Make American Tech Great Again | This Week's Economy Ep. 96
Opportunities for greater American prosperity in tech, tax reform, and more.
Hello Friends!
What a week! Following President Trump’s inauguration, numerous updates and Executive Orders have been issued. All eyes are on the White House for the policy reforms ahead. I’m excited about opportunities for the new administration to restore American leadership in technology and reverse the damage of Biden’s antitrust efforts.
At the same time, we can’t overlook the state and local actions, especially the growing movement to reform property taxes. These are critical policy shifts that could help people prosper in 2025.
Let’s dive into this week’s episode, where I discuss these key predictions and other critical economic updates. Tune in on YouTube, Apple Podcast, or Spotify, and visit my website for more information.
1. UNLEASH AMERICAN TECH LEADERSHIP
In the News:
While Biden’s progressive antitrust efforts may be over, the damage to America’s tech leadership remains. Overregulation has left U.S. companies uncertain about the future, while global competitors like China have surged ahead. Many now wonder what will happen under a potential Trump administration and a Republican-led Congress. Sources: The Atlantic and Politico
My Take:
Biden’s Antitrust Legacy: Biden’s antitrust policies stifled growth, prioritizing bureaucratic control over innovation and giving advantages to China and the EU. His regulatory overreach was a hidden tax on American families and discouraged the creativity that has made America a tech leader.
Opportunity to Cut Regulations: Excessive regulations hinder entrepreneurship and innovation. By reducing these burdens and adhering to the consumer welfare standard, we can empower businesses, boost job creation, and strengthen the U.S. tech ecosystem, fueling economic growth and competition.
Boost Global Competitiveness: America must embrace free markets and innovation to lead global tech. The choice is clear: innovate boldly or risk being overtaken by authoritarian regimes.
Related:
For further insights on this issue, read my new report published at Ginn Economic Consulting in partnership with NetChoice.
2. REFORMING FINANCIAL RULES
In the News:
The Biden administration’s legacy of overregulation stifles business growth, with the CFPB’s overreach in financial markets being a key example. A recent rule removing $49 billion in medical debt from credit reports will impact about 15 million Americans. Sources: CFPB and Competitive Enterprise Institute
My Take:
CFPB's Medical Debt Policy: Removing medical debt from credit reports undermines the accuracy of credit scores, reducing their ability to reflect financial risk and potentially restricting access to credit for those who need it most.
Federal Reserve Reform: The Fed’s discretionary decisions, like its pandemic-era balance sheet expansion, have added market uncertainty. Limiting its emergency powers, increasing transparency, and focusing on price stability would restore confidence and reduce volatility.
Restore Financial Freedom: America’s financial system thrives on innovation and competition. It’s time to reduce government interference and put the economy back on a path to sustained success.
Related:
3. FORECASTING FOMC MEETING
In the News:
The FOMC is meeting this week. Further reductions are unlikely after a rate cut in December, with some predicting rates will stay unchanged until at least March. Sources: Forbes
My Take:
Rate Cuts: It's reassuring that no further cuts are expected. Last year’s rate reductions were premature and mirrored the mistakes of the 1970s, risking another inflationary spiral.
Federal Reserve’s Role: The Fed’s primary goal should be price stability. Short-term rate cuts only fuel inflation and reduce Americans' purchasing power. The Fed must resist political pressure and focus on long-term solutions that preserve the dollar’s value.
Future of Monetary Policy: The Fed's unchecked power distorts markets and harms free-market principles. Trump’s stance on the Fed could lead to reforms addressing these systemic issues.
Related:
4. PROMISING NEW ADMINISTRATION?
In the News:
As President Trump signs early Executive Orders, many are watching closely to see how his administration will address key issues. Much remains to be done, especially in the economy, healthcare, and immigration. Sources: The New York Times and The White House
Dr. Ginn’s Take:
Tackle Inflation & Strengthen the Economy: Trump should cut wasteful programs, freeze unnecessary spending, and push Congress for a long-term budget cap linked to inflation and population growth. This will reduce deficits, curb inflation, and create space for tax cuts and deregulation.
Reform Healthcare & Welfare: Welfare reforms should tie benefits to work requirements for programs like Medicaid and food stamps. Additionally, reforming entitlement programs like Social Security and Medicare is essential for long-term fiscal sustainability.
Revamp Immigration to Boost Growth: Trump should expand legal immigration to fill labor gaps in agriculture, construction, and tech, while streamlining visa processes for high-skilled workers. Strong border security will protect American workers and safeguard economic growth.
Related:
For more, check out my conversation with Joe Grogan on DC EKG, and a clip from my appearance on the Joe Pags Show and on CoinBeast with “Ser” Ulric where I discussed immigration, debt, healthcare, free markets, tariffs, and Trump’s first 100 days.
5. CONSERVATIVE TEXAS BUDGETS?
In the News:
Last week, the Texas Senate and House unveiled their 2026-2027 state budget versions, totaling more than $330 billion—the Senate’s is $2.8 billion less than the House's. The Senate’s biennial budget increases by $11.2 billion (+3.5%), while the House’s increases by $14 billion (+4.4%) over the prior budget, exacerbating the previous session’s record 21% increase. Sources: Houston Public Media
Dr. Ginn’s Take:
Alarming Budget Increase: After massive budget hikes in recent sessions, these proposals are far from conservative. Despite a $24 billion surplus and $2 billion in the rainy day fund, only $6.5 billion appears earmarked for new tax relief. Meanwhile, over $10 billion goes to corporate welfare, including the Texas Energy & Water Funds, a new DPRIT Fund, and film incentives.
School Choice: The $1 billion for school choice is a step up from the $500 million last session, which never passed, but would cover ESAs of $10,500 for only 1.5% of Texas’ school-age children (95,000 of 6.3 million). True universal ESAs could cost $4 billion. At the same time, $5 billion-plus is recommended for government schools, a $4,000 across-the-board increase in teacher pay, and an additional $6,000 pay increase for teachers in rural districts. The focus should be on giving parents real choice, with funding tied to students, not schools. A $12,000 universal ESA for 6.3 million kids could save taxpayers $20 billion annually, best used for reducing property taxes.
Key Takeaway: Taxpayers are overfunding government schools, and the Texas Legislature is overspending on them. The Legislature is funding ridiculous corporate welfare and ineffective government programs. It’s time for real reforms—strict spending limits, lower taxes, and prioritizing taxpayer savings. Less spending means more prosperity for Texans. The time for change is now!
Related:
Check out my deep dive on X.
6. REFORMING PROPERTY TAXES
In the News:
Across the nation, many state and local governments are considering property tax reform, and these bills are poised to be a significant focus during this legislative season. Texas, in particular, is making a concerted effort to lower property taxes for homeowners, and Kansas is looking at better limiting their growth. Sources: CBS News, Texans for Fiscal Responsibility, Kansas Policy Institute
Dr. Ginn’s Take:
Property Tax Reform: Rising property taxes are putting pressure on families and businesses, creating financial strain and threatening economic stability. They also trap homeowners in an unjust cycle of renting from the government.
Valuation Caps & Tax Limits: Valuation caps, which limit annual increases in property values, offer immediate relief by stabilizing tax bills. However, they raise concerns about fairness and local revenue. Tax increase limits can protect taxpayers by capping local governments' revenue growth while ensuring they still have necessary resources.
Comprehensive Reform: Policymakers should reduce tax burdens by combining valuation caps and tax increase limits. These reforms must be transparent and accountable. Tax limits should restrict revenue growth to 0% without voter approval and apply to all property types. Spending limits are also needed to address the root causes of excessive tax increases.
Related:
Thanks for joining me in this episode of "This Week's Economy." For more insights, visit vanceginn.com and get even greater value with a paid subscription to my Substack newsletter at vanceginn.substack.com.
God bless you, and let people prosper!
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