Which Rights are Supreme?

What to Know: TPPF attorneys will argue a case before the Texas Supreme Court today regarding property rights. Houston’s historic preservation law severely restricts how some Houstonians can alter their own properties.

The TPPF Take: In Powell v. City of Houston, the city argues that it has authority to regulate private homes for purely aesthetic reasons.

“For more than a century, the Texas Supreme Court has held that the Texas Constitution protects each individual’s right to use and develop his or her property in any way that doesn’t cause a nuisance or harm the neighbors,” says TPPF’s Chance Weldon. “While other states and federal courts have taken an increasingly narrow view of property rights over the years, Texas courts have stood firm.”

For more on Powell v. City of Houston, click here.

No More Shutdowns

What to Know: During a recent press conference, Gov. Abbott reassured Texans once again: "The fact of the matter is that it’s time to put behind us shutdowns. No more shutdowns. We need to focus on opening up businesses."

The TPPF Take: Shutdowns are not the solution. In fact, they have caused a lot of unintended consequences.

“We tried a shutdown and it caused severe harm to people’s mental and physical health, as well as extreme joblessness and permanent business closures.” said Shelby Sterling. “Other states, like California, are shut down again, yet COVID-19 cases are still on the rise. Shutdowns won’t fix the problem, but they will cause new ones.”

More on shutdowns & the holiday blues, click here.

Medicaid Gap

What to Know: Higher Medicaid enrollment caused by the pandemic (and the shutdowns) has some states scrambling to find more funding and to cut services.

The TPPF Take: Even as Medicaid’s failures become more apparent in other states, there are increasing calls to expand it in Texas.

“Instead of expanding Medicaid’s reach, let’s broaden its scope,” says TPPF’s David Balat. “Let’s revamp Medicaid to make it serve those it covers now more effectively, allowing innovation and new approaches. We can still ensure that the net is there even for those with pre-existing conditions by establishing guaranteed coverage pools. In other words, let’s give Americans more choices—not fewer.”

For more on Medicaid expansion, click here.