In this episode of The Right Idea, host Derek Cohen sits down with Jose Melendez, campaign director for TPPF’s Government Reform & Oversight Coalition (GROC) and Taxpayer Protection Project.

They dig into why Texas property tax bills keep rising despite state-level relief, how local governments spend taxpayer dollars, the push for real spending limits, transparency reforms, and why banning taxpayer-funded lobbying is the key that unlocks almost every other conservative priority in the 2027 session.

Jose also breaks down Grok’s top priorities, the role of the Texas Regulatory Efficiency Office (TRIO), housing affordability, and what everyday Texans can do to hold lawmakers accountable.

Timestamps:

• 0:00 – Intro & welcome to Jose Melendez
• 0:58 – TPP vs. GROC: Money vs. structure
• 2:27 – What local leaders are saying ahead of 2027
• 5:16 – Why tax relief isn’t enough without reform
• 7:31 – How GROC was born & its portfolio
• 10:21 – Texas Regulatory Efficiency Office (TREO/DOGE)
• 14:42 – Bringing efficiency audits to local government
• 17:13 – Local spending caps (population growth + inflation)
• 19:25 – Why transparency still fails taxpayers
• 22:49 – Senator Middleton on open records & the “roaches”
• 24:46 – What taxpayer-funded lobbying really is
• 26:21 – $111 million spent on lobbyists last session
• 29:59 – Chairman Vasut on banning taxpayer-funded lobbying
• 31:13 – Why 2027 looks different
• 33:46 – GROC’s top 3 priorities for next session
• 35:37 – How listeners can get involved

Listen on all major podcast platforms and visit TexasPolicy.com for more research and model legislation.

Texas property taxes keep rising despite billions in state relief. In this episode of The Right Idea, Derek Cohen sits down with James Quintero, Policy Director at the Texas Public Policy Foundation, to break down why relief isn’t enough and what real reform looks like.They discuss local spending limits, the sales tax swap idea, voter-driven tax cuts, the “Death Star Bill” (Texas Regulatory Consistency Act), and how to rein in runaway local government spending in cities like Austin.

Key topics covered:
* Why property taxes continue climbing despite $18B+ in cuts
* Local spending caps tied to population + inflation
* Sales tax for property tax swap proposal
* Allowing voters to directly cut tax rates via referendum
* Expanding the Death Star Bill / field preemption
* Fixing deceptive local tax ballot language

Timestamps:
* 00:08 – Welcome & Introduction
* 00:44 – Hot Take: How to Beat the Texas Heat
* 02:51 – The History of Property Tax “Reform” in Texas
* 06:10 – Relief vs. Real Reform: Why Billions Haven’t Fixed the Problem
* 10:02 – Rep. Cody Vasut on Local Spending Limits
* 10:56 – Why Texas Needs Local Government Spending Caps
* 12:53 – Austin’s Out-of-Control Priorities
* 15:47 – Rep. Jeff Barry on the Sales Tax Swap for Property Taxes
* 22:22 – Voter Power: Tax Cut Elections & Referendums
* 29:54 – The “Death Star Bill” (Texas Regulatory Consistency Act) Explained
* 33:01 – Enforcement Challenges & Next Steps
* 36:55 – Expanding Field Preemption
* 38:18 – Closing Thoughts

If you’re a Texas homeowner tired of rising property taxes, this episode gives you the clearest picture yet of the solutions on the table for the next legislative session.

TPPF's Derek Cohen and Kate Bierly break down the biggest challenges and solutions in Texas K-12 education.

They cover everything from pushing back against the "college for all" myth with strong Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, to fixing teacher certification barriers for trades, addressing rural workforce needs, combating gender ideology in teacher training, and tackling screen time with cell phone bans and Chromebook policies.

Kate (Campaign Director for TPPF's Next Generation Texas initiative) shares insights from her experience in elite education programs, real classroom stories, and practical policy fixes to better serve Texas students and families.