Several months ago we wrote about lawmakers hiring "ghost workers" after several news sources brought the practice to light. Rep. Jim Jackson (R-Carrollton) was paying attention and has filed legislation aimed at ending this ponzi scheme [1]. Read More» [2]

For growing expenditures faster than the student population and overseeing a decline in SAT scores, the Humble ISD school trustees are working to sock taxpayers with a massive tax hike to fund the district's massive over-spending. And rather than accept responsibility for bloating their budget, the school district superintendent is blaming the Legislature... and threatening to slash student program funding as the first thing to go. Read More» [3]

Gov. Rick Perry's office just announced that the run-off election for Houston's Senate District 17 will be on Dec. 16. The race pits conservative Joan Huffman, a former judge, against perennial liberal candidate Chris Bell. Given the tightened dynamics of the Texas Legislature, expect this to be a pretty wild month.

Kudos are due to the Legislative Budget Board, and Lt. Gov. Dewhurst and Speaker Craddick specifically, for on Friday opting to use a low spending growth estimate. In fact, they chose the lowest growth rate number in the history of the Texas Legislature. This offers Texans real tax protection in the face of a worsening national economy and calls in-state for bigger government and more intrusive taxes. Read More» [4]

The Senate Finance Committee is recommending in its interim report that voters have the opportunity to opt for a higher local sales tax to buy down property taxes.

The report also calls for simpler tax notices that are more transparent in revealing the true change in the taxation burden. Read More» [5]

Though this is not a new development it warrants repeating that Rep. Phil King of Weatherford is working to reform the Texas property tax juggernaut. The Weatherford Democrat reports that King’s legislative efforts in the upcoming session will be geared primarily towards lowering property taxes. [6] Read More» [7]

Hide your wallet, protect the kids and lock the doors, legislators are preparing to invade! Pre-filing of legislation has started in anticipation of the 81st Session of the Legislature. While Texans are worried about skyrocketing property taxes, liberal lawmakers have other priorities. Read More» [8]

Remember when the Texas Lottery was supposed to fund public education? And then how it didn't? Well, now State Sen. Royce West of Houston wants to levy a 5 percent "fee" [9] on winnings over $600 to fund... an education program! While the lottery is little more than a tax on the mathematically challenged, Mr. West's "fee" on winnings only adds insult to injury.

Should you ever be tempted to think your vote doesn't matter, consider that taxpayer champion Linda Harper-Brown was re-elected to the Texas House [10] by a 20-vote margin.

Dallas citizens have successfully forced city officials to place a referendum before the voters next spring opposing a tax-funded hotel and convention center. But that isn't stopping -- or slowing -- the city council from pushing full-steam ahead on the plans. Read More» [11]

On November 19, Dallas City Council members will meet and vote on proposed new restrictions on the city's smoking ordinance. This is the second time in half a decade that anti-smoking proposals have been brought before the council to be voted on. The fundamental problem with smoking bans is their infringement on the free market, and the rights of both business owners and consumers. Read More» [12]

It was a bad night for conservatives around the nation. Even Texas wasn’t completely sheltered from the storm. The gap between conservatives and liberals in the Legislature became more narrow. The good news is that 22 of our 23 Taxpayer Heroes and Champions on the ballot won re-election! Read More» [13]

Politicians pay close attention to what newspaper editorial boards write, but why? The latest report from the newspaper industry's "Audit Bureau of Circulation" reports circulation is continuing its downward spiral -- falling almost 5 percent nationally. In Texas, the Houston Chronicle has seen an 11.7 percent drop in readership this year during the week and a 15.7 percent decline on Sundays. In the latest report, less than 450,000 people read the Chronicle each day -- in a region of 4 million people! Read More» [14]

In less than 36 hours, the polls will be closed. Our Texas House and Senate races will be determined and we’ll know the outcome of what seems to have been the longest presidential race in U.S. history. Even as we enter the polling places divided by party and personality, we must exit united as participants in the great American experiment of self-government. Read More» [15]

A new State Auditor's report finds that the use of state planes has cost taxpayers $1.4 million from May 2007 to May 2008. For example, a flight from Austin to Dallas cost $990 a person that would have been $248 roundtrip on Southwest with no advance purchase. Read More» [16]

Texans for Fiscal Responsibility is calling on State Rep. Abel Herrero to forfeit all proceeds a company owned by his wife has received from the state Medicaid program. Read More» [17]

It is aggravating when superintendents ask for more money because they are operating with a deficit but it’s infuriating when they ask for it while operating with a surplus!

That is the name of the game in Humble ISD where Superintendent Dr. Guy Sconzo is begging tax payers [18] to approve a 13 cent tax hike on November 22. He complains that what we have in Texas is an “inequitable” system of funding schools when what we really have is an inequitable system of running schools. Read More» [19]

Colleges students have been eager to complain about the rising cost of tuition, but students at the University of North Texas last week voted to hike their per-hour fees to pay for a new football field. Of course, they actually voted for a fee that won’t go into effect until at least the fall of 2011 – when most of them will be long gone. Read More» [20]

No, not the University of Texas football team, the State of Texas according to a piece by the Financial Times of London.

Texas was ranked number one in its measured ability to weather the current economic downturn based on four economic indicators. Read More» [21]

In just the few days that early voting has been available to there has been a huge spike in early voting in Tarrant County from the 2004 election. According to the Arlington Star-Telegram, early voting is up nearly 51,000 from four years prior in the 2004 election during the same time period. Read More» [22]

State Rep. Valinda Bolton (D-47) is a pleasant lady, but she seems to have a spotty memory. Her campaign sent out an e-mail this week claiming she beat former State Rep. Terry Keel two years ago. Facts are so pesky: Terry Keel retired from the Texas House, gave up the seat. Bolton beat Austin businessman Bill Welch in 2006. Read More» [23]

Palmer ISD, located south of Dallas, is putting their check register online for all to see. Superintendent Alan Oakley told me that “it only makes sense” for taxpayers to see how their dollars are being spent. He said that since the technology exists, taxpayers should be able to follow their money. We need more superintendents in Texas like Alan Oakley! Read More» [24]

Midlothian ISD voted this week to limit their budget growth to inflation and enrollment growth! This marks a tremendous victory for taxpayers and should become a model for school districts around the state. Read More» [25]

The orwellian-named "Parent PAC" (which actively opposes parent involvement in the education of their children) has unsurprisingly endorsed the liberal lawyer in El Paso's H.D. 78 race. They are apparently the only ones. The El Paso Times reports the conservative in the race [26] has a 12-point lead. Read More» [27]

The story is the same across the state: long lines at early voting locations. Record turn-outs. Unusually high voter participation for Day One of early voting. While good for democracy to have a high turn-out, for the sake of this democracy we are left to merely hope every ballot case is legitimate. Read More» [28]

Conservatives nationwide have been reporting historic apathy, frustrated with national leadership that seems to have lost its philosophic moorings. But Texans have reason for excitement this election season, thanks to the leadership of conservative legislators announcing their “Pledge With Texans” – substantive policy recommendations for the upcoming legislative session. Read More» [29]

We reported yesterday the death of the TIF tax [30] in Texas. We rejoiced too soon. Reporters at the Lone Star Report found out AT&T plans to continue collecting the tax until December! A tax that lawmakers killed in early 2007, was signed by the governor in June 2007, slated to die Sept. 1, 2008, but AT&T will keep taking it until December. What’s their excuse? Read More» [31]

Texans are finally rid of a tax, thanks to action taken by the Texas Legislature in 2007. The Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund tax has now been eliminated, an action championed by Texans for Fiscal Responsibility. At a press conference in the Capitol today, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and TFR's Michael Quinn Sullivan celebrated the end of the tax. Read More» [32]

While the rest of the nation is deep in a slump (or worse), Texas' economy is faring relatively well, thanks in large part to the relatively wise and conservative stewardship of the last eight years. But Texas Gov. Rick Perry is urging caution, and telling agencies to tighten their belts: "We are obligated to not only watch the outside forces affecting our economy, but deal with them proactively." Read More» [33]

Just six months ago the Houston Chronicle editorial board was chastising State Rep. Hubert Vo for being a “slumlord.” [34] Now they’ve endorsed him. It would appear the Houston Chronicle just cannot stomach the idea of replacing an ineffective left-winger, even a lefty slumlord, with an effective reformer. Read More» [35]

So Nick Jimenez of the Corpus Christi Caller Times is worried about voter turn-out on a school tax hike vote. But it is unclear what he is worried about. Previous school district ballots had dismal turn-outs. This year the school bond and tax propositions are on the Nov. 4 general election, a record turn-out year. Maybe Jimenez and other big-tax liberals are worried about too many voters asking pesky questions on election day. Read More» [36]

From the Urban Forestry Files:

The Statesman is reporting [37] that the City of Austin has picked an Oak at the Heart Hospital of Austin and a Persimmon in Pease Park as its 2008 winners for "Tree of the Year." Thats right folks, Tree of the Year! And you didn't even know there was a contest? Read More» [38]

In the waning days of a campaign, strange things happen. But few are stranger than the actions of Robert Miklos, the Democrat running in Mesquite's open House District 101. It's tempting to say he is 'telling lies' -- in reality, it's more like Miklos is living in a political fantasy world. Read More» [39]

An open seat race for a competitive Texas House district should be a-buzz with activity. So why is it so completely one-sided in central Texas' HD17, where Democrat nominee Donnie Dippel is refusing to do public debates and isn't seen much around the district. Seems the only people talking about his race are the Austin liberal bloggers. It's a good thing Republican nominee Tim Kleinschmidt is right on the issues, and working the district, or voters might think no one cared. Read More» [40]

While the Fort Worth Star Telegram editorial staff is recommending Phil King for H.D. 61, they aren’t endorsing his pursuit of sound policy. They like his years-in-office, but they write that they have to hold their nose over his ideas about protecting taxpayers, bringing accountability to government and ensuring a strong economy. Read More» [41]

Nearly 60 percent of voters in the Duncanville school district voted against a massive property tax hike on Tuesday, while some 73 percent voted against a similar measure in Cedar Hill. The multi-million-dollar tax hikes were defeated by a $30 grassroots campaign. And a little commonsense. Read More» [42]

Hats off to the Austin Independent School District for taking innovative steps to improve public education. The district is re-structuring their schools to provide more choices for student needs -- including the option for all-boy and all-girl classes and re-vamped middle schools. Read More» [43]

Legislative employees are constitutionally forbidden from receiving bonuses in Texas. But don't let a little thing like "the law" stop some state senators. According to news reports, it seems state senators of both parties are playing semantic games to skirt the clear-reading of Texas' Constitution. Read More» [44]

A candidate for state representative is actually calling for property tax increases as part of her general election strategy. She apparently hasn't being paying attention. Read More» [45]

In a disturbing development, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger sent a letter today to U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson saying the state may need to borrow $7 billion from the federal government to pay its bills. This indicates just how vital it is for Texas lawmakers to keep a lid on spending. Read More» [46]

Travis County Commissioners are doing their best to make sure taxpayers aren't stuck paying the bill for county employees' parking and toll violations. Read More» [47]

At a Sunset Advisory Commission meeting last week, Republican senators Kim Brimer (Fort Worth), Craig Estes (Wichita Fallas) and Bob Deuell (Greenville) and Representative Lois Kolkhorst (Brenham) sided with liberals in calling for a return to the bad-old-days of heavy-handed government regulation. Such efforts would only restrict the marketplace, hike prices and limit availability. Read More» [48]

If you like the current property tax system, love illegal immigration and think the government should get much bigger, the Fort Worth Star Telegram is in your corner, promoting the "change" candidacy of far-left Democrat Chris Turner against conservative stalwart Bill Zedler. Read More» [49]

When Allen Vaught accidentally became the state representative for House District 107, everyone knew it would be a huge loss for taxpayers there and statewide. His term in office has only served to prove everyone right. The incumbent, conservative Bill Keffer, was the collateral damage in voters' repudiation of county-level and national Republican leaders. Read More» [50]

The transcript for this week's video, Is The Classroom A Worksite? [51], is now available. Read More» [52]

Voters in Houston's House District 149 have a clear choice: a proven reformer versus a slumlord. HISD school board member Greg Meyers is taking on incumbent Hubert Vo this November, and taxpayers statewide are watching the race with interest. Read More» [53]

Do you think the City of Dallas should check in with voters before spending $550 million on a government-owned convention center hotel? If so, you can find out how to sign the petition that would amend the City Charter to prevent the hotel by going to http://www.notaxpayerhotel.com/?Page=WhereToSign. Read More» [54]

One would assume that a city mayor has a lot of responsibilities. One would think there are important issues a mayor would take priority in addressing. But would you ever imagine one of those issues would be the fashion trend of baggy pants among our youth? Read More» [55]

Few things are more disgusting than having our principles sold-out by our political leaders. Make no mistake, the proposed federal “bail-out” of the credit market is a sell-out of our fundamental beliefs about freedom and the role of government. The action will burden us with debt and, worse, create horrific precedent for generations to come. Read More» [56]

We noted yesterday the $400 million the Dallas City Council wants to spend [57] of the taxpayers money to get the city into the hotel business. Today the Dallas Morning News reports "43 percent of Dallas' sidewalks are rated unsatisfactory." [58] There's a lot more than sidewalks that are "unsatisfactory" in Dallas, it would appear.

One small section of legislation is making big waves in the world of state finance. Thanks to House Bill 3560, passed in 2007, taxpayers are saving millions this year by consolidating procurement for items big and small. The driving force behind it is our state comptroller, Susan Combs, and she’s hoping the system will quickly translate into even bigger savings for local government. Read More» [59]

Mark Shelton is a pretty easy fellow to find -- just look for all the activity in House District 97, and chances are he's in the middle of it. A pediatrician, Shelton is a man constantly on the go -- setting a high standard for the kind of constituent services he'll provide once elected to the Texas House. Read More» [60]

The city of Mansfield is looking to expand its appeal and services to more out-of-towners thanks to previous visitors. The city council is considering letting the Mansfield Economic Development Corporation, or MEDC as it is so well known around here, to conduct a study on the need for future facilities that would include full service business centers and possibly a convention center. Read More» [61]

An investigation in north Texas finds that Dallas-Fort Worth Airport executives have been living large -- and taxpayers are footing the bill for extravegant travel, including $800 first-class flights to Austin. TFR's Michael Quinn Sullivan was interviewed for the CBS television investigation. The video is available online [62].

In the middle of a national economic crisis and local revenue shortfalls, the City of Dallas is embarking on what is never a good idea: government ownership of a hotel. The city council recently voted to put city taxpayers $400 million in debt for the construction of a new convention center. The city has massive budget problems, having a hard time doing its existing jobs -- police, fire, transportation -- yet somehow council members think they can add "hotel ownership" without consequence. As it stands now, taxpayers have no say in this boondoggle. Read More» [63]

Dee Margo, a conservative businessman in El Paso, says he's tired of the typical saber-rattling in politics, so he's campaigning on results. Margo is the Republican nominee for House District 78, having handily defeated incumbent liberal Republican Pat Haggerty in the March primary. Read More» [64]

The city of Arlington is finding that they fumbled the financing for the new Cowboys stadium in Arlington. The stadium, which was jointly financed by Jerry Jones and the city of Arlington is finding itself in the same predicament of many homeowners around the state as they have suffered the sting from a variable rate on the bonds that they used to finance the stadium. Read More» [65]

One cannot pick up a newspaper without reading shrill complaints from school districts and editorial boards, fretting about their inability to "raise (taxes) and spend locally." They claim schools are hampered by state law. Nothing could be further from the truth: school districts are welcome to raise taxes and hike spending all they want -- they're just finding a tighter threshold for going to the taxpayers for permission first. And that, of course, really galls the tax-and-spenders. Read More» [66]

A former Joshua ISD teacher says the middle school library was closed to make room for a book sale profitting the school... so the district could afford a field trip to Six Flags Amusement Park. Um, excuse me, how educational is an amusement park? Oh, never mind... The teacher wants the Texas Education Agency to investiage the district's finances. Read More» [67]

Everywhere I travel I hear the same story: folks struggling to pay oppressive property taxes in a system that is confusing and obfuscated. There is hope that the next legislative session will see strong reforms aimed at empowering taxpayers. One of the fellows leading the charge is my friend, State Rep. Larry Phillips of Sherman. Read More» [68]

The Empower Texans PAC released the first round of general election endorsements today. Michael Quinn Sullivan, treasurer of the PAC and president of Empower Texans, said the 65 incumbents and candidates endorsed are each committed to creating a strong Texas. Read More» [69]

Dallas-Fort Worth area city fathers are looking to take a bigger bite out of your wallet -- to fund lobbyists who'll twist lawmakers arms in Austin to allow those same city fathers to take even bigger bites out of your wallet. The Fort Worth Business Press reports that "three counties, 15 or 20 cities" are willing to spend "substantial money [70]" to hire lobbyists for the legislative session. Their goal? To raise taxes in north Texas. Read More» [71]

Today's stunning Dallas Morning News story reveals that Dallas ISD overspent its 2007-08 budget by $64 million and, worse, nobody realized it until just now. The district would be bankrupt were it not for its reserve, which is down to $56 million - half of what a district its size should have. Read More» [72]

My postings might offer some different and refreshing aspects. I wanted to let everyone know that I will be posting my opinions along with what I see as I travel this great state and the country with my father, who is former Secretary of State and Chairman of Texas Victory, Roger Williams. I will talk about where I travel and what people are feeling and the issues at hand. Read More» [73]

Texas is now home to the only TWO counties in the nation opening their books up to taxpayers for real-time review. The first was COllin County, in north Texas. Now comes word that commissioners in east Texas' Smith County have thrown sunlight on their expenses. Read More» [74]

According to the Dallas Morning News, State Rep. Rick Noriega who is currently campaigning to take over John Cornyn’s senate seat believes that the Texas education system needs to be overhauled How does he want to achieve this overhaul? He wants to spend more of your tax dollars on the federal level. Read More» [75]

Poised to kill the goose of Texas' golden economy are local governments, which are growing at historic levels. My friend Tom Pauken, chairman of Texas' Workforce Commission, is lamenting this turn of events in an op-ed making the rounds in newspapers around the state. Read More» [76]

Texas Rep. Charlie Howard R-Sugar Land crashed Fort Bend ISD’s [77] tax raising party on Monday and did not hold any punches. Howard said he was "disappointed" with the taxing entity’s decision to raise taxes, pointing out that while the school district was raising its property tax rate other taxing jurisdictions, such as Fort Bend County and the city of Sugar Land, were lowering theirs. Read More» [78]

Say what you will about our lieutenant governor, his sense of professional ethics is beyond reproach. I've had plenty to say about David Dewhurst's politics, good and bad, over the years, but snide attacks raised in the press by liberal activists are unconscionable. Read More» [79]

As hundreds of Texas school districts insist that they are broke and need to raise taxes, last week the Lake Travis ISD voted to give superintendent Rocky Kirk a $6,000 pay raise. This brings his base salary to $231,520, which does not include numerous benefits. Read More» [80]

In an online survey Rep. Jerry Madden (R-Plano) is conducting of his constituents, there is overwhelming support for property tax relief. Some 70% of respondents say the surplus should be used for property tax relief. Read More» [81]

The Associated Press is reporting that Texas' Health and Human Services Commission has been continuing to pay 1,229 employees... who had been fired. This comes to about $738,000 in taxpayer money going to former employees. The agency says it is working to recover the money. Read More» [82]

More than 100 school districts around the state are going to be asking taxpayers to hike the tax burden. One area that won't see a tax hike on the table is San Antonio. Last year voters voters loudly said "no," and after much debate this summer, school officials decided not to try again. Read More» [83]

That individuals find it all but impossible to find health insurance is a function of disfunctional public policy. Tax policy highly favors employer-provided health insurance, further removing individuals from seeing the real cost of the care they receive. It also ties people to their employer in ways that are economically unhealthy. Read More» [84]

So the new SAT scores are out. After increasing per-student spending more 40 percent since the mid-1990s, SAT scores are exactly where they stood then. It's hard to know whose getting the worst deal, our kids or our taxpayers. To make matters worse, our SAT scores are falling even further behind the rest of the nation. Read More» [85]

Yes, public schools should be mandated to teach math. And safety mandates for local schools make sense. But starting this year, legislators are making schools teach a parenting class to 9th graders. If you wonder why Johnny can't read, it's probably because Johnny's stuck in a class learning about paternity laws. Read More» [86]

Taxpayers in Houston paid for luxurious trinkets as city council members sought to use every penny of their "office holder" accounts rather than put the money back in the city's general fund. The Houston Chronicle found thousands of dollars were spent [87] on clothing, furniture and overnight "retreats" in Galveston. This may not be waste, fraud and abuse at its worst, but its close. For example, councilmember Melissa Noriega, wife of Democratic Senate nominee Rick Noriega hit the trifecta of waste: outfitting her office with new flat-screen TVs, expensive furniture and self-promoting polo shirts. Read More» [88]

Lubbock taxpayers should be a little teed. It seems the company which leases the city's golf course hasn't been paying rent, and no one will comment because it is "sensitive and classified information [89]." Since when did skipping out on the taxpayers become an issue of national security? Read More» [90]

Leander is taking the lead in Williamson County in lowering property taxes to attract new businesses. Kudos to the leadership in Leander for analyzing their budgets and using free-market principles to provide the necessary city services. Let's give the elected leadership the necessary encouragement to take the bold steps in enacting responsible fiscal policies. Read More» [91]

West Texas is alight with anticipation that House Speaker Tom Craddick is going to be debating his November democratic party challenger, former Midland city council member Bill Dingus. Should be a good show. You gotta feel sorry for poor Dingus; a Democratic Party spokesman admitted to the Midland newspaper [92] that Craddick has "accomplished several things for the Permian Basin region." Read More» [93]

This article is short and sweet folks, the Northside ISD school board knows that Bexar County residents don’t want their taxes raised but they don’t give a hoot [94]. Read More» [95]

Dallas' homeless Czar is looking to increase the size of his kingdom with a $40 million expenditure. The Dallas Morning News [96] is reporting on a plan that would construct up to 700 homes for the homeless. Read More» [97]

Total property taxes paid by Texans actually rose from 20.3 billion in 2005 to 22 billion in 2007, despite the 2005 school property tax rate cuts, according to a new study. Thus, property tax collections have increased 8.4%, more than the 4.4% increase in state's population during this period, and now we have the new business margins tax. Read More» [98]

An apologist for the failing school system called today, furious we've been picking on the tax-increasing, budget-busting ways of schools that aren't producing results. The caller, an aide to a Republican state representative, said that "Dallas ISD is doing great things." The front page headline of the Morning News confirms it: "DISD plan to ease grading standards..." Great things for slackers. Read More» [99]

A new poll from the University of Texas' Government Department and the Texas Politics project finds Texans are underwhelmed by their public schools [100]. The pollsters asked what Texans thought of the "quality of K-12 public school education." Result: 49 percent said "not very good" or "terrible," 44 percent said "good" or "excellent," and -- remarkably -- 5% didn't know. Read More» [101]

It might seem like every school district in the state is reaching deeper and deeper into their taxpayers wallets, but some are behaving responsibly. Wichita Falls Independent School District has announced [102] they're going to live with the existing tax rate. Read More» [103]

Not only is Collin County one of the fastest growing counties in the nation, it's now leading the nation in full fiscal transparency. Located north of Dallas and encompassing Plano, McKinney and Frisco, taxpayers there now have unprecedented access to the county's spending in almost real time. The first county in the nation to do so, we'll see if Texas' 253 other counties voluntarily follow suit. Read More» [104]

It'll take more than Astroturf to cover-up the problems at Abilene's Wylie Independent School District. Passing rates have fallen like a brick since 2000, according to the state education agency, while per pupil revenues have grown like a weed. But never mind the academics, they're on a football stadium spending spree! Read More» [105]

Our governor certainly isn't perfect, but he's hit the nail squarely on the head the last few weeks in battling the federal ethanol mandate. Writing in the Wall Street Journal this morning, Gov. Rick Perry correctly notes that "artificially propping up an industry... is bad policy." Read More» [106]

Asbestos lawsuit trial lawyer Fred Baron of Dallas might wish he has some of that magic material, given the heat he's getting for paying hush-money, er "assistance" to liberal former senator/presidential candidate John Edwards' mistress. It's unclear how much he paid out, but he has been on the chief underwriters of the left in Texas -- spending $1.82 million in this election season alone. Read More» [107]

What a surprise, the superfluous "children’s" hospital in El Paso is going to add an additional burden on already overwhelmed taxpayers. And it isn't even built yet. Read More» [108]

Don't think taxpayer pressure matters? Don't tell the people in Stephenville. Just hours after school district officials implemented a tax hike, the school board decided to meet in special session and cancel the plans. Why? Read More» [109]

In a sign of how disconnected tax-spenders are from taxpayers, Dallas city officials are digging deep into the taxpayers wallets to hand cash directly over to one of the nation's biggest companies. AT&T is moving their corporate headquarters 275 miles north from San Antonio to Dallas. So, of course, Dallas is going to bilk taxpayers out of $11.5 million [110] for the pleasure. Just two weeks ago the Dallas city manager said they need to consider a tax increase [111] to close a $15 million budget gap. Tax increases to pay for AT&T's move? Taxpayers can be forgiven if they hear a ringing in their ears. Read More» [112]

You gotta feel sorry for the San Antonio ISD school board president. He wants to increase spending -- but “the downside to all this is having to go to the voters... That's what's really troubling us.” Yep, it's a real hassle, having to get voters to approve more taxes and spending just one year after voters said no to a similar proposal. Read More» [113]

The head of a a leading firm that assists companies in obtaining government contracts writes in an Austin Business Journal piece entitled "Gov't spending isn't slowing" that, while families are tightening their belts, "many regions of the state will see major spending increases from governmental entities" and that most school districts "are fairly comfortable." Read More» [114]

Superintendent Jennings Teel and Navasota ISD [115] trustees were chastised by teachers at a school board meeting on Monday. The teachers claimed that the group had dealt with them in a caviler manner and had exhibited generally poor decision making abilities. The merit of those allegations is subjective and therefore difficult to validate what is not is Mr. Teel’s resolve to keep taxes low. Read More» [116]

Finally, a man-bites-dog story. The Austin American Statesman, which has rarely found a government program it won't grow, a tax it won't levy, or a cause too liberal, has today come out strongly against the school district's proposed tax hike. They even take aim at the local chapter of the bad-teachers union. There's either been an outbreak of common sense, or some liberal editor fell asleep at the switch. Read More» [117]

All for outrageous spending by Fort Worth area schools stand up and holler. The Star Telegram [118] is reporting that five schools in Fort Worth will be sending their football teams to Abilene at a cost of more than $1500 per trip and that amount only covers the fuel for the eight buses "needed". That’s right: eight buses. Read More» [119]

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports today that North Texas officials will ask the Legislature to authorize a huge hike in the vehicle registration fee - as much as $105 more per year - to bankroll an expansion of light rail. For consumers already struggling with high gas prices, will this drive them over the edge? Read More» [120]

Milam County Judge Frank Summers has an interesting editorial this week in the Cameron County Herald. While he expresses mixed feelings on revenue caps, he ultimately says he'll support them if they apply to all levels of government, and that sounds good to us. Read More» [121]

Further confirmation that Barack Obama will be dumping millions of dollars into Texas was noted in the Houston Chronicle [122] this week. His goal isn't to win Texas this year, but to swing state house and senate seats so his chosen candidates will gerrymander the Legislature into the grips of liberal tax-and-spenders. Read More» [123]

Teachers in north Texas are spending tax dollars for retreats at the Gaylord Texan resort and convention center in nearby Grapevine. They'll be staying at the expensive convention complex, hearing from motivational speakers, and blowing a big wad of cash intended to raise test scores. Read More» [124]

Houston had a lot of expensive whine this week -- from money-hungry superintendents intent on spending a lot more of your money. And they'll spend every dollar they can get. Since 2000, public school revenues have grown 60 percent, even though the student population has grown only 15 percent. And yet the Texas School Alliance complains that "property tax relief" erodes their ability to tax-and-spend without fetter. Um, yes, that's the point. Read More» [125]

Taxpayers in Clear Creek Independent School District, in Galveston County, are facing a $9.2 million tax hike. The superintendent, with a straight face, tells the local newspaper [126] the schools have "exercised significant restraint." Sounds nice, but that's not what the record shows. School revenues are have risen 60 percent since 2001, even though the district only has 18 percent more students. Where's the money going? Hint: not the classroom. Read More» [127]

Unlike most states, Texas is fairing fairly well the national economic downturn. That was the presentation State Rep. John Otto (R-Dayton) made last week at the National Conference of State Legislatures. Read More» [128]

Thousands of Texans are supporting efforts to abolish the school property tax and replace it with a fair sales tax... But you'd never know it from the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal [129] today, which not only misrepresents the effort and its background, but lets Republican State Sen. Robert Duncan talk about imposing a new state income tax. Read More» [130]

As part of an effort to trim the county budget, Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez is cutting condiments from the budget. Prisoners will have to go without mustard, ketchup, sweeteners and jelly -- saving taxpayers $150,000. Her office might also charge inmates for pickles, trimming another $84,000. But considering the county asked her to find $6 million in cuts, Sheriff Lupe is going to have to do better than that. Read More» [131]

School districts around the state are crying poverty -- and hiking your taxes. But just like the studies showing how many welfare recipients own DVD players, cell phones and late-model cars, we would be wise as taxpayers to start demanding a little cleaner view of how school districts are spending the money they already get. Read More» [132]

Taxpayers in Midland and Odessa -- along with the rest of us -- are shelling out big bucks for a new "performing arts" center to be built between the two cities. The facility, which is described as standing "90 feet tall at its center, far surpassing the height of the nearby Highway 191 overpass on Farm-to-Market Road 1788," is expected to cost $89 million. Read More» [133]

A survey of 790 Texas small businesses finds that because of the new margins tax:
1) 50% will raise prices
2) 20% will lay off at least one employee
3) 33% won't hire new employees
4) 14% will drop health care or other benefits
5) 3% will close Read More» [134]

This week marked "cost of government day" -- the date in which the average American has now paid the cost of taxes and regulations handed down from federal, state and local governments. The date, July 16, means Americans work more than half the year to pay for all the government we enjoy. According to the report authors at Americans for Tax Reform [135], the date was four days later than last year -- and one of the worst in the last 22 years. When you work more than half the year to pay for government, you are working for government; that is many things, but freedom it is not.

Hold on to your wallets, the governor and Legislature are taking aim at your wallet with a little video game waste. Unfortunately, this isn't the virtual variety but the real-world deal. Texas Gov. Rick Perry wants lawmakers to give video game manufacturers boatloads of money to get them to design their games in the Lone Star State. This is corporate welfare at its worst. This is a $9-plus billion industry that is referred to as "recession-proof." They don't need your money. Read More» [136]

Senator Bob Deuell proposes the creation of such an office for the "main" state agencies in today's Dallas Morning News and Governor Rick Perry's office indicates support. The issue came up after controversial firings at the Texas Education Agency's Inspector General's office - currently big agencies like TEA have their own inspector general's office. Read More» [137]

Conservatives in Texas often talk about how wasteful our government school system can be, yet we rarely find a gem as perfectly flawed as two stories that appeared recently in the Houston Chronicle. On May 1, the Chronicle breathlessly reported “Spring Branch ISD facing insolvency” – you can almost hear the exclamation points. A month and a half later, the paper glowingly reported “Spring Branch ISD; Free summer camp focused on France.” A free French summer camp, while facing insolvency? Read More» [138]

There’s very little that ails us that a little sunlight and fresh air can’t cure – and that’s especially true when it comes to government waste and bloat. Our friends over at the Texas Public Policy Foundation this week unveiled a snazzy little tool called TexasBudgetSource.com [139]. There you can find ready access to your local government budgets (if they happen to post online) and helpful analysis about what government spending means for you and your family.

Readers of the Houston Chronicle's website now have a nifty tool: browse the pay of nearly every public employee [140] in Houston and Harris County. Topping the payroll at $442,556 is HISD superintendent Abelardo Saavedra. Coming in a distant second is the "Chancellor Emeritus" of the Houston Community College, Bruce Leslie, making $336,583. Read More» [141]

One way to avoid listening to taxpayers is to simply keep them out of earshot. Take, for example, Collin County in north Texas. County commissioners there are going to take up discussion next week on a proposal to build a county-employees-only physical fitness facility. While government shouldn’t be in the business of competing with the private sector (through “community center” programs that include work-out facilities), they certainly shouldn’t build such facilities and exclude taxpayers from use. The only thing exercised in this project is the boondoggle muscle. The only thing sweating will be the taxpayers’ nervous, over-burdened wallet. Read More» [142]

Team Obama appears poised to dump a lot of cash into Texas this season -- though not necessarily because his team thinks he can carry the state. Apparently the Obama team is looking ahead to the congressional redistricting of 2011. They want to spend some of his storied campaign largesse in "strategic" legislative races [143] that will help Democrats draw left-friendly seats -- and punish Republicans. Read More» [144]

You gotta hand it to the bean-counters in Sugar Land, outside Houston -- they sure know how to sell an idea. They're trying to convince residents(presumably with success) that spending $18 million to get $13 million, over 25 years, is a good use of the taxpayers; money. We presume they will soon host sold-out seminars on how cities can set houses on fire to encourage new home construction. Read More» [145]

A new report by the Rockefeller Institute finds that, while other states are sagging, Texas sales tax revenues are up 12 percent from last July through March and the Comptroller is predicting a $10.7 billion surplus. Thus, the national economic slowdown, which has reduced revenues in some states, will not be an excuse for failing to deliver property tax relief. Read More» [146]

So I usually don't think much about Louisiana. I sometimes forget it's even there, kind of like Utah or Nevada or Rhode Island. But Gov. Bobby Jindal is making conservatives take note. I've met him a time or two, and been as impressed as everyone else who meets him. The problem is that with each passing action, he becomes even more impressive. We need more folks like Jindal in public office. Read More» [147]

Rockets’ red glare, bombs bursting in air – such a poetic way to describe such horrifying circumstances. Most of us sing those words and wave our flags, awaiting the start of a parade or baseball game. But many who walk in our midst wear – or wore – the flag of our nation on their sleeve, dodging bullets, separated from family, facing death, in defense of our liberties. Please take time this holiday weekend to thank the men and women in your circle of friends who bravely donned our nation’s uniform to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces.

One of the true taxpayer heroes in the Legislature, Rep. Ken Paxton (R-McKinney), reports in his newsletter today that the Music Conservatory of Texas, which taught over 33,000 music lessons in 2007, paid $6,200 of its $8,394 in profit to the state under the new business tax. Read More» [148]

The American Right and Left are each comprised of disparate groups, with a variety of priorities and objectives. What draws them together, into the Left and the Right? My friend Grover Norquist has developed a fairly convincing theory that’s at once obvious and obfuscated. In the title of his new book, “Leave Us Alone,” Grover provides what does, or should, unify the American center-right. Read More» [149]

Here is the perfect job for the outdoorsman who doesn’t like nature, and the wildlife nut who won’t sacrifice a vibrant nightlife: An Urban Forester! The Texas Forest Service [150] (bet you didn’t know we had one of those, now did you?) is handing out your money to cities that want to bring an urban forester on staff. This job will let you save the planet and still have ready access to a tall latte with whipped cream. Read More» [151]

My friend Cheryl Johnson serves as tax assessor/collector for Galveston County, a position she has used to champion the rights of taxpayers. She recently penned an op-ed that proposes changing the current appraisal-driven property tax system to one where your liability is based solely on the acquisition price. Read More» [152]

We blogged this plan a few weeks ago, but thankfully it is now being reconsidered. Instead of spending $6.7 million to build a new visitors center that is to include a walk of fame and theater, the Lubbock City Council is now considering moving an existing building to the site. Read More» [153]

Now this is a heck of a deal, Fort Worth city officials are considering the creation of a modern "streetcar" system. According to Texas Government Insider [154], the plan could cost between $16 million and $40 million... per mile!

The city spent $1 million taxpayer dollars to study a similar idea in 2002 and came up with nothing to show for it but $1 million in misspent money. Now Fort Worth officials are looking to appoint a 15-member committee to decide whether or not taxpayers should be bilked out of even more money.

Hanging in Sen. John Cornyn’s office is a guitar signed by rockers ZZ Top. Pretty cool. More cool is the way Cornyn has been rocking the U.S. Senate. He forced the hand of the liberals on their global warming scam, and has become a consistent champion of free markets and budget reform in the gang of 100. It’s good to have Big John (video link) [155] fighting in Washington.

So the Fort Worth Star Telegram doesn’t mind the new business tax; big surprise, they also like big government. In an editorial on Thursday, the Star Telegram opined that “it’s impossible to know what the tax’s real impact will be” because state bean counters won’t tally the take until August. Ah, the bliss of being economically illiterate. Of course, they also do their best to avoid the taxes they advocate. Read More» [156]

Transparency is good for what ills us at all levels of government. Whether its local school checkbooks, state agency contracts, or federal earmarks, transparency is a powerful tool for meaningful reform. Read More» [157]

At a Senate hearing yesterday, Dallas officials called for sales price disclosure. This would raise appraisal values, resulting in $4 billion in additional school property taxes plus billions more in other local property taxes. As the new Texas GOP platform declares, school property taxes should be abolished, but disclosure without a revenue cap would be disastrous. Read More» [158]

Dallas County is facing a budget shortfall of $20 to $30 million, largely because they have gotten used to increasing spending at double-digit rates, but for the first time in years, appraisal increases didn't quite keep up. Commissioners are looking for savings, and among them are stopping personal misuse of county cars and switching from fuel-hogging Ford Crown Victorias to Ford Fusions. Read More» [159]

With the Texas GOP platform on deck this weekend, the Texas Democratic Party has posted their new platform. It does not address taxes except claiming that current state taxes favor big over small business, but includes items such as universal government health care and a new "global marketing program" at the Texas Dept. of Agriculture that would surely require more government revenue. Read More» [160]

For decades the school property tax that funds "maintenance and operations" has been causing troubles for taxpayers -- skyrocketing burdens, lawsuits and confusion. Legislators, taxpayers, school boards and judges have all taken cracks at reforming a system that is fundamentally irreparable. Now a group of legislators are looking to do something about it: end the system and replace it. Read More» [161]

In another example of a failing bureaucracy, a federal audit found that the Dallas Housing Authority cannot account for some $3.8 million dollars in taxpayer funds. While they still haven't found the missing money, yesterday they found time to debate a proposal to ban staffers religious expressions in e-mails - though the agency could probably use divine intervention at this point. Read More» [162]

The business tax may not have long to live. Apparently the state's lieutenant governor, David Dewhurst, rattled a rather formidable saber last week at a business group meeting in Austin, saying he'd like to consider a repeal of the gross margins tax passed in 2006. According to an online news service, Dewhurst is quoted as saying he frustrated by the “lack of benefit” in terms of property tax relief. This is welcome news. Read More» [163]

Found a fun fact in a mailer from Gov. Rick Perry today. Over the last 12 months, Texas has seen 262,000 jobs created -- 95 percent in the private sector. Compare that to the national scene, 462,000 jobs were created -- and half of which were government jobs. Dig a little deeper: nearly 100% of the private sector jobs created in the U.S. over the last 12 months were created in Texas!

U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison got it right Wednesday morning when she told the Texas Association of Business that the state's new business tax is an "abject failure." Finally a political big-shot is calling it like taxpayers are seeing it. The Dallas Morning News reports [164] that she said, "We don’t see property taxes going down at all, and the business tax, it’s a corporate income tax. Just make no mistake about it. We’ve got some problems." Read More» [165]

Missed by almost everyone in the media feeding frenzy of stories about the Texas Department of Transportation is a rather substantive effort underway that could prove beneficial to taxpayers in the near future. New TxDOT Commission Chairwoman Dierdre Delisi appointed a committee charged with literally opening the books on the agency and its activities to an extent no one's ever seen. Read More» [166]

Editors at the Fort Worth Star Telegram are shocked -- shocked! -- to find that what is driving the beginnings of good public policy in Birdville Independent School District is -- horror of horrors -- a need to improve efficiency and maximize their existing revenues. The leftist editors are beside themselves that good public policy is only coming about because of a tight fiscal situation. Read More» [167]

Texas' agriculture commission, Todd Staples, is racking up heavy taxpayer expenses for what appears to rather frivolous uses of the state's fleet of private planes. In fact, he has used the planes more than Gov. Rick Perry and Attorney General Greg Abbott combined! Of course, this is the same Ag Commissioner who is making his mark by using tax dollars to sponsor wine tastings and using taxpayer dollars, through the Ag department, to renovate downtowns. Read More» [168]

On June 15th, Texas business will have to fork over a big of chunk of change to fill state coffers. Some 84 percent of Texas small businesses will see their tax burdens increase by more than 100 percent over their previous franchise tax bill, with more than 40 percent seeing a spike of over 500 perccent. Read More» [169]

In the case of Craig Eiland, a state representative from Galveston, he’s had the payroll a former Democratic legislator named Zeb Zbranek. For ol’ Zeb it’s a sweet deal – he’s “on call” to help Craig out with constituent services, for $300 per month. How much “on call” does that buy? Apparently enough for the incumbent to count his predecessor as a “full-time” employee. Read More» [170]

It probably sounds too good to be a true to most Texas headbanging middle school students, but they may be getting an iPod on taxpayers' dime. This past week New Summerfield ISD announced it had received a $17,000 grant from the state to give IPods to 85 6th, 7th, and 8th graders. The money comes the Texas Education Agency's Rural Technology grant program. Read More» [171]

Texas lost a good friend this week with the passing of Michael S. Stevens. A real estate developer from Houston, Stevens was a Vietnam Vet and a leader in the conservative movement. He always conducted himself with the greatest honor and integrity. He will be greatly missed, and our prayers go out for his wife and family.

The Dallas Morning News has a feature today on appraisal growth in the Metroplex. Here's a shocker: "Denton County recorded a 14.5 percent jump in preliminary appraisals, though appraisers say the final numbers should drop below 10 percent and into what they're labeling relatively flat growth." Read More» [172]

It is not surprising that Texas cities restrict strip clubs, but now the City of West Lake Hills near Austin has banned new banks and nearby Lakeway has required them to obtain a unique permit. Why? Because they do not generate sales tax revenue. Read More» [173]

Thousands of patriots in countless battles willingly gave their lives for the cause of liberty and the defense of our Constitution. While our rights to life and liberty are endowed by God, securing them has fallen to men called into battle against forces intent on destroying the glorious American experiment. We live today in the liberty their ultimate sacrifice yesterday made possible; we sleep easily under the protection of men and women willing to lay down their lives for liberty tomorrow. Let us endeavor to make the very most of their sacrifice.

There’s a lot of hot air expended about “global warming” and “climate change.” What’s painfully obvious is that the “solutions” promoted bear a striking resemblance to the same, tired, disproven socialist ideas carted around by liberals for years. It’s also obvious that those ideas will have dangerous consequences for Texans and our economy. One clear-thinking leader on energy policy is Michael Williams, chairman of the state's commission that oversees energy policy. Read More» [174]

As if education dollars weren't stretched thin enough already with top-heavy bureaucracies and in-school daycares for kids' kids, the Office of the Texas Attorney General has now prepared a mandatory high school curriculum that will delve into such questions as the difference between "alleged father" and "presumed father." So while 50 percent of Texas kids entering college need remediation in the core studies, they will at least know how to "secure child support." The school course is called "PAPA" -- Parenting and Paternity Awareness curriculum. Oh, please... Read More» [175]

With the state's new business tax expected to bring in billions of extra dollars, some in Austin are salivating over the prospect of spending all that cash. Not so fast, writes the president of the Texas Association of Business this week. Former state representative Bill Hammond says that "when the actual tax revenue exceeds what lawmakers predicted in the state budget, we have to question if the state should keep the extra dollars to fund frivolous government projects or if the money should be given back to businesses." His answer: "give it back." Read More» [176]

The Texas Department of Transportation is a high-profile agency that has seemed intent on making a series of high-profile plunders in recent years. No one has much good to say for an agency that so often seems to spend frivolously while claiming poverty. To say TxDOT is in need of reform [177] is a mild understatement. But Texas needs a well-run, properly functioning transportation agency. And the Houston Chronicle's profile [178] of the new TxDOT chair, Deirdre Delisi, gives reason for hope that the agency may yet live up to the taxpayers' expectations and our economy's needs. Read More» [179]

Even as local governments like the City of Dallas can barely keep the potholes filled and their jails running properly, they are none too eager to indulge in mission creep. On May 15, the Dallas City Council approved spending $42 million to purchase land to create a city-owned convention center hotel that all told could cost taxpayers $520 million. Read More» [180]

Our latest video offering at EmpowerTexans.tv presents the first honoree of our coveted "Real Tax Waster." This will be an occasional feature and we are taking nominees! The first recipient: The Texas Department of Transportation. Read More» [181]

Left-wingers are a grim lot. Not only is the sky falling and the glass half empty, but it’s the lack of funding that makes the sky fall and drains water from the glass. Take the current Texas economy: unlike the rest of the nation, the state has job growth and the economy is performing strongly. But to the state’s liberals, calamity rules because government isn’t taking all that it could from your wallet. Read More» [182]

Liberals love to micromanage other people’s business – as long as the rules don’t apply to them. The Texas House Democratic Caucus chair proved that this week with her whining “Monday Memo” decrying recent attention paid to predominately liberal officeholders who were counting as “full-time employees” people who did little or no work for little or no pay – but getting hefty taxpayer benefits. She’s worried that this mighty, gasp, be an election issue. Ya think? Read More» [183]

Kudos to Attorney General Greg Abbott for an outstanding AG's opinion released yesterday that c