting spending is not unique to TPPF. Other State

Policy Network think tanks in Ohio (the Buckeye Institute28

) and Arizona (the

Goldwater Institute29

) have also pressed legislators to the same conclusions as

TPPF pushed in Texas.

The case study in Texas most recent budget fight also highlights tensions

between elected officials obligations to protect the public interest, and the

TPPFs unyielding push to protect corporate profits. Admitting Texas could

increase investments in public infrastructure while maintaining low levels of

spending is too big a risk for ALEC corporations.

Meanwhile as the 2014 elections begin, the ALEC agenda has taken first

priority for Texas Republican gubernatorial nominee, Greg Abbott. In fact,

Abbotts first major policy proposal30

is exactly what TPPF and ALEC pushed

in 2013. From the opening of an October 28, 2013 Texas Tribunereport31

:

In his first major policy address as a gubernatorial candidate, Attorney

General Greg Abbott proposed tighter constitutional limits on state

spending and increased constraints on the multibillion-dollar Rainy Day

Fund.


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TPPF ALECs AgendaAn examination of the full TPPF legislative agenda for 2013-2014 shows that

TPPF backed a number of bills that echo the ALEC agenda. In the 2013legislative session, TPPF advocated for at least 28 different laws that mirrored

ALEC model bills, according to an extensive review of TPPFs published

agenda for the legislative session, Keeping Texas Competitive: A Legislators

Guide to the Issues 2013-2014.32

Working with the

Center for Media andDemocracy, Progress

Texas carefully

analyzed the agenda

of TPPF. It was

discovered that on

many issues

education, taxes, pensions, health care, the environment, state vs. federalpowers, and insuranceTPPF + ALEC are almost one and the same.

The importance of the overlap cannot be overstated. TPPF wields a powerful

sword in the Texas capitoland as the budget case study showed, they are

trending further away from public policy analysis and closer and closer to pure

politics. The following pages illustrate how ALEC has successfully used TPPF

to deliver cookie-cutter corporate laws to the Lone Star State, and how theseALEC model billschampioned by their home-away-from home, the Texas

Public Policy Foundationprotect corporate interests at the publics expense.33


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Issue TPPF 2013-2014 Agenda ALEC Model Bills

LimitingGovernment

Spending

TPPF recommends state and local

spending increases only by the

sum of population growth plusinflation, the growth in gross state

product or the growth personal

income, whichever is less.

ALECs Tax and Expenditure

Limitation Act would amend the state

constitution to set revenue and spending

limits, by capping total expenditures by

inflating the current years expenditures

to account only for population growth

and inflation.

TPPF recommends requiring a

supermajority vote in the state

legislature to override Texassconstitutional limits on

government spending.

ALECs Super-Majority Act would

amend the state constitution to require all

tax and license fee increases or

impositions be approved by two-thirds of

all member s of each house of the

legislature, except when there is

insufficient revenue to pay interest on the

states debt.

OpposingHealth Care

Reform

TPPF calls for allowing Texans to

buy health insurance across state

lines, offered by insurance

companies in other states.

ALECs Health Care Choice Act for

States, allows for the purchase of health

care from out of state insurers who are

not licensed in the state of the purchaser,

which could result in subpar policies notsubject to state protections.

TPPF recommends eliminating all

state-level insurance mandates.

ALECs Resolution Opposing

Employer-Paid Health Care Mandates

opposes efforts by state legislatures to

mandate that private employers purchase

health insurance for workers.

ALECs Freedom of Choice in Health

Care Act would prohibit the legislature

from requiring individuals to purchase

health insurance, even though states like

Texas require drivers to purchase auto

insurance under the states financial

responsibility law.
http://www.texaspolicy.com/sites/default/files/documents/2013-14-LegeGuide_2.pdfhttp://www.texaspolicy.com/sites/default/files/documents/2013-14-LegeGuide_2.pdfhttp://alecexposed.com/wiki/ALEC_Exposedhttp://alecexposed.com/wiki/ALEC_Exposedhttp://alecexposed.com/wiki/ALEC_Exposedhttp://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/c/c7/8G2-Tax_and_Expenditure_Limitation_Act_Exposed.pdfhttp://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/c/c7/8G2-Tax_and_Expenditure_Limitation_Act_Exposed.pdfhttp://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/c/c7/8G2-Tax_and_Expenditure_Limitation_Act_Exposed.pdfhttp://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/5/5c/8G1-Super-Majority_Act_Exposed.pdfhttp://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/5/5c/8G1-Super-Majority_Act_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/c/c3/5U4-Health_Care_Choice_Act_for_States_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/c/c3/5U4-Health_Care_Choice_Act_for_States_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/c/c3/5U4-Health_Care_Choice_Act_for_States_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/c/c3/5U4-Health_Care_Choice_Act_for_States_Exposed.pdfhttp://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/5/5b/1F9-Resolution_Opposing_Employer-Paid_Health_Care_Mandates_Exposed.pdfhttp://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/5/5b/1F9-Resolution_Opposing_Employer-Paid_Health_Care_Mandates_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/3/3b/5U2-FREEDOM_OF_CHOICE_IN_HEALTH_CARE_ACT_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/3/3b/5U2-FREEDOM_OF_CHOICE_IN_HEALTH_CARE_ACT_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/3/3b/5U2-FREEDOM_OF_CHOICE_IN_HEALTH_CARE_ACT_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/3/3b/5U2-FREEDOM_OF_CHOICE_IN_HEALTH_CARE_ACT_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/3/3b/5U2-FREEDOM_OF_CHOICE_IN_HEALTH_CARE_ACT_Exposed.pdfhttp://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/5/5b/1F9-Resolution_Opposing_Employer-Paid_Health_Care_Mandates_Exposed.pdfhttp://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/5/5b/1F9-Resolution_Opposing_Employer-Paid_Health_Care_Mandates_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/c/c3/5U4-Health_Care_Choice_Act_for_States_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/c/c3/5U4-Health_Care_Choice_Act_for_States_Exposed.pdfhttp://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/5/5c/8G1-Super-Majority_Act_Exposed.pdfhttp://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/c/c7/8G2-Tax_and_Expenditure_Limitation_Act_Exposed.pdfhttp://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/c/c7/8G2-Tax_and_Expenditure_Limitation_Act_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.com/wiki/ALEC_Exposedhttp://www.texaspolicy.com/sites/default/files/documents/2013-14-LegeGuide_2.pdf


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AttackingEnvironmentalProtections &

PollutionRegulation

TPPF dedicated an entire section

in its 2013-2014 agenda

demonizing the EnvironmentalProtection Agencys regulations,

including greenhouse gas limits,

coal plant regulations, and air

quality monitoring.

ALECs Resolution in Opposition to

EPAs Regulation of Greenhouse Gases

from Mobile Sources opposes aSupreme Court case allowing the EPA to

regulate carbon dioxide and greenhouse

gases as pollutants. The ALEC resolution

uses straw man arguments and other

rhetoric to dismiss climate change

concerns. ALEC also published an entire

pamphlet attacking environmental

regulation called the EPA Train Wreck.34

ALECs Intrastate Coal and Use Act

would prevent the EPA from overruling

state permits for coal mining and dirty

coal products if all the companys coal

operations are conducted within the

borders of a single state (although air

pollution crosses state lines).

ALECs Resolution in Opposition of

Carbon Dioxide Emission Standards

opposes environmental protections on

carbon dioxide emissions.

ALECs State Withdrawal from

Regional Climate Initiatives removes

states from the Regional Greenhouse Gas

Initiative or the Western Climate

Initiative, cap-and-trade programs to cut

greenhouse gases and carbon-dioxide

emissions. It uses language denying that

climate changes exist and are manmade.

DenyingClimateChange

TPPF questions the science of

climate change, and urges federal

lawmakers to implement a

rigorous review of scientific

facts dealing with climate change,

along with calling for the

suspension of all state programs

that regulate greenhouse gases and

federal mandates to reduce carbon

dioxide.
http://www.texaspolicy.com/sites/default/files/documents/2013-14-LegeGuide_2.pdfhttp://www.texaspolicy.com/sites/default/files/documents/2013-14-LegeGuide_2.pdfhttp://alecexposed.com/wiki/ALEC_Exposedhttp://alecexposed.com/wiki/ALEC_Exposedhttp://alecexposed.com/wiki/ALEC_Exposedhttp://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/5/50/3B0-ALEC_Resolution_in_Opposition_to_EPA_Regulation_of_Greenhouse_Gases_from_Mobile_Sources_Exposed.pdfhttp://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/5/50/3B0-ALEC_Resolution_in_Opposition_to_EPA_Regulation_of_Greenhouse_Gases_from_Mobile_Sources_Exposed.pdfhttp://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/5/50/3B0-ALEC_Resolution_in_Opposition_to_EPA_Regulation_of_Greenhouse_Gases_from_Mobile_Sources_Exposed.pdfhttp://www.commoncause.org/atf/cf/%7BFB3C17E2-CDD1-4DF6-92BE-BD4429893665%7D/35-day_mailing_eea_stfs.pdfhttp://www.commoncause.org/atf/cf/%7BFB3C17E2-CDD1-4DF6-92BE-BD4429893665%7D/35-day_mailing_eea_stfs.pdfhttp://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/0/0c/3C3-Resolution_in_Opposition_of_Carbon_Dioxide_Emission_Standards_Exposed.pdfhttp://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/0/0c/3C3-Resolution_in_Opposition_of_Carbon_Dioxide_Emission_Standards_Exposed.pdfhttp://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/4/49/3C0-ALEC_State_Withdrawal_from_Regional_Climate_Initiatives_Exposed.pdfhttp://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/4/49/3C0-ALEC_State_Withdrawal_from_Regional_Climate_Initiatives_Exposed.pdfhttp://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/4/49/3C0-ALEC_State_Withdrawal_from_Regional_Climate_Initiatives_Exposed.pdfhttp://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/4/49/3C0-ALEC_State_Withdrawal_from_Regional_Climate_Initiatives_Exposed.pdfhttp://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/4/49/3C0-ALEC_State_Withdrawal_from_Regional_Climate_Initiatives_Exposed.pdfhttp://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/0/0c/3C3-Resolution_in_Opposition_of_Carbon_Dioxide_Emission_Standards_Exposed.pdfhttp://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/0/0c/3C3-Resolution_in_Opposition_of_Carbon_Dioxide_Emission_Standards_Exposed.pdfhttp://www.commoncause.org/atf/cf/%7BFB3C17E2-CDD1-4DF6-92BE-BD4429893665%7D/35-day_mailing_eea_stfs.pdfhttp://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/5/50/3B0-ALEC_Resolution_in_Opposition_to_EPA_Regulation_of_Greenhouse_Gases_from_Mobile_Sources_Exposed.pdfhttp://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/5/50/3B0-ALEC_Resolution_in_Opposition_to_EPA_Regulation_of_Greenhouse_Gases_from_Mobile_Sources_Exposed.pdfhttp://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/5/50/3B0-ALEC_Resolution_in_Opposition_to_EPA_Regulation_of_Greenhouse_Gases_from_Mobile_Sources_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.com/wiki/ALEC_Exposedhttp://www.texaspolicy.com/sites/default/files/documents/2013-14-LegeGuide_2.pdf


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Issue TPPF 2013-2014 Agenda ALEC Model BillsAttackingRenewableEnergy

TPPF calls for the elimination of

the Renewable Portfolio Standard.

ALECs Electricity Freedom Act

repeals renewable energy mandates and

constitutes an attack on states with plans

requiring companies to get a certain

percentage of their electricity from

renewable sources.

Advocating forThe 10th

Amendment

In the section entitled 10th

Amendment in TPPFs 2013-

2014 agenda, TPPF calls interstate

compacts an effective way to

regulate areas of mutual concern

of two or more states. It further

states that Texas should examinethe benefits of using

constitutional amendments aimed

at limiting government spending,

including calling for a

constitutional convention.

ALECs Article V Repeal Amendment

Resolutioncalls for a constitutional

convention in order propose an

amendment permitting the repeal of any

federal law by the vote of two-thirds of

state legislatures.

ALECs Resolution Reaffirming Tenth

Amendment Rights asserts that federal

mandates violates the Tenth Amendment,

but fails to acknowledge the many

express powers granted to Congress,

including powers over interstate

commerce.

ALECs Resolution Calling for the

Congress of the United States to Call a

Constitutional Convention Pursuant to

Article V of the United Statesurges

Congress to call a constitutional

convention for the purpose of proposing

a constitutional amendment that permits

the repeal of any federal law orregulation by two-thirds of the state

legislatures, which is dubbed the

Madison Amendment(another ALEC

model).
http://www.texaspolicy.com/sites/default/files/documents/2013-14-LegeGuide_2.pdfhttp://www.texaspolicy.com/sites/default/files/documents/2013-14-LegeGuide_2.pdfhttp://alecexposed.com/wiki/ALEC_Exposedhttp://alecexposed.com/wiki/ALEC_Exposedhttp://alecexposed.com/wiki/ALEC_Exposedhttp://www.commoncause.org/atf/cf/%7BFB3C17E2-CDD1-4DF6-92BE-BD4429893665%7D/35-day_mailing_eea_stfs.pdfhttp://www.commoncause.org/atf/cf/%7BFB3C17E2-CDD1-4DF6-92BE-BD4429893665%7D/35-day_mailing_eea_stfs.pdfhttp://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/4/45/4B7-Article_V_Repeal_Amendment-Resolution_Exposed.pdfhttp://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/4/45/4B7-Article_V_Repeal_Amendment-Resolution_Exposed.pdfhttp://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/4/45/4B7-Article_V_Repeal_Amendment-Resolution_Exposed.pdfhttp://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/a/a2/4B3a-Resoluting_Reaffirming_Tenth_Amendment_Rights_Exposed.pdfhttp://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/a/a2/4B3a-Resoluting_Reaffirming_Tenth_Amendment_Rights_Exposed.pdfhttp://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/a/a2/4B3a-Resoluting_Reaffirming_Tenth_Amendment_Rights_Exposed.pdfhttp://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/a/a3/4B2-Resolution_Calling_for_Congress_of_the_United_States_to_Call_a_Constitutional_Convention_Exposed.pdfhttp://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/a/a3/4B2-Resolution_Calling_for_Congress_of_the_United_States_to_Call_a_Constitutional_Convention_Exposed.pdfhttp://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/a/a3/4B2-Resolution_Calling_for_Congress_of_the_United_States_to_Call_a_Constitutional_Convention_Exposed.pdfhttp://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/a/a3/4B2-Resolution_Calling_for_Congress_of_the_United_States_to_Call_a_Constitutional_Convention_Exposed.pdfhttp://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/a/a3/4B2-Resolution_Calling_for_Congress_of_the_United_States_to_Call_a_Constitutional_Convention_Exposed.pdfhttp://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/2/20/4B1-MadisonAmendment_Exposed.pdfhttp://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/2/20/4B1-MadisonAmendment_Exposed.pdfhttp://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/2/20/4B1-MadisonAmendment_Exposed.pdfhttp://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/a/a3/4B2-Resolution_Calling_for_Congress_of_the_United_States_to_Call_a_Constitutional_Convention_Exposed.pdfhttp://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/a/a3/4B2-Resolution_Calling_for_Congress_of_the_United_States_to_Call_a_Constitutional_Convention_Exposed.pdfhttp://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/a/a3/4B2-Resolution_Calling_for_Congress_of_the_United_States_to_Call_a_Constitutional_Convention_Exposed.pdfhttp://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/a/a3/4B2-Resolution_Calling_for_Congress_of_the_United_States_to_Call_a_Constitutional_Convention_Exposed.pdfhttp://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/a/a2/4B3a-Resoluting_Reaffirming_Tenth_Amendment_Rights_Exposed.pdfhttp://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/a/a2/4B3a-Resoluting_Reaffirming_Tenth_Amendment_Rights_Exposed.pdfhttp://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/4/45/4B7-Article_V_Repeal_Amendment-Resolution_Exposed.pdfhttp://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/4/45/4B7-Article_V_Repeal_Amendment-Resolution_Exposed.pdfhttp://www.commoncause.org/atf/cf/%7BFB3C17E2-CDD1-4DF6-92BE-BD4429893665%7D/35-day_mailing_eea_stfs.pdfhttp://alecexposed.com/wiki/ALEC_Exposedhttp://www.texaspolicy.com/sites/default/files/documents/2013-14-LegeGuide_2.pdf


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ProtectingCorporations in

Asbestos-related Claims

TPPF recommends that there

should be a measureable

standard for a plaintiff in an

asbestos-related case to prove

negligence and that the causation

standards for asbestos-related

claims should remain at the same

level as all toxic exposure claims.

ALEC has several model bills aimed at

protecting corporations from liability for

an injured American in an asbestos-

related case, including the Asbestos and

Silica Claims Priorities Act, the

Asbestos Claims Transparency Act,

and the Successor Asbestos-Related

Liability Fairness Act.

DeformingPublic

PensionsTPPF calls for new state workers

to be moved into a risky defined-

contribution pension plan.

ALECs Public Employees Portable

Retirement Option (PRO) Act is a move

towards eliminating defined benefit

pension plans for public employees,

which better protects retirees.

Pushing ParentTrigger

TPPF calls for changes to in the

Texas Education Code to make it

easier to force a parent trigger

scenario.

ALECs Parent Trigger Act would

allow a small group of parents to close

public school for current and future

students, and turn the school into a

charter school or require the state to use

taxpayer dollars for vouchers to subsidizeprivate tuition.

Pushing forVirtual Schools

TPPF recommends expanding the

funding for virtual schoolsin

Texas to give greater freedom to

private virtual education

corporations.

ALECs Virtual Public Schools Act

requires virtual or online education

company courses to be recognized as

public schools and require that such

companies receive the same per pupil

funding as traditional schools that

provide classrooms, sports trainingfacilities, lunch, and transportation,

resulting in windfall profits for online

schools.35
http://www.texaspolicy.com/sites/default/files/documents/2013-14-LegeGuide_2.pdfhttp://www.texaspolicy.com/sites/default/files/documents/2013-14-LegeGuide_2.pdfhttp://alecexposed.com/wiki/ALEC_Exposedhttp://alecexposed.com/wiki/ALEC_Exposedhttp://alecexposed.com/wiki/ALEC_Exposedhttp://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/c/ce/0E0-Asbeston_and_Silica_Claims_Priorities_Act_Exposed.pdfhttp://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/c/ce/0E0-Asbeston_and_Silica_Claims_Priorities_Act_Exposed.pdfhttp://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/c/ce/0E0-Asbeston_and_Silica_Claims_Priorities_Act_Exposed.pdfhttp://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/c/c7/0E1-Asbestos_Claims_Transparency_Act_Exposed.pdfhttp://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/c/c7/0E1-Asbestos_Claims_Transparency_Act_Exposed.pdfhttp://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/c/c7/0E1-Asbestos_Claims_Transparency_Act_Exposed.pdfhttp://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/9/9a/0E2-Successor_Asbestos-Related_Liability_Fairness_Act_Exposed.pdfhttp://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/9/9a/0E2-Successor_Asbestos-Related_Liability_Fairness_Act_Exposed.pdfhttp://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/9/9a/0E2-Successor_Asbestos-Related_Liability_Fairness_Act_Exposed.pdfhttp://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/9/9a/0E2-Successor_Asbestos-Related_Liability_Fairness_Act_Exposed.pdfhttp://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/d/df/1I0-Public_Employees_Portable_Retirement_Option_PRO_Act_Exposed.pdfhttp://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/d/df/1I0-Public_Employees_Portable_Retirement_Option_PRO_Act_Exposed.pdfhttp://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/d/df/1I0-Public_Employees_Portable_Retirement_Option_PRO_Act_Exposed.pdfhttp://www.webcitation.org/5yGOUW6Llhttp://www.webcitation.org/5yGOUW6Llhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/4/4a/2D23-Virtual_Public_Schools_Act1_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/4/4a/2D23-Virtual_Public_Schools_Act1_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/4/4a/2D23-Virtual_Public_Schools_Act1_Exposed.pdfhttp://www.webcitation.org/5yGOUW6Llhttp://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/d/df/1I0-Public_Employees_Portable_Retirement_Option_PRO_Act_Exposed.pdfhttp://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/d/df/1I0-Public_Employees_Portable_Retirement_Option_PRO_Act_Exposed.pdfhttp://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/9/9a/0E2-Successor_Asbestos-Related_Liability_Fairness_Act_Exposed.pdfhttp://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/9/9a/0E2-Successor_Asbestos-Related_Liability_Fairness_Act_Exposed.pdfhttp://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/c/c7/0E1-Asbestos_Claims_Transparency_Act_Exposed.pdfhttp://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/c/ce/0E0-Asbeston_and_Silica_Claims_Priorities_Act_Exposed.pdfhttp://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/c/ce/0E0-Asbeston_and_Silica_Claims_Priorities_Act_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.com/wiki/ALEC_Exposedhttp://www.texaspolicy.com/sites/default/files/documents/2013-14-LegeGuide_2.pdf


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PrivatizingPublic

Education

TPPF calls for Texas to increase

competition in the Texas

education system by

implementing education

scholarships, tax credits, and

expanding charter schools and

vouchers.

ALECs Family Education Tax Credit

Programcreates a tax paying

corporations and individuals that give

money to be used as scholarships to

pay tuition and fees at private schools,

reducing tax revenue for public schools

and other public services.

ALECs Parent Choice Scholarship

Program Act-Universal Eligibility

creates a voucher program to use

taxpayer funds that would have beenspent on public schools to subsidize

private for-profit, religious, or other

primary and secondary schools.

ALECs Parental Choice Scholarship

Accountability Act enables taxpayer

money to subsidize for-profit, religious,

or other private schools.

ALECs Charter Schools Actwould

allow the state to grant charters to create

and operate schools outside of traditional

public schools, while also exempting

these charter schools from state laws that

apply to public schools.

ALECs Resolution Supporting PrivateScholarship Tax Creditsurges tax cuts

for corporations and others to subsidize

non-public corporate schools through

funding scholarships.
http://www.texaspolicy.com/sites/default/files/documents/2013-14-LegeGuide_2.pdfhttp://www.texaspolicy.com/sites/default/files/documents/2013-14-LegeGuide_2.pdfhttp://alecexposed.com/wiki/ALEC_Exposedhttp://alecexposed.com/wiki/ALEC_Exposedhttp://alecexposed.com/wiki/ALEC_Exposedhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/7/77/2D9-THE_FAMILY_EDUCATION_TAX_CREDIT_PROGRAM_ACT_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/7/77/2D9-THE_FAMILY_EDUCATION_TAX_CREDIT_PROGRAM_ACT_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/7/77/2D9-THE_FAMILY_EDUCATION_TAX_CREDIT_PROGRAM_ACT_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/7/77/2D9-THE_FAMILY_EDUCATION_TAX_CREDIT_PROGRAM_ACT_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/2/20/2D17-THE_PARENTAL_CHOICE_SCHOLARSHIP_PROGRAM_ACT_2_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/2/20/2D17-THE_PARENTAL_CHOICE_SCHOLARSHIP_PROGRAM_ACT_2_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/2/20/2D17-THE_PARENTAL_CHOICE_SCHOLARSHIP_PROGRAM_ACT_2_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/0/0f/2D15-THE_PARENTAL_CHOICE_SCHOLARSHIP_ACCOUNTABILITY_ACT_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/0/0f/2D15-THE_PARENTAL_CHOICE_SCHOLARSHIP_ACCOUNTABILITY_ACT_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/0/0f/2D15-THE_PARENTAL_CHOICE_SCHOLARSHIP_ACCOUNTABILITY_ACT_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/9/9a/2D1-Charter_Schools_Act_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/9/9a/2D1-Charter_Schools_Act_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/9/90/2D6-Resolution_Supporting_Private_Scholarship_Tax_Credits_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/9/90/2D6-Resolution_Supporting_Private_Scholarship_Tax_Credits_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/9/90/2D6-Resolution_Supporting_Private_Scholarship_Tax_Credits_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/9/90/2D6-Resolution_Supporting_Private_Scholarship_Tax_Credits_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/9/90/2D6-Resolution_Supporting_Private_Scholarship_Tax_Credits_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/9/9a/2D1-Charter_Schools_Act_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/0/0f/2D15-THE_PARENTAL_CHOICE_SCHOLARSHIP_ACCOUNTABILITY_ACT_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/0/0f/2D15-THE_PARENTAL_CHOICE_SCHOLARSHIP_ACCOUNTABILITY_ACT_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/2/20/2D17-THE_PARENTAL_CHOICE_SCHOLARSHIP_PROGRAM_ACT_2_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/2/20/2D17-THE_PARENTAL_CHOICE_SCHOLARSHIP_PROGRAM_ACT_2_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/7/77/2D9-THE_FAMILY_EDUCATION_TAX_CREDIT_PROGRAM_ACT_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/7/77/2D9-THE_FAMILY_EDUCATION_TAX_CREDIT_PROGRAM_ACT_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.com/wiki/ALEC_Exposedhttp://www.texaspolicy.com/sites/default/files/documents/2013-14-LegeGuide_2.pdf


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AttackingTeachers

TPPF calls for radical attacks on

teachers in Texas, including

lowering the barriers for teacher

certification, eliminating the

minimum salary a teacher must be

paid based on experience,

discouraging school districts from

paying teachers with a masters

degree more money, and

eliminating tenure rights.

ALECs Great Teachers and Leaders

Act changes seniority rules that reward

education and experience of teachers andallows tenure to be revoked based on

limited measures of success without

regard to underlying conditions in the

schools or environment.

ALECs Alternative Certification Act

attempts to allow students to be taught by

people who have no training in how to

teach children and the different ways kids

learn at various ages and based on

different learning styles. This paves the

way for for-profit schools to pay

teachers less than educators who are

actually trained in teaching.

ALECs Career Ladder Opportunities

Act and Teacher Quality andRecognition Demonstration Act

undermines post-secondary education

and tenure rights of teachers, placing

more emphasis on tests (regardless of the

underlying conditions in the schools or

the socio-economic environment of the

school district) than other established

measures.
http://www.texaspolicy.com/sites/default/files/documents/2013-14-LegeGuide_2.pdfhttp://www.texaspolicy.com/sites/default/files/documents/2013-14-LegeGuide_2.pdfhttp://alecexposed.com/wiki/ALEC_Exposedhttp://alecexposed.com/wiki/ALEC_Exposedhttp://alecexposed.com/wiki/ALEC_Exposedhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/a/a4/2F2-Great_Teachers_and_Leaders_Act_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/a/a4/2F2-Great_Teachers_and_Leaders_Act_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/a/a4/2F2-Great_Teachers_and_Leaders_Act_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/8/85/2F0-Alternative_Certification_Act_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/8/85/2F0-Alternative_Certification_Act_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/6/63/2F1-Career_Ladder_Opportunities_Act_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/6/63/2F1-Career_Ladder_Opportunities_Act_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/6/63/2F1-Career_Ladder_Opportunities_Act_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/6/67/2F7-Teacher_Quality_and_Recognition_Demonstration_Act_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/6/67/2F7-Teacher_Quality_and_Recognition_Demonstration_Act_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/6/67/2F7-Teacher_Quality_and_Recognition_Demonstration_Act_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/6/67/2F7-Teacher_Quality_and_Recognition_Demonstration_Act_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/6/67/2F7-Teacher_Quality_and_Recognition_Demonstration_Act_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/6/63/2F1-Career_Ladder_Opportunities_Act_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/6/63/2F1-Career_Ladder_Opportunities_Act_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/8/85/2F0-Alternative_Certification_Act_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/a/a4/2F2-Great_Teachers_and_Leaders_Act_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.org/w/images/a/a4/2F2-Great_Teachers_and_Leaders_Act_Exposed.pdfhttp://alecexposed.com/wiki/ALEC_Exposedhttp://www.texaspolicy.com/sites/default/files/documents/2013-14-LegeGuide_2.pdf


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TPPF + ALEC Donors: A PreviewWith a multi-million dollar budget, prominent building space and signage in

downtown Austin, and the traditionally reliable support of prominentconservative lawmakers that also are members of ALEC, TPPF is accustomed

to not having to answer for the ALEC cookie-cutter bills they support and

promote in the Texas Legislature.

Charting the maze of money that runs through Tea Party think tanks and

industry front groups is a tedious yet illuminating exercise. The corporate

dollars that prop up these entities often lead to highly questionable policyreports that support a predetermined outcome (often legislation) that benefits

the donor at the publics expense. In the coming months, Progress Texas will

release an additional detailed report on the financial trails that connect ALEC,

TPPF, the State Policy Network, and other similar organizations in Texas and

across the country.

Heres a look ahead at some of the data weve already crunched:

- TPPF has received at least $3,314,591 from the billionaire Kochbrothers or the organizations they support in recent years. Of those

dollars, $733,333 came directly from either the Koch family

foundations or directly from Koch Industries. An additional

$2,581,258 came from the Donors Trust & Donors Capital Fund, of

which the Kochs are prominent members.

- TPPF received nearly $300,000 from the Searle Freedom Trustbetween 2007 to 2011. The Searle Freedom Trust, which held over

$135 million in assets at the end of 2010, has contributed millions to


20/24

major right-wing groups like the American Enterprise Institute, the

Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, and the Cato Institute.

- Although TPPF claimed in 2008 that it spent nothing on lobbying, ittold the IRS that it spent $981,869 on lobbying between 2009 and

2010. Although its 501(c)(4) arm was operational in 2011, its federal

tax reports for neither that year nor 2012 have been made publicly

available yet. However, forms filed with the state of Texas indicate

that between 2011 and 2013, TPPF has spent at least $100,000 on

lobbying the Texas Legislaturelargely on gifts, food, drinks, and

transportation to Texas legislators and state offices. Given how much

TPPF spent on lobbying before organizing a separate lobby arm, it is

difficult to believe that its lobby spending actually went down as

TPPFs profile in urging changes to Texas law rose, as the public

disclosures thus far seem to indicate.

- Moreover, according to TPPFs most recent public tax filing from2011, it paid its executive corporate-level salaries that dwarf the ratespaid for most other public interest groups in Austin (other than non-

profit hospitals). It spent a whopping $1.391 million of its $5.7

million budget on executive salaries.

- TPPF paid its President, Brooke Rollins, total compensation of$317,555, and its Executive Director $234,738. TPPF actually paid

the Director of its Center for Fiscal Policy, former Republican StateHouse Appropriations Chairman Talmadge Heflin, $173,078, while

TPPF complained about public employee salaries.


21/24

About the ReportThis reportTPPF + ALEC contains

original research by Progress Texas and the

Center for Media and Democracy. This report

is part of an ongoing effort by Progress Texas

to expose the corporate influence that ALEC

and organizations like the Texas Public Policy

Foundation have over the debate and enactment of public policy in the state of

Texas. Parts of this report contain first-hand research gathered at ALECs

Spring Task Force Summit, which was hosted in May of 2013 in Oklahoma

City, Oklahoma, and at a TPPF-hosted luncheon at the Texas Capitol that

occurred on Wednesday, June 12, 2013.

Questions and media inquiries concerning

the information provided in this report

should be directed towards Phillip Martin,

Deputy Director for Progress Texas, at

[email protected].

At left: The hidden lobby space inside the

Cox Convention Center in Oklahoma City,

Oklahoma, where lobbyists and legislators

met to debate aid discuss model ALEC bills.
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


22/24

Endnotes1

Texas Public Policy Foundation. Open Letter to the Texas Legislature on Spending and the Rainy Day

Fund. 5/10/13. Accessed online:http://www.texaspolicy.com/center/fiscal-policy/reports/open-letter-texas-

legislature-spending-and-rainy-day-fund

2

Kucinich, Jackie. Perry has close ties to conservative foundation. USA Today, 9/22/11. Accessed online:

http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/politics/story/2011-09-22/Perry-Texas-foundation/50520322/1

3

Report: AT&T led the way in 2013 Lege lobby spending. Houston Chronicle, 6/10/13. Accessed online:

http://blog.chron.com/texaspolitics/2013/06/report-att-led-the-way-in-2013-lege-lobby-spending/

4

ALEC Exposed. AT&T. Accessed online:http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/AT%26T

5

Idaho Spokesman-Review, 9/15/2013, http://m.spokesman.com/stories/2013/sep/15/idaho-freedom-

foundations-charitable-status/Idaho Spokesman-Review, 9/15/2013,

http://m.spokesman.com/stories/2013/sep/15/idaho-freedom-foundations-charitable-status/

6

Center for Media and Democracy/SourceWatch

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=State_Policy_Network

7

PR Watch, ALECexposed: List of Corporations and Special Interests that Underwrote ALEC's 40th

Anniversary Meeting. 8/15/2013. Accessed online:

http://www.prwatch.org/news/2013/08/12212/alecexposed-list-corporations-and-special-interests-

underwrote-alecs-40th-anniver

8

Sourcewatch: SPN Ties to ALEC. Accessed Online:

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/SPN_Ties_to_ALEC

9

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=State_Policy_Network

10

ALEC Exposed. ALEC Politicians. Online:http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/ALEC_Politicians

11

Progress Texas. Progress Texas Releases ALEC Exposed in Texas. 1/17/12. Accessed online:

http://progresstexas.org/blog/progress-texas-releases-alec-exposed-texas
http://www.texaspolicy.com/center/fiscal-policy/reports/open-letter-texas-legislature-spending-and-rainy-day-fundhttp://www.texaspolicy.com/center/fiscal-policy/reports/open-letter-texas-legislature-spending-and-rainy-day-fundhttp://www.texaspolicy.com/center/fiscal-policy/reports/open-letter-texas-legislature-spending-and-rainy-day-fundhttp://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/politics/story/2011-09-22/Perry-Texas-foundation/50520322/1http://blog.chron.com/texaspolitics/2013/06/report-att-led-the-way-in-2013-lege-lobby-spending/http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/AT%26Thttp://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/AT%26Thttp://m.spokesman.com/stories/2013/sep/15/idaho-freedom-foundations-charitable-status/http://m.spokesman.com/stories/2013/sep/15/idaho-freedom-foundations-charitable-status/http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=State_Policy_Networkhttp://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=State_Policy_Networkhttp://www.prwatch.org/news/2013/08/12212/alecexposed-list-corporations-and-special-interests-underwrote-alecs-40th-anniverhttp://www.prwatch.org/news/2013/08/12212/alecexposed-list-corporations-and-special-interests-underwrote-alecs-40th-anniverhttp://www.prwatch.org/news/2013/08/12212/alecexposed-list-corporations-and-special-interests-underwrote-alecs-40th-anniverhttp://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/SPN_Ties_to_ALEChttp://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/SPN_Ties_to_ALEChttp://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=State_Policy_Networkhttp://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=State_Policy_Networkhttp://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=State_Policy_Networkhttp://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/ALEC_Politicianshttp://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/ALEC_Politicianshttp://progresstexas.org/blog/progress-texas-releases-alec-exposed-texashttp://progresstexas.org/blog/progress-texas-releases-alec-exposed-texashttp://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/ALEC_Politicianshttp://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=State_Policy_Networkhttp://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/SPN_Ties_to_ALEChttp://www.prwatch.org/news/2013/08/12212/alecexposed-list-corporations-and-special-interests-underwrote-alecs-40th-anniverhttp://www.prwatch.org/news/2013/08/12212/alecexposed-list-corporations-and-special-interests-underwrote-alecs-40th-anniverhttp://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=State_Policy_Networkhttp://m.spokesman.com/stories/2013/sep/15/idaho-freedom-foundations-charitable-status/http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/AT%26Thttp://blog.chron.com/texaspolitics/2013/06/report-att-led-the-way-in-2013-lege-lobby-spending/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/politics/story/2011-09-22/Perry-Texas-foundation/50520322/1http://www.texaspolicy.com/center/fiscal-policy/reports/open-letter-texas-legislature-spending-and-rainy-day-fundhttp://www.texaspolicy.com/center/fiscal-policy/reports/open-letter-texas-legislature-spending-and-rainy-day-fund


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12

Progress Texas. 9 TX Republicans, Last 3 TX Democrats Leave ALEC (Updated). 8/16/12.Accessed

online:http://progresstexas.org/blog/9-tx-republicans-last-3-tx-democrats-leave-alec-updated

13

Progress Texas. Texas Public Policy FoundationRushes to Defend ALEC. 5/17/12. Accessed online:

http://progresstexas.org/blog/texas-public-policy-foundation-rushes-defend-alec

14

ALEC Exposed. Tax and Expenditure Limitation Act. Accessed online:

http://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/c/c7/8G2-Tax_and_Expenditure_Limitation_Act_Exposed.pdf

15

ALEC Exposed. Super-Majority Act. Accessed online:http://www.alecexposed.org/w/images/5/5c/8G1-

Super-Majority_Act_Exposed.pdf

16

Texas Public Policy Action. Home page. Accessed online:http://www.texasaction.com/

17

Weissert, Will. Perry to Hold Ceremony for Water Bill Signing. Associated Press, 5/28/13. Accessed

online:http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/politics/Perry-to-Hold-Ceremony-for-Water-Bill-Signing-

209140141.html

18

Texas lawmakers boost state spending. Associated Press, 3/31/13. Accessed online:

http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2013/03/31/texas-lawmakers-boost-state-spending/

19

Summary of 2014-15 Conference Committee Report on Senate Bill 1. Texas Legislative Budget Board.

Accessed online:http://www.lbb.state.tx.us/Appropriations_Bills/83/2014-15%20MOF%20Tables.pdf

20

Batheja, Aman. Pitts, Williams Accuse Wall Street Journalof Fuzzy Math. Texas Tribune, 6/12/13.

Accessed online:http://www.texastribune.org/2013/06/12/pitts-and-williams-accuse-wsj-fuzzy-budget-math/

21

Texas Public Policy Foundation. Conservative Coalition Letter to Governor Perry. 5/29/13. Accessed

online: http://www.texaspolicy.com/center/fiscal-policy/reports/conservative-coalition-letter-governor-perry

22

Lisa Graves, Center for Media and Democracy, Wall Street Journal Defends ALEC without Disclosing

Deep Ties of Editorial Board Member Stephen Moore, PRWatch.org 8/19/13

http://www.prwatch.org/news/2013/08/12215/wall-street-journal-defends-alec-without-disclosing-deep-ties-

editorial-board-mem

23

Texas Goes Sacramento. Wall Street Journal, editorial, 6/7/13. Accessed online:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324299104578527193464764384.html
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Root, Jay. Amid Criticism Perry Defends State Budget. Texas Tribune, 6/10/13. Accessed online:

http://www.texastribune.org/2013/06/10/amid-criticism-perry-defends-state-budget/

25

Texas Public Policy Foundation. Conservative Groups Agree Not a Conservative Budget. 6/13/13.

Accessed online:http://www.texaspolicy.com/center/fiscal-policy/blog/conservative-groups-agree-not-

conservative-budget

26

Texas Public Policy Foundation. About Us. Accessed online:http://www.texaspolicy.com/about

27

Texas Public Policy Foundation. Conservative Coalition Letter to Governor Perry.

28

The Buckeye Institute. Fiscal Restraint and Local Government Reform Needed, Not More Spending.

7/9/12. Accessed online:http://buckeyeinstitute.org/the-liberty-wall/2012/07/09/fiscal-restraint-and-local-

government-reform-needed-not-more-spending/

29

The Goldwater Institute. Rainy Day Fund appeals to some. 1/28/07. Accessed online:

http://goldwaterinstitute.org/article/rainy-day-raid-appeals-some-1

30

http://townhall254.gregabbott.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/GregAbbottsWorkingTexansPlan.pdf31

Abbott Proposes Limits to Spending and Rainy Day Fund. Texas Tribune, 10/28/13. Accessed online:

http://www.texastribune.org/2013/10/28/abbott-proposes-limits-spending-and-rainy-day-fund/

32

Peacock, Bill and Nancy Druart, eds. Keeping Texas Competitive: A Legislators Guide to the Issues

2013-2014. Texas Public Policy Foundation, 10/1/12. Accessed online:

http://www.texaspolicy.com/sites/default/files/documents/2013-14-LegeGuide_2.pdf

33

Text of specific model bills is from ALEC Exposed website run by the Center for Media and Democracy.

34

Brendan Fischer, Center for Media and Democracy, Dirty Hands: 77 ALEC Bills in 2013 Advance a Big

Oil, Big Ag Agenda, PRWatch.org 8/1/13,http://www.prwatch.org/node/12193

35

Brendan Fischer, Center for Media and Democracy, Cashing in on Kids: 139 ALEC Bills in 2013

Promote a Private, For-Profit Education Model, PRWatch.org, 7/13/13

http://www.prwatch.org/news/2013/07/12175/cashing-kids139-alec-bills-2013-promote-private-profit-

education-model
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Documents

TX - TPPF + ALEC FULL REPORT