Taxpayer Empowerment

Can a Texas city eliminate its property tax while maintaining and even increasing core city services? On this episode of Taxpayer Empowerment, TPPF's Jose Melendez sits down with Von Ormy Mayor Art Martinez de Vara to discuss how the city eliminated its property tax for the second time, paid off its remaining city debt, reduced administrative overhead, and redirected more resources toward essentia...

How transparent is your local government and what can you do when public officials make it difficult to access public records? In this episode of Taxpayer Empowerment, TPPF's Jose Melendez sits down with Rachel Clow, Executive Producer at KRIS 6 News in Corpus Christi, to discuss the Texas Public Information Act and why access to government records matters for taxpayers, journalists, and citizens....

Transparency is essential to holding government accountable but are Texas taxpayers getting the access to public information they deserve? In this episode of Taxpayer Empowerment, TPPF's Jose Melendez sits down with Kelley Shannon, Executive Director of the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas, to discuss the Texas Public Information Act (TPIA), the obstacles Texans can face when requesting...

Texas election integrity is about more than counting votes. It’s about ensuring Texans can trust that elections are secure, transparent, accurate, and fair. In this episode of Taxpayer Empowerment, TPPF’s Jose Melendez sits down with Chuck DeVore, TPPF’s Chief National Initiatives Officer, to discuss key election integrity reforms Texas lawmakers could consider in the next legislative session. The...

In this episode of Taxpayer Empowerment, TPPF's Jose Melendez sits down with San Antonio City Councilman Marc Whyte to discuss property taxes, government spending, zero-based budgeting, local government transparency, and what Texas cities can do to improve affordability and fiscal responsibility. Why do property tax bills keep rising even after the Texas Legislature delivers tax relief? Councilman...

In this episode of Taxpayer Empowerment, Jose Melendez  sits down with Texas Senator Tan Parker to discuss how Texas can move beyond failed homelessness policies and deliver real, measurable results for taxpayers and those experiencing homelessness. Senator Parker shares his vision for reforming homelessness policy by focusing on mental health treatment, workforce development, accountability, and...

Are Texas cities using your tax dollars the way they were intended? In this episode of Taxpayer Empowerment, Texas State Representative Mitch Little joins TPPF's Jose Melendez to discuss how local governments spend taxpayer money, why greater transparency is needed, and what reforms could help protect taxpayers. From nonprofit funding and government transparency to property taxes, local debt, and...

Texas continues to lead the nation in economic growth, job creation, and entrepreneurship but what lessons can Washington, D.C. learn from the Lone Star State? In this episode of Taxpayer Empowerment, Texas Public Policy Foundation's Jose Melendez sits down with Congressman Roger Williams, Chairman of the House Small Business Committee, to discuss why Texas has become America's top destination for...

Why are home prices rising so much faster than incomes? In this episode of Taxpayer Empowerment, Jose Melendez sits down with Aaron Hedland, White House economist and one of the Trump administration's leading voices on housing policy, to discuss the federal government's latest effort to tackle America's housing affordability crisis. President Trump's executive order aims to eliminate costly regula...

The American Dream of homeownership is becoming harder to achieve but Texas lawmakers are working to change that. In this episode of Taxpayer Empowerment, TPPF's Jose Melendez sits down with Texas State Senator Brian Hughes to discuss the landmark housing reforms passed during the 89th Legislative Session, the challenges cities are creating in implementing those reforms, and what's next for protec...

On this episode of Taxpayer Empowerment, TPPF's Jose Melendez sits down with candidate for Texas Comptroller Don Huffines to discuss the role of the Texas Comptroller, how they handle the state's money, Texas DOGE reforms and cutting taxes for Texans. 

How can San Antonio stay affordable, competitive, and accountable to taxpayers? In this episode of Taxpayer Empowerment, Texas Public Policy Foundation's Jose Melendez sits down with San Antonio City Councilwoman Misty Spears to discuss economic development, artificial intelligence, veteran entrepreneurship, city budgeting, government transparency, housing affordability, public safety, infrastruct...

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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...

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.

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 lo...

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.

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 No...