Taxpayer Empowerment

Property Rights and Short-Term Rentals with Lauren Bouton

Texas Public Policy Foundation — Fri, 29 May 2026 08:18:24 -0600

On this episode of Taxpayer Empowerment, recorded live at TPS 2026, Jose Melendez sits down with Lauren Bouton of Airbnb to break down the growing debate over short-term rental regulations in Texas.

Why The Woodlands Has Some of the Lowest Property Tax Rates in Texas

Texas Public Policy Foundation — Fri, 29 May 2026 08:17:30 -0600

In this episode of Taxpayer Empowerment, we sit down with Brad Bailey, Chairman of The Woodlands Township, to break down one of the most successful low-tax government models in Texas.

Responsible Government at Every Level with Mayor Art Martinez de Vara

Texas Public Policy Foundation — Fri, 29 May 2026 08:16:37 -0600

TPPF’s Jose Melendez sits down with Von Ormy, Texas Mayor Art Martinez de Vara to discuss the importance of responsible, accountable, and transparent local government.

Standing Up for Taxpayers with Galveston County Judge Mark Henry

Texas Public Policy Foundation — Fri, 29 May 2026 08:14:26 -0600

How do county decisions impact your property taxes, local debt, and government transparency? In this episode of Taxpayer Empowerment, Jose Melendez, Campaign Director of the Taxpayer Protection Project, sits down with Mark Henry, County Judge of Galveston County, for a deep dive into fiscal discipline at the local level.

Bond Elections and Property Tax Reform with Mayor Shane Saum

Texas Public Policy Foundation — Fri, 29 May 2026 08:12:45 -0600

TPPF’s Jose Melendez sits down with Lago Vista, Texas Mayor Shane Saum to break down how decisions made at city halls across Texas directly impact local taxpayers.

Housing Affordability Crisis Explained with Alex Horowitz

Texas Public Policy Foundation — Fri, 29 May 2026 08:11:32 -0600

TPPF’s Jose Melendez is joined by Alex Horowitz of the Pew Charitable Trusts to discuss the growing housing affordability crisis in the United States and Texas.

Election Date Reform with San Antonio City Councilwoman Misty Spears

Texas Public Policy Foundation — Fri, 29 May 2026 08:10:02 -0600

TPPF’s Jose Melendez is joined by San Antonio City Councilwoman Misty Spears to discuss uniform election dates in Texas and why election timing matters for voters and taxpayers.

Make Homeownership Attainable Again with AEI's Ed Pinto

Texas Public Policy Foundation — Fri, 29 May 2026 08:06:41 -0600

TPPF’s Jose Melendez is joined by Ed Pinto, Senior Fellow and Co-Director of the AEI Housing Center at the American Enterprise Institute, to break down the housing affordability crisis in Texas and across the United States.

Inside Texas’ Finances with Acting Texas Comptroller Kelly Hancock

Texas Public Policy Foundation — Fri, 29 May 2026 08:03:22 -0600

On this special episode of Taxpayer Empowerment, TPPF’s Jose Melendez sits down with Acting Texas Comptroller Kelly Hancock for an in-depth discussion on the state of Texas’ finances. Comptroller Hancock explains how the Comptroller’s office manages the launch of the nation’s largest school choice program, ensures transparency in state budgeting, and delivers tax relief to families impacted by the recent Hill Country flooding.

How State Government and Local Government Intersect w/ Matt Krause

Texas Public Policy Foundation — Fri, 29 May 2026 08:01:44 -0600

Join TPPF’s Jose Melendez on this episode of Taxpayer Empowerment as he sits down with Tarrant County Commissioner Matt Krause to break down how decisions made at the Texas Capitol directly impact local governments and taxpayers in Tarrant County and beyond.

Fiscal Responsibility & Parental Rights with Rep. Hillary Hickland

Texas Public Policy Foundation — Fri, 29 May 2026 07:59:22 -0600

TPPF’s Jose Melendez sits down with Texas State Representative Hillary Hickland to discuss bond elections, local government debt, and the growing use of taxpayer-funded lobbyists in Texas. They also talk about Rep. Hickland’s strong advocacy for parental rights, her efforts to protect students from political indoctrination in schools, and how Texas can promote transparency and accountability in local governance.

Housing and Economic Growth in Texas with Glenn Hamer

Texas Public Policy Foundation — Fri, 29 May 2026 07:57:06 -0600

TPPF’s Jose Melendez sits down with Glenn Hamer, President and CEO of the Texas Association of Business, to discuss housing affordability in Texas, the state’s economic growth, and the pro-growth policies that help keep Texas’ economy strong.

Election Integrity and Reform with Chad Ennis

Texas Public Policy Foundation — Fri, 29 May 2026 07:55:03 -0600

TPPF’s Jose Melendez sits down with Chad Ennis from the Honest Elections Project to discuss election integrity in Texas and the reforms aimed at keeping our elections secure and transparent. They break down the push for a uniform election date in Texas and what it could mean for voters across the state. Plus, they discuss the upcoming constitutional amendments that Texans will be voting on this November.

Austin's Prop Q with Matt Mackowiak

Texas Public Policy Foundation — Fri, 29 May 2026 07:52:18 -0600

TPPF’s Jose Melendez sits down with Save Austin Now’s Matt Mackowiak to discuss Austin’s Proposition Q, a controversial ballot measure that would raise city property taxes by 20%. They break down what Prop Q would actually do, why the City of Austin is asking voters to approve the tax increase, and the growing concerns from Austinites about affordability, government spending, and transparency.

Property Taxes, Lobbyists & PFAs with Rep. Helen Kerwin

Texas Public Policy Foundation — Thu, 28 May 2026 14:47:12 -0600

TPPF’s Jose Melendez sits down with Texas State Representative Helen Kerwin to discuss major property tax reform and the potential elimination of property taxes in Texas. Rep. Kerwin also shares details about her PFAS legislation designed to keep harmful chemicals out of fertilizer and protect Texas farmers and families. Plus, they expose how taxpayer-funded lobbyists were paid to fight against this important reform.

Addressing Homelessness with Chris Baker

Texas Public Policy Foundation — Thu, 28 May 2026 14:43:02 -0600

TPPF's Jose Melendez sits down with Chris Baker, founder of The Other Ones Foundation, to discuss the growing homelessness crisis in Texas. Chris shares how he got involved in helping the homeless community, why he founded The Other Ones Foundation, and what solutions could make a real impact.

Texas Constitutional Amendments Explained

Texas Public Policy Foundation — Thu, 28 May 2026 14:38:45 -0600

TPPF’s Jose Melendez and Judge Shepard are joined by Co-State Director for Convention of States Texas Darren York to break down the 2025 Texas constitutional amendments on the ballot this November. Learn what each amendment means for Texas voters — from technical college funding and water infrastructure funding to new taxes, bail denial, and more.

Tackling Education Policy with Rep. Leo-Wilson

Texas Public Policy Foundation — Thu, 28 May 2026 14:33:34 -0600

TPPF’s Jose Melendez sits down with Rep. Terri Leo-Wilson to discuss critical issues shaping Texas education policy and how the Texas Legislature is working to improve outcomes for students. They also dive into pressing taxpayer concerns, including the rising local government debt in Texas, the influence of taxpayer-funded lobbying, and more.

Property Taxes & Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying with Rep. Cody Vasut

Texas Public Policy Foundation — Thu, 28 May 2026 14:17:40 -0600

TPPF’s Jose Melendez sits down with Representative Cody Vasut to break down the latest efforts at the Texas Legislature to deliver real property tax relief and stop government entities from using your tax dollars to lobby against you.

A Special Session Update with James Quintero

Texas Public Policy Foundation — Thu, 28 May 2026 14:11:45 -0600

TPPF’s Jose Melendez sits down with his colleague James Quintero to break down the latest from the Texas Legislature’s special session and what it means for Texas taxpayers. They discuss the recently passed SB 10, which lowers the Voter Approval Tax Rate from 3.5% to 2.5%, and explore how this change impacts property taxes across Texas.

Zero-Based Budgeting with San Antonio City Councilman Marc Whyte

Texas Public Policy Foundation — Thu, 28 May 2026 13:20:31 -0600

TPPF’s Jose Melendez sits down with San Antonio City Councilman Marc Whyte to break down the importance of zero-based budgeting in San Antonio. Discover how this budgeting approach can rein in excessive local government spending, improve city accountability, and give taxpayers a stronger voice in how their dollars are used.

Stopping Runaway Local Spending and Bond Debt with Joel Castro

Texas Public Policy Foundation — Thu, 28 May 2026 13:18:04 -0600

TPPF's Jose Melendez is joined by Former Alvin City Council Member Joel Castro to discuss local government's increasing amount of bond debt, runaway spending, bond election reform and more.

Local Spending Limits and Tax Reform with Commissioner Grant Moody

Texas Public Policy Foundation — Thu, 28 May 2026 12:44:04 -0600

On this episode of Taxpayer Empowerment, TPPF's Jose Melendez and Bexar County Commissioner Grant Moody of Precinct 3 to discuss implementing local spending limits and tax reform to help taxpayers across Texas and stop local governments from eating up your property tax relief.

Fighting Taxpayer-Funded Lobbyists with Ben Crockett

Texas Public Policy Foundation — Thu, 28 May 2026 11:10:22 -0600

TPPF's Jose Melendez sits down with Ben Crockett to discuss Ben's experience dealing with taxpayer-funded lobbyists in the legislature while advocating for a piece of legislation he and his fellow Texas A&M classmates drafted.