Taxpayer Empowerment
TPPF's Jose Melendez interviews elected officials and activists about efforts to reduce Texans' tax burden.
Episodes
In this episode of Taxpayer Empowerment, host Jose Melendez sits down with former Travis County Commissioner Gerald Daugherty to discuss Austin's transportation challenges, the controversial Project Connect rail expansion, and the need for greater transparency and accountability in local government spending.
Originally approved by Austin voters in 2020, Project Connect promised an ambitious 27-mile rail system. However, the pr...
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 essential services like roads and infrastruc...
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.
Drawing on decades of journalism and...
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 government records, and reforms lawm...
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. Their conversation co...
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 Whyte explains the role that cities...
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 permanent housing outcomes rath...
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 public records reform, Rep. Little e...
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 businesses, the importance of perma...
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 regulations, streamline permitting, reduce...
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 protecting property rights and expanding h...
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, infrastructure, and the future of San Antonio.
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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.
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