So the Democrats line with the state's projected surplus is they support giving our money back “when we can afford to." If that line sounds disturbingly familiar, it’s probably because our Republican Lt. Governor, David Dewhurst, was singing that song back in 2007. Read More»

Year after year, the State of Texas has produced budget surpluses – more money than government needs. Most egregiously, the state had a $14.3 billion surplus in 2007; a chunk of it was spent on bigger government, and chunk was put in an unsecured “tax relief” account that – trust them – the legislature will give back to us some day as property tax relief (no guarantees, though). Now comes word that Texas could have another $15 billion surplus in 2009. Governor Perry is making a politically unusual (if economically correct) call: give the money back to the people. Read More»

Facing a $16 million budget deficit, Vallejo, California, is filing for bankruptcy. It seems for way too long the inmates have been running the asylum. Or, rather, the "public safety" unions have been draining the city coffers dry. Nearly 75 percent of the city budget goes to "public safety" salaries alone. The city cannot afford and the unions are refusing to negotiate. So their only recourse is bankruptcy. The people of Southlake, Texas, should take note: they will soon be voting to allow their police to unionize which could cost them an additional $10,000 per employee without. And that's just for now. Southlake, meet Vallejo.

"Are the Republicans crazy?," asks Houston's Steven Hotze in a commentary this week. Not a bad question to ask, considering the growing outcry from small-business owners around the state as they see the impact of Texas' new business tax taking effect. Read More»

An age-old practice in the Texas House is finally being exposed to sunlight, and the practioners are scrambling to defend themselves. Like johns caught in a prostitution sting, legislators who've been putting political cronies on the payroll for lucrative public benefits are defending themselves with the age-old excuse that they were just engaged in an age-old practice. Fortunately, House Speaker Tom Craddick and House General Investigating and Ethics Committee chairman Larry Phillips are promising quick reform. Read More»

Many business are bracing for the worst when they file their new gross margins tax report on June 15. Consider Mesquite-based Alco Glass, which reported a loss of $18,000 in 2007, but will owe $6,000 in margin taxes, which will require them to take out a loan. All told, the business tax is expected to forcibly transfer 6.1 billion from the private sector into government coffers. Read More»

Not too long ago the Texas Department of Transportation said it didn’t have enough money to build roads. Plum out of cash. But now comes word from Dallas that TxDOT is spending $20 million to build a 5-acre park. That’s better be one heck of park. And, by the way, the federal government is making them do it. Read More»

Unions are unions, whatever they call themselves and whatever their industry. While they might have once served a legitimate function, unions today are drains on our economy and every sector of endeavor. Government is no different. In the Fort Worth suburb of Southlake, the police are trying to unionize (they call it implementing "civil service" rules), which requires a public vote this month. Not only will public service not improve, but for the pleasure of turning the police into union thugs, taxpayers will shell out an additional $10,000 per officer. Read More»

Conservatives in Texas are fed up with out of control property taxes, spending that's going through the roof, and a new business tax created to satiate the demands of growing government. Read More»

If there's such a thing as a one-man think-tank, Austen Furse might qualify. He's a reliable conservative and excellent businessman with political credentials stretching from Matagorda County to the White House. He's also the only person to have now publically declared himself as a candidate for the soon-to-be-vacant Senate District 17 seat. Read More»