The Texas Monthly Best & Worst lists are little more than a front for a left-wing ideological agendas. Remember who chooses the Best and Worst: liberal reporters anchored by editor Paul Burka. One of his lead writers, Patricia Kilday Hart, even wrote that the ten-best slots were open for anyone pushing liberal causes. Read More» [10]

Texans for Fiscal Responsibility released its final ratings today for members of the 81st Texas Legislature. TFR President Michael Quinn Sullivan says that while the partisan gap narrowed, the ratings of individual House and Senate members show a more fiscally conservative direction. Read More» [11]

Hide your wallet, change the locks on the doors and make sure you know where your kids are; the Legislature will be meeting in a special session this summer. What's so special about it? Looks like just another opportunity for mischief. Read More» [12]

Arguing that the Metroplex and other high volume traffic areas do not need answers, and quickly, to major transportation quandaries is an untenable position. Equally untenable is simply hiking taxes and fees on families to fund the same bureaucracies already wasting much of every dollar they are given. Read More» [13]

Fort Worth and Dallas are just 30 miles apart, but the attitudes on the opinion pages of the two daily papers might as well be from different planets. Both papers strongly supported the gas tax hike and fee increase plans pushed by government-financed lobbyists. TFR and other groups successfully defeating the measure on the merits, so today's editorial pages are very revealing. Read More» [14]

Ever notice political "courage" is defined only as raising taxes and padding the pockets of special interests? It's apparently cowardice to actually demand responsibility and integrity, to make hard choices rather than pave problems with patronage. That's how Republican State Sen. John Carona of Dallas is defining things. Read More» [15]

New Video: With the end of 81st legislative session, we asked conservative legislators what questions voters should be asking. Read More» [16]

It appears that the members of the Legislature have heard will of the overwhelming number of Texans who understand that now is not the time to impose new taxes and fees on Texas' economy. Texans clearly want the Legislature to address Texas' transportation woes by ending diversions and better prioritization. Read More» [17]

What does it cost to get legislators to betray their taxpayers and hike taxes in an economic downturn? Just ask the lobbyists at HillCo, who seem to have made about $17,800 per legislator voting against Texans. Read More» [18]

In a blog posting this afternoon, Dallas Morning News editorial writer Rodger Jones admits his position in support of heavy increases on gasoline and new motor vehicle fees isn't friendly to taxpayers. His admission came in a posting cheering on the pro-tax rally (no doubted funded by taxpayer dollars) that will be attended by Dallas' mayor at the Capitol on Friday. Read More» [19]

Most conservatives have in recent years come to suspect that Texas Monthly’s “Ten Best” legislators list is little more than a compilation of the biggest shills for big government. Now comes proof. In a May 26 posting on the “BurkaBlog,” Texas Monthly writer Patricia Kilday Hart unabashedly advocated for the expansion of the “Children's Health Insurance Program” and other far-left causes, then suggested supporting such measures would get legislators on the ten-best list. Read More» [20]

While House Democrats have been busily chubbing up the Calendar, the Texas Senate was preparing a sneak-attack on the taxpayers' wallets. State Sen. John Carona (R-Dallas) has tacked his Senate Bill 855 -- allowing the imposition of new gas taxes and fees -- onto the TxDOT re-authorization bill, House Bill 300. The bill, including the new taxes and fees, passed the Senate Monday night. Read More» [21]

Conservatives tend to think local government is better because it is, well, local. But is that a reasonable assumption, if the Local spending is hidden from view and bureaucrats don't accurately report results? Read More» [22]

Anyone who thinks lawmakers don't move to fix unintended problems in legislative initiatives should see what State Rep. Jerry Madden of Plano did. He took what could have accidentially been a joke on the taxpayers, and fixed it to become a cost-saving initiative good for everyone. Read More» [23]

If the Austin American-Statesman is to be believed, "votes are not there in the House" to push the 125% tax hike. That's a direct result of the effective pressure folks have been applying! But don't get too cocky: the measure lives... Read More» [24]

Leading the push for higher gas taxes is State Rep. Vicki Truitt (R-Southlake). Last fall she wrote her constituents decrying "electricity rates and high fuel prices. (We are all feeling the pinch.) ... my office is already working on legislation to introduce, which could improve the situation for consumers." Read More» [25]

New Video: What other constitutional rights will the Legislature abridge? State Rep. Todd Smith, five other Republicans and all the Democrats voted to limit political speech last week. Read More» [26]

Dallas city council members are facing a $190 million deficit, and much hand-wringing is going on about which services to cut. One expense that should, but won’t, be touched is the half-million in taxpayer dollars being used to lobby for more taxes and fewer limits on government. Read More» [27]

Everyone knew this was going to be a less conservative Texas House. After all, Republicans had lost seats. In this 81st Session, economically sound legislation has been killed in committee, while big-tax/big-government bills are flying. The cause? The House committee chairs, appointed by the Speaker, are overwhelmingly left-of-center; certainly out of touch with conservatives and even the general leanings of the House overall. Read More» [28]

In these final weeks of the session, the Texas Legislature is poised to adopt an approach that could permit the gas tax to skyrocket from 20 cents to 45 cents per gallon. Read More» [29]

For all the whining Democrats do about unfunded mandates on public education, they sure don't mind implementing them. The Texas House voted last night on legislation mandating that every public and private high school principle designate four people as deputy voter registrars. Every Republican, except RINOs Todd Smith and Tommy Merritt, voted against this mandate. Every Democrat, except Tracy King, voted for it. Read More» [30]

We now know who is, and isn't, serious about weaning Texas from oppressive property taxes. The Texas House narrowly stopped a constitutional amendment that would have allowed more entities to claim a piece of your property, and your wallet. According to the uncertified vote total, this land-grab was stopped by 44 Republicans -- of the 76 currently serving as the nominal majority. Read More» [31]

During last night's debate over the future of the Texas Department of Transportation, the Texas House approved an amendment that would change the Transportation Commission from five appointed members to 15 elected members. What a mess that would be.

State Rep. David Leibowitz put forward the amendment. Read More» [32]

We've begun putting together the Fiscal Responsibility Index for this 81st Session. Obviously four weeks are left and a lot of legislation remains unheard, but the picture we're seeing isn't a good one. (Updated May 11.) Read More» [33]

Small business owners will get a little breathing room with passage of House Bill 4765, authored by taxpayer champions Ken Paxton of McKinney, Bill Callegari of Katy and Brandon Creighton of Conroe. The measure raises the margins tax exemption from $300,000 to $1 million -- but only for the 2010-2011 biennium. Read More» [34]

U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison has introduced legislation that would allow Texas and other states to leave the ponzi scheme known as the federal highway system. In the current arrangement, Texas is a "donor" state, meaning we give the feds a lot more in taxes than we get back in spending. Read More» [35]

New Video: Republican officeholders have soured the brand for conservative voters. Read More» [36]

Even as the Republican-led Texas House and Senate work furiously to unravel our unemployment rules to make them more appealing to Barack Obama, Florida’s legislature rejected such efforts. My friend Adam Hasner, the Florida House Majority leader, said, “The strings attached to the $444 million are going to potentially make a bad problem worse.” Wonder if I can convince him to move to Texas? Read More» [37]

Under legislation adopted by the Texas House yesterday, you'll soon be paying state employees not work at their tax-funded jobs; no, you'll be paying them to volunteer their time! Read More» [38]

On May 9th Dallas taxpayers will decide the fate of the City’s involvement in the construction of a convention center hotel. The Dallas Morning News reports that opponents of the Dallas Convention Center hotel are winning but there are several grow government organizations trying to change that and burden taxpayers with another boondoggle. Read More» [39]

A $4.3 million helicopter will have to be purchased by the Department of Public Safety and based in Longview under an amendment added, without a vote, to the House version of the state budget by Rep. Tommy Merritt [40] (R-Longview). But it's a bird that won't take flight: no money for pilots or maintenance. This flightless bird isn't just a taxpayer turkey, it's an earth-bound porker. Read More» [41]

Who wants to be the ruling couple of earmarks in Texas? What first family of waste would build a Texas-size bridge to nowhere? Behold the heftiest of the special-interest spenders: State Rep. Dawnna Dukes (D-Austin) and State Rep. Pete Gallego (D-Alpine). She wants to spend your money big, while he spreads it thick. Read More» [42]

According to Forbes Magazine, the top 5 places to live in terms of looking for job are all in Texas. According to a statement from Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst [43], the top big-cities are in order: Austin, Houston, San Antonio, Ft. Worth and Dallas. Read More» [44]

We knew it was coming. The John Carona tax beast, SB855, is now getting heard in the Texas House, thanks to Rep. Vicki Truitt. That'll happen tomorrow. Every conservative taxpayer group has taken a stand against these bills. Read More» [45]

On the one hand, the Texas House adopted a budget $4 billion lower than the Senate. Overall government growth has been kept below population and inflation. So why does it feel so meaningless? Perhaps because Republicans absolutely failed to provide the conservative leadership on the core issues voters expect. Read More» [46]

House members will begin debating the state budget today, and while we offered strong praise for the version adopted by the Appropriations Committee, liberal lawmakers are ready to unravel that work with a series of amendments that will spend more and grow government. And some weak-kneed Republicans are more than happy to go along for the ride. Read More» [47]

The removal of a witness yesterday during a senate committee hearing was startling but not without cause. The man was making physical threats and disturbing the day-to-day operations of the Senate.

A similar situation played out on the 9th at a Duncanville city council meeting. Only the threat made there was not one of physical violence, but the limiting of government spending. That scared Mayor David Green who had council member Paul Ford removed. Read More» [48]

What a day! The tea parties were simply amazing. So now what? You and I have to make sure our neighbors and friends who were passionately waving signs and cheering speakers on Wednesday will be actively participating in the political and policy process on Monday. Read More» [49]

Don't be surprised if your doctor starts prescribing tobacco products. Should State Rep. Warren Chisum of Pampa have his way, doctors will soon have a direct financial incentive to get everyone dippin' and chewin'. Chisum is, of course, a low-tax Republican who believes in the free market. Read More» [50]

Recently governors rejecting UI stimulus funds have come under fire for not doing "right" by their respective states. Of course, those condemning these actions have been clamoring for the expansion of UI benefits for years and are doing their best to push this grow government agenda before Americans get wise to their scheme. Read More» [51]

State senators decided on Wednesday that rather than control waste, end diversions and promote transparency, they'd just let taxes and fees rise. That's the only message the Senate's vote on John Carona's disasterous [52] SB 855 can send. Read More» [53]

Done your taxes yet? Unless action is taken soon in the U.S. Congress, Texans will lose the federal deductibility of our sales taxes. Fortunately, U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison last week introduced a measure to make the deductibility a permanent fixture in the federal tax code. Read More» [54]

While we've been critical in the past of State Rep. Jim Pitts, his do-over term as chairman of the House Appropriations Committee is looking good for taxpayers. The committee this morning approved the House version of the budget, coming in about $4 billion smaller than the Senate version -- and 2.5 percent lower than the last biennium. It also makes important changes to the state's business tax for small businesses. Read More» [55]

The free money now flowing from your great-grand-children's credit cards into the coffers of state government will cost the state 131,400 jobs -- or so says a report issued yesterday by the Texas Public Policy Foundation [56]. Experience shows increased government spending reduces private sector output. Read More» [57]

While not to be confused with a conservative position, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram very sensible is very sensibly opposing the creation of yet another law school in Texas. Let's face it: There isn't a shortage of ambulance chasers.

The Star-Telegram piece notes [58] says the effort is "not essential." Read More» [59]

One of the leading lights in Texas’ conservative movement is Collin County Judge Keith Self, who has led the fight for tax relief, transparent government and responsible spending. His reward? The typical response from the liberal establishmentarians: vicious personal attacks and smear campaigns. Read More» [60]

Dallas County commissioners voted Tuesday to grant an exception to the county’s $125 per night lodging reimbursement rate.

The exception was given to Judge Jim Foster, who did not bust the cap by tens or even a hundred dollars but spent 3 times the per night reimbursement amount. Read More» [61]

Any thought this new Texas House would be promoting public debate and open participation, as promised by Speaker Joe Straus on taking the gavel, was dashed on Wednesday. The chairman of the House Business & Industry Committee, Joe Deshotel, engaged in the worst kind of heavy-handed, undemocratic behavior imaginable by ramming partisan legislation through in his committee in a manner that shut-out debate and discourse. Read More» [62]

The Texas Senate today passed a $182-billion, 2-year budget. The president of Texans for Fiscal Responsibility praised the Senate for protecting the "Rainy Day Fund." Read More» [63]

It’s bad enough that the Obama Administration and its sycophants in Congress are trying to hobble Texas’ economy. Now we have the Texas House Business & Industry Committee working to hang a “closed” sign around the state’s neck. Read More» [64]

In American history and government classes across this country, we still teach our children that our founding fathers demonstrated genius both in articulating the inalienable rights belonging to each person in our Declaration of Independence, and then in preserving those rights in our Constitution. Read More» [65]

When the Senate Finance Committee adopted their version of the state budget last week, it included two small but powerful provisions giving Texans some protection against burdensome federal mandates hidden in the stimulus package. This prudent action should be replicated by the House. Read More» [66]

Property taxes? Apparently not a concern. Relief for small businesses struggling under the Gross Margins Tax? Who cares! Providing public transparency for our education dollars? Maybe some other time. So what was the first bill to be considered by the Texas House? Subsidies and "incentives" for Hollywood. Read More» [67]

It is time for someone to pull the covers back on the number one tactic liberals have used to stymie conservatives for decades. It is known mostly by its common name “The Process” (TP), but political scientists know it by its scientific term; "liberalus muckus upus legislates". Read More» [68]

With free money (your great-grandchildren’s) dangling in front of them, the Texas Senate Finance Committee voted 13-to-1 to spend federal stimulus dollars. The lone dissenter was North Texas Republican Jane Nelson. She's worried about enlarging the base of entitlement with temporary federal dollars that will go away in a matter of months, leaving Texans with higher taxes and bigger government. Read More» [69]

If you’re a smugly liberal city located in central Texas, then you want to make sure you exude an infatuation with big-government incompetency at every turn. And no one does big-government incompetency like the French. So it was only natural Austin Capitol Metro would hire a French consulting firm. Sadly, it seems the French have met their match. Read More» [70]

You may recall last month there was a big stink about the University of Texas Investment Management Company awarding bonuses even though performance was lacking in 2008. Read More» [71]

States are taking a closer look at the stimulus package, sifting through the provisions and stipulations that it contains and rejecting funds.

The likely culprits are among those sending the money back; Bobby Jindal Governor of Louisiana, Mark Sanford Governor of South Carolina and Rick Perry to name a few but there are other states that might surprise you. Read More» [72]

Well, that didn't take long. State Sen. John Carona's effort to hike taxes and fees in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex region now includes the Austin and San Antonio areas. One can only imagine how soon the rest of the state will be ensnared in the scheme.

When people talk about Republican elected officials betraying conservative principles and the trust of their voters, one need look no further than State Sen. John Carona of Dallas. Just a week ago he was promising to include taxpayer protections and transparency in the massive tax-hike and fee-grab bill he was carrying for government spenders. As he presents the legislation to his transportation committee, those protections are gone. Read More» [73]

Some west Texas kids are getting snowmobile trips, vacations to Hawaii, California, LA and elsewhere -- all courtesy of the schopol district. Actually, thanks to the state's Robin Hood funding scheme, courtesy of taxpayers elsewhere in the state. Read More» [74]

Oh, what a surprise -- the liberal-dominated Texas House Select Committee on Federal Porkulus invited only big-spending grow-government shills to speak. How could that have happened? Oh, because Chairman Jim Dunnam is using his committee as a cheerleading ground for far-left activism, rather than good public policy. Speaker Straus should end this charade now. Read More» [75]

Two months ago I posted a blog about the stimulus package and how it would affect unemployment insurance (UI) in Texas. Yesterday Gov. Perry rightly rejected the stimulus funds allocated to unemployment insurance saying there were too many strings attached. It would be nice if that was the final word on the issue but sadly it’s not. Read More» [76]

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. That's the educational philosophy in Plano where the school district is looking to implement rules letting kids cheat on papers and turn in homework whenever they like. Read More» [77]

Governor Perry has done the right thing for employers and employees, and Texas’ economy, by rejecting the mandate-heavy UI portion of the federal stimulus package. Read More» [78]

So, taxpayers, you bought $40,000 to send Houston Independent School District administrators to the rodeo. Bet you didn't a thank you note, did you? As one might expect, the superintendent of HISD described the entertainment package "a relatively small investment." Read More» [79]

If a local government wants to impose heavy new taxes and fees on its people to fund light-rail under a scheme being crafted in the Legislature, they will have to do it with at least 20 percent of the voters turning out. State Sen. John Carona of Dallas is inserting this important taxpayer protection in legislation being crafted in Austin. Read More» [80]

So much for personal responsibility. The bi-partisan smarter-and-healthier than thou crowd at the Texas Capitol is working non-stop to do our thinking for us by eliminating choices. Wouldn't be easier if they just told us what we can do? Read More» [81]

At this moment, everyone in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex are the target of a massive tax increase effort in the Legislature. For example, they could be on the hook for an $8,700 “parking fee” just for having a car! And gas taxes will be set to rise faster than inflation. Today it's Dallas, tomorrow everywhere. Read More» [82]

In their rush to spend more money, the Texas Department of Transportation may have ended up losing out on a $1 billion in federal money. I hate the porkulus bill, and think TXDOT is out of control. Hard to know who to cheer for in this match. Read More» [83]

Real journalists hate being called out for their partisan shilling, and many try to walk the line. But the publisher of the Dallas Morning News recently used the resources of his company to advance a big-government political cause in a letter to lawmakers. We'll never be able to read the Morning News the same way again; every story must now be viewed explicitly as a tool for his partisan agenda. Click here to read the full commentary [84] I co-authored with John Colyandro of the Texas Conservative Coalition.

A group of Democratic legislators just concluded a press conference calling on Texas Gov. Rick Perry to accept and use more of the federal stimulus money. But the president of Texans for Fiscal Responsibility says this "California-based prescription" will make things worse by straddling the economy with bigger government. He called on the Legislature to make immediate cuts to property taxes the business tax as a way to effectively free the economy and help all Texans. Read More» [85]

It's hard to disagree with the notion that some lawmakers just don't operate on the same planet as the rest of us. Consider House Bill 1867, filed by State Rep. Rafael Anchia [86] (D-Dallas). This remarkable example of government micromanagement would regulate the bagging choices of customers, by requiring check-out clerks to "ask the customer if the customer would like to purchase a reusable bag... at reasonable price." Is he kidding? Read More» [87]

Happy Independence Day! Texas Independence Day, that is. We should pause to consider not only the blessings of our great state, but the dedication of those who declared our freedom on March 2, 1836. Read More» [88]

According to State Sen. Dan Patrick of Houston, there are 2.9 million registered businesses in Texas. Of those, 2.3 million have revenues between $25k-$100K.

What started as a reporter’s unscripted rant on a cable news channel is turning into a movement. In cities across the nation, informal “tea parties” are being planned for Friday, Feb. 27, to protest the stimulus packages and out-of-control spending. Such gatherings will be taking place in Texas starting at 11 a.m. There will be a party in Austin at the state Capitol. Read More» [89]

Just as legislators are being asked to allow casino gambling and slot machines as a way to raise more tax revenues, word comes out that the Texas Racing Commission has a $700,000 budget shortfall and is asking taxpayers to cough up the money. I thought gambling was supposed to be the mighty savior that brings in free money that will solve our financial woes? Read More» [90]

Taxpayer outrage forced the City of Houston to cancel a program that would have seen taxpayer-funds used to pay off other people's credit card debt -- all in the name of encouraging folks with bad credit scores to have ready access to home mortgages. Apparently the city council hadn't been paying attention to the national financial news. But they did pay attention to their constituents, thanks to the Houston Chronicle and the work of TFR and other outlets. Read More» [91]

Now is not the time for state leadership to lose their heads and begin enacting laws that would increase taxation by expanding programs. But that's exactly what State Senator Rodney Ellis (D-Houston) is proposing. Read More» [92]

Texas has become the latest state to introduce a resolution regarding the 10th amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Read More» [93]

Everyone keeps hoping Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison might finally show some of the leadership her rhetoric suggests she has. Everyone keeps being disappointed. She told the Austin American Statesman [94] that even though she likes the earmark reform concept, she isn't going to tell anyone what earmarks she's requesting. So is this a case of "accountability for thee but not for me"? What is she hiding? And she wants to be our governor?

Texas Gov. Rick Perry has been one of most vocal critics of the federal porkulus package, so it was a shock to see headlines screaming that Perry was asking President Obama for a big slice. Is it time to pounce on this breach of fiscal faith? Read More» [95]

Right now the yellow jersey for leading the assault on private property rights belongs to the Texas Restaurant Association. The TRA, until yesterday, had been perhaps the staunchest opponent to a statewide smoking ban but is now formally supporting the measure. Read More» [96]

Just when taxpayers thought they were safe from the anti-taxpayer ways of former State Rep. Fred Hill, he's back. Hill used to draw $600 per month from the public treasury as a member of the Legislature working against taxpayer interests. Less than a month after leaving office, Hill is still working against taxpayer interests as a lobbyist, paid for by taxpayer dollars. The only difference? Now he is raking in six-figure fees from the public coffers. Read More» [97]

For the second year in a row Dallas must look for ways to cut the budget or risk operating in the red. Last year city management was able to balance the budget with a range of maneuvers but the gap covered was half as large as this year’s and the economy was not in near the shape it is today. Read More» [98]

How does your school district spend your money? Betcha you can't find out... That's why taxpayers should be contacting their lawmakers in support of legislation filed State Rep. Mark Strama [99] (D-Austin), H.B. 1314, and State Rep. Brandon Creighton [100] (R-Conroe), H.B. 1307. Of the two, Creighton's HB 1307 is more comprehensive. Both would shine much-needed sunlight on Texas' public education spending. Read More» [101]

A high school athlete steroid testing program cost taxpayers $6 million, but found the purported problem wasn't all it was cracked up to be. Read More» [102]

North Texas officials are asking for help after overextending themselves to pay for taxpayer funded lobbying. The Metroplex is currently on the hook for over a $250,000 in a deal that, according to the Fort Worth Star Telegram is still a work in progress. Mayors Ken Shetter of Burleson and Oscar Trevino of North Richland Hills are asking for help from suburbs not currently involved in lobbying efforts to bring higher taxes to the Metroplex. Read More» [103]

A San Antonio lawmaker wants to ditch the ban on Sunday liquor sales so the state can grab the extra tax money as the legislature grapples with a $9 billion revenue shortfall. He's not the only one looking to balance the books with booze; the Association Press reports five other states are looking to lift Sunday bans. Read More» [104]

Setting aside the Select Committee on Federal Pork [105], the tax-and-spending committee chairmanships granted by Speaker Joe Straus offer little comfort for taxpayers, but there are some bright spots among the appointments. Read More» [106]

While Texans are overwhelmingly opposed to the pork-fest activities in Washington, our new House Speaker has set the stage for amassing major debt in the Lone Star State by appointing government-grower extraordinaire Jim Dunnam (D-Waco) to chair a select committee charged with asking for, and recklessly spending, Obama's stimulus package. Make no mistake: this is bad news for Texas' taxpayers. Read More» [107]

A staggering economy, jobs disappearing and businesses failing. So what's State Sen. John Carona's solution? Tax hikes and tax increases. Way to go, John Carona... Is he really a Republican? Read More» [108]

We were one of several research, business, and taxpayer groups holding a press conference at the Capitol today, establishing a set of guidelines for the Legislature in drafting an effective, fiscally responsible state budget. Read More» [109]

The 81st Session of the Texas Legislature started four weeks ago, but you wouldn't know it from the lack of activity on the House side the Capitol. Committees have not yet been assigned, which means no legislation, no debates, no hearings, no votes. But is that such a bad thing? Read More» [110]

A coalition of conservative Texas legislators today announced their fiscal priorities for the session "to help keep our economy strong and growing" by noting that the economic climate has been caused by "poor decision-making in Washington D.C. and lack of responsibility on Wall Street." High on their list: real reductions in property taxes. Read More» [111]

The head of the University of Texas Investment Management Company suddenly announced his resignation on Thursday after being roundly criticized by the Governor, Lt. Governor and Senate Finance Committee over $3 million in bonuses paid to employees -- including $1 million to the CEO, Bruce Zimmerman -- at a time when the fund hasn't been performing. Sen. Kevin Eltife of Tyler chastised UTIMCO, “This is shameful. Most people out there on the street are scared to death and we just paid you a million-dollar bonus.” Read More» [112]

Texas is historically a “red state” but we’re in danger of becoming a state in the red if Republicans don’t govern with the conservative principles on which they were elected.

Representative Jim Pitts, R-Waxahachie has co-authored a H.C.R 29 [113] with two Democrats from El Paso that would expand the reach of government by allowing Texas to apply for aid from the federal government through the U.S. House passed stimulus package. Read More» [114]

Two weeks ago in an Empower Texans interview, Governor Perry condemned the bailout mentality that is sweeping the states of our nation. Gov. Perry and fellow Gov. Mark Sanford of South Carolina have rightly said that states should exercise restraint when it comes to accepting federal dollars.

Now, members of the El Paso delegation [115]are trying to circumvent the sound policy stance of Gov. Perry and introduce resolutions in both bodies that would request bailout dollars on behalf of Texas. Read More» [116]

Taxpayer hero Ken Paxton [117], a state rep from McKinney, today filed legislation that would strengthen Texas’ notoriously flimsy spending limitation. His measure would add population growth to inflation, on a six-year rolling average, and lawmakers would have to use that number or the current measurement – whichever is lower. Read More» [118]

On the one hand, the City of Austin is spending almost $1 million of the taxpayers money to lobby legislators. On the other hand, residents can expect reduced services as the city faces a large budget shortfall. Why not cut out the taxpayer-funded lobbyists? [119] Read More» [120]

Ronald Reagan said a government office "is the closest thing to eternal life we will ever see in this world." Which is why the rush to grab the federal government's so-called stimulus money is worrisome. Texas House members last week to a tentative step in reaching for the tainted dough -- and straddling taxpayers with big ongoing costs. Read More» [121]

I just got an e-mail from State Representative Ken Paxton, something he apparently sends to his constituents, in which he writes about the need for a strong spending limit in Texas. I wish my legislators knew was spending limits were... Can Paxton by my State Representative in absentia? Read More» [122]

What a surprise: Austin's "commuter rail" program already has experienced 17-percent in cost overruns, and the first passenger hasn't even stepped on-board. And that's just what the transit agency is acknowledging. Read More» [123]

In voting for the $819 billion pork barrel monstrosity jokingly called a stimulus package, US Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Austin) said he was concerned about the cost, "but even Sen. John McCain's economic advisor urged it's approval." Talk about providing aid and comfort...

Watching the State of the State address from the House Gallery, the president of Texans for Fiscal Responsibility said on Gov. Rick Perry’s speech was a positive one for Texas' taxpayers. Read More» [124]

Following is the text of Governor Rick Perry's "State of the State" Address offered at 11:15 a.m. on Tuesday, January 27, 2009, in accordance with the Texas Constitution. Read More» [125]

So lots of money is spent lobbying Texas state legislators. And that, we are told, is a bad thing. Left unconsidered is why so much is spent in the first place. The answer? Government's power over your land, your home, your business, your wallet, your children, and your health. It is power that is substantial and growing each time lawmakers meet. Read More» [126]

Texas Legislators need to pay careful attention to the stimulus package being crafted by the new administration and the impact that it could have on our state’s budget. Read More» [127]

According to the Longview News-Journal currently unemployed Texans and those in danger of losing their posts need not worry, the state isn’t cutting benefits. But given the alternatives it might be time to reconsider. Read More» [128]

Everyone is about to get a refresher-course on the efficiency inspired by scarcity. According to press reports, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst wants to get more eligible kids on the state health insurance program. But he’s also committed to keeping the overall budget growth low. The solution? Policy trade-offs. Read More» [129]

As the economy slows, the Dallas Morning News wants Texas to implement the same environmental regimen that has been killing jobs all around the nation. Their headline says it all [130], "Lawmakers need an environmental stick." The DMN needs that stick applied to their head. Such regulation -- the sticks -- is all too often about shutting down business, not improving public safety, in the name of the environmental religion. Read More» [131]

It's early, and the details aren't clear, but the new state budget has only a 1-percent growth rate [132]. Of course, that's the starting point. Over the next three months the budget will change, and change a lot. But it's encouraging to see that at least at the outset, budget writers understand the free-spending ways of the 2005 legislative session are long gone.

With property taxes in Texas at near-confiscatory levels, State Rep. Phil King of Weatherford [133] has been leading the charge to eliminate the scheme altogether. He's taken a step in making that happen by introducing a constitutional amendment that would begin devoting a portion of future surplus dollars to property tax relief. Legislators should be encouraged [134] to back HJR 38. Read More» [135]

El Paso has been the center of a lot of controversy lately. First, the City Council voted unanimously in favor of a debate on drug policy. When Mayor John Cook vetoed the resolution, several legislators quickly discouraged the City Council from overriding his veto. They had unanimously agreed to something as well. Read More» [136]

Texans are now officially locked out of the more interesting discussions at the Capitol. House members voted to exclude their caucus meetings from the state's open meetings laws. State Rep. Charlie Geren (R-Fort Worth) defended the action, saying the caucuses "are a lot like making sausages and that's something you don't really want to watch anyway." Really? We have teams of inspectors who watch closely every detail of the sausage-making process for safety purposes. But the people just supposed to trust Charlie and the boys? Read More» [137]

Austin City Manager Marc Ott is rolling out a new initiative, calling on his employees to identify ways the city can trim its budget. In a time when Austinites are having to do the same this is a welcome sight.

The program is called Dollars and Cents and at the onset it is designed trim the budget by 2 percent. Employee’s cost-cutting ideas will be presented to the city council next month. Read More» [138]

Today House members voted to increase their operating budgets and raise the salary cap for legislative employees. While small businesses are tightening their belts, legislators are adding notches.

Under the new rules, legislators will get an extra $1,000 per month to run their offices. At the same time they raised the amount they can carry forward from $15,000 to $25,000. Read More» [139]

In the past year, at least two studies have been done examining the use of red light traffic cameras in Texas, many of which are in Houston. The first states that intersections with the cameras actually saw an increase in auto accidents, while the second study finds that some of those intersections saw decreases in crashes. Read More» [142]

A worsening national economy means Texas lawmakers are going to have almost $9 billion less in tax money to spend this Session than last. Talmadge Heflin over at the Texas Public Policy Foundation [143] says the "Legislature needs to demonstrate leadership this year by pruning state spending now" or risk severe problems in the near future. Read More» [144]

State Rep. Hubert Vo wants to let 17-year-olds vote in party primaries. The Houston Democrat/slumlord [145] introduced a Constitutional Amendment 34 that will let anyone vote in the primaries who "will be 18 years of age or older on the date of the subsequent general election." This sounds like a massive hassle for county voter registrars, not to mention a whole new arena for voter fraud.

Every Session bills are filed in the Texas House that range from the humorous to the inane. But of all the work lawmakers face this Session, none might be less relevant to modern life than re-desingating the official state dinosaur. Didn't know we had one, did you? Read More» [146]

A few days ago, Texas Transportation Department director Amadeo Saenz announced, “the Trans-Texas Corridor (TTC) as it is known, will no longer exist [147]”. The TTC was an extremely controversial toll road plan that has drawn negative attention to both TxDOT and Governor Rick Perry. Read More» [148]

Two years ago I was frustrated that Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst wasn’t pushing to use the entire surplus on immediate tax relief. Dewhurst said he was worried that the national economy would continue to decline and it would affect the Lone Star State. As it turns out, Dewhurst’s concerns were well-founded. He was right. Read More» [149]

The author of the first tax-killing legislation in recent memory? Joe Straus of San Antonio. He was the lead author of HB735, which eliminated the outdated and no longer needed TIF tax on telephone service. That was one of the best pieces of legislation to come out of the 80th legislative session.

For months we've heard that Tom Craddick was too tight with the Austin lobby and that that was just unacceptable. The ascendancy of legislative newcomer Joe Straus was to be a balm for the state's ethical soul. But just 24 hours in and we learn his entire speakership was conceived months ago by Austin lobbyists, according to a reporter's blog post at the Austin American Statesman [150]. Read More» [151]

There can be no sacred cows in the state's budget -- and that includes public education. Lawmakers will come to Austin with a softening national economy and the effects are being felt in the Permanent School Fund, which draws investment income from state mineral leases. The Fund, used to purchase textbooks, has seen its value drop over the last two years, which means some textbook funding will need to come from general revenues. Read More» [152]

Just what we need: higher taxes. But that’s what the El Paso Times wants, er, um, that’s what they say an Oil Paso oil man wants. Not the newspaper, no sir. The editorial board is just wants everyone to “stop and think” about the silly proposals of Western Refining CEO Paul Foster. Read More» [153]

Unless something unexpected happens (which has defined the process up until now), the next speaker of the Texas House will be Joe Straus (R-San Antonio). He this evening surpassed 98 pledges of support (needing only 76) and the remaining Republican candidates bowed out. Read More» [154]

So State Rep. John Smithee of Amarillo is now officially "in" as a candidate for House Speaker. A member of the Legislature since 1984, he is one of only 15 House members to receive our "Texas Taxpayer Hero Award" for his outstanding representation in the 2007 session. He had a 91% score on the Fiscal Responsibility Index. Read More» [155]

The media is a’ flutter with news that 11 Republican members have chosen someone they want to replace incumbent House Speaker Tom Craddick (apparently the remaining 65 are happy with Craddick), and that these “anybody but Craddick” Republicans are working to get 64 Democrats who dislike Craddick to vote for their man (apparently the 10 Democrats remaining like Craddick). Confused? It's hard to pin down the shifting alliances in the Texas House, and Texas taxpayers should be careful about too readily embracing any of them. These people are all politicians, let us not forget. Read More» [156]

There are now 12 House members who have stepped forward as declared candidates against incumbent Speaker Tom Craddick (R-Midland). That’s seven Republicans and five Democrats. We’ve put together an updated list of how they scored voting with Texas’ taxpayers, as measured by our Fiscal Responsibility Index [157]. Read More» [158]

With state agencies leaving nearly $1 billion in fees and fines uncollected, taxpayers are potentially on the hook for picking up those operating costs. TFR's Michael Quinn Sullivan told the Associated Press it's "incumbent on our state agencies to collect these fees." The El Paso Times editorial board [159] agreed, noting, "Texas taxpayers are paying more than enough already without having to underwrite fines and fees that are going uncollected."

For years the debate over illegal immigration and its costs has been waged in the realm of anecdote and assumption; hardly the stuff of good public policy. State Rep. John Zerwas (R-Houston) is proposing a radical step: start collecting reliable data. Read More» [160]

Of the 74 Democrats in the Texas House, 64 of them have been asked by 11 Republicans to pick the next Speaker of the Texas House. Read More» [161]

Cleburne ISD (mis)spent $367,000 of federal funds to, among other things, build a waterslide and rent an inflatable alligator. What, precisely, an inflatable alligator has to do with reading instruction is left unanswered. According to U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK), this little gem was uncovered (pdf page 10) [162] by the Texas Education Agency because local school officials failed to provide "lesson plans or other documentation" regarding the expenditure. Just goes to show, an alligator always gets you in the... wallet. Read More» [163]

You have to admit it, Rick Perry is right about at least one thing: new taxes would “sour the Texas economy.” With the national economy in the tank, and Texas still comparatively well-off, legislators will have to work hard to keep the state out of California-like insolvency that occurs when legislators try to tax and spend themselves into prosperity. Read More» [164]

Legislators yesterday called the Texas Department of Transportation "a mess" and "out of control." The Sunset Advisory Commission, composed primarily of House and Senate members, have been reviewing TxDOT's performance, or lack thereof. They voted to recommend their colleagues re-structure the agency. There has been growing bad blood between legislators and TxDOT, fueled over the public perceptions around the Trans Texas Corridor, taxpayer-funded advertising, a poor financial controls. Read More» [165]

In honor of Bill of Rights day, I feel that it is important to evaluate the effectiveness of market restrictions on our right to keep and bear arms. Read More» [166]

Even ideas are known by the company they keep. Disgraced and indicted Illinois Gov. Rod "Show Me The Money" Blagojevich is hard at work today signing subsidies for the movie industry. While facing legal action for soliciting bribes in exchange for filling the Senate seat left open by Barack Obama, Blagovich is using taxpayer dollars to bribe moviemakers to come to Illinois. Says something about the morality of the entire scheme, doesn't it? Read More» [167]

It was 217 years ago today that our nation's Bill of Rights went into effect, having been ratified by three-fourths of the states. These first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution, authored primarily by James Madison, were designed to accomplish two ends: firmly limiting the powers of the new federal government and clearly defining the rights of individuals. Read More» [168]

Now that the dust from the election has settled, we can see more clearly the direction in which we should proceed;or can we? Read More» [169]

At this rate, more lawmakers will be declared candidates for speaker than aren't. The latest is State Rep. Edmund Kuempel (R-Seguin). One the Fiscal Responsibility Index he voted with taxpayers 64 percent of the time.

Expect lawmakers to once again seek to take money from your pocket and hand it over to Hollywood producers in the name of “economic development.” They want to follow the lead of Michigan, New Mexico and California in kissing up to the movie industry… Never mind those states are all in economic shambles, precisely because of such fiscally reckless endeavors. Read More» [170]

The only change on this issue is your surface ownership taxes will increase.

Eminent domain is not a glamorous issue, but it is an important one. Property rights advocates won a small victory in 2007 when Texans voted for Proposition 7. This was a step in the right direction, but we still have a lot of work to do. Read More» [171]

The session is coming and with it the customary biennial surplus predictions. Factors such as revenue from a contrived business tax, a natural disaster and a faltering national economy will impact the number but whatever the final tally the Lege should pretend the surplus does not exist. Read More» [172]

A couple weeks ago we compared the scores of the House Speaker candidates [173] on the Fiscal Responsibility Index, which describes how often lawmakers vote in the best interest of taxpayers. Another legislator has thrown his hat in the ring; State Rep. Byron Cook (R-Corsicanna) filed his paperwork to run for speaker. Read More» [174]

After a recent TFR speaking engagement a group formed as we were leaving to lamenting the fact that congress was considering a bailout for auto makers. A bailout that now seems imminent.

They were saying "did you hear the execs flew private jets to speak to congress (total cost $20,000 round trip). There won't be any change after the bailout and we will have to bail them out again. Their CEOs are paid huge sums and for what, rearranging deck chairs on the titanic."

Taking in these comments I could not help but think of our state's public education system. Read More» [175]

Embattled North Forest ISD has taken another hit, according to the Houston Chronicle, losing its bid for a massive tax increase. The measure failed by a 4-1 margin - thanks in large part to ACORN. Read More» [176]

State Rep. David Leibowitz wants you to do something about bullying. Specifically, the Helotes Democrat wants to use your money to pay for a bullying hotline [177] that a "primary or secondary school student" can use to "report an incident of bullying." Read More» [178]

Didn't the election cycle just end? Yes, but everyone's chattering about U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison's exploratory filings for the governorship in 2010, challenging incumbent governor Rick Perry. Expect the race to help shape and color the 2009 legislative session -- that period of policy-making the interrupts campaigns. Read More» [179]

Texas Comptroller Susan Combs continues to do right by taxpayers in supporting strong, pro-taxpayer efforts that increase transparency and efficiency. Her office this week unveiled “Open Book Texas” [180] that seeks to do even more by consolidating bulk-purchasing while giving local governments access to transparency tools. Sounds really wonkish, but the savings are very real. Read More» [181]

So the nation's governors are asking for a collective bail-out. Their profligate spending, patterned after the excess of Washington, has left states gasping for cash. Well, not every governor or every state. Texas' Rick Perry and South Carolina's Mark Sanford are saying thanks, but no thanks. Read More» [182]

When legislators gather in Austin, we might ask they take the Hippocratic Oath usually reserved for doctors. Or at least the part about "never do harm" as it regards our state economy. Texas Workforce Commission chairman Tom Pauken writes this week that while states like Michigan have a 9.6 percent unemployment rate and the nation lost 1.1 million jobs, Texas has a relatively low 5.6 unemployment rate and posted a quarter-million new jobs. Read More» [183]

Public policy efforts have real and lasting results, for well or for ill. For years Texans suffered under a hideous tort environment that enriched trial lawyers (who now use those profits to fully underwrite the liberal political movement in Texas and own the Democratic Party) at the expense of good medical care. With the historic tort reforms passed in 2003, medical specialists are coming to Texas in droves. The Graham Leader reports [184] the number of doctor licenses have risen 44 percent in two years. Read More» [185]

On a Saturday in November, less than 5 percent of the registered voters in the Humble school district foisted a massive tax hike on everyone else. The system of letting such important matters be decided on non-standard election dates – and by so few people – has got to change. This makes a mockery of democracy. Read More» [186]

Talk about misplaced priorities... Alvin ISD is getting fined $1,800 because one kid shared some pizza. It seems the sharing of non-approved pizza is a big bureaucratic no-no, and was witnessed by a Texas Department of Agriculture monitor. Since 2004, schools have had to squash such nefarious activity or face stiff penalties from the Ag department. Read More» [187]

With the national economic outlook continuing to look dim, Texans must insist that the Legislature focus on policies that ensure the state’s fiscal soundness. Whoever leads the Texas House must be committed to spending restraint, low taxes, property tax reform and a competitive business environment, the president of the state’s most active taxpayer accountability group said today. Read More» [188]

We think we know the story of Thanksgiving: That the pilgrims landed on Plymouth Rock, faced a harsh winter, famine and disease, and then only with the help of friendly natives learned how to survive. It’s nice for bed-time stories, and feel-good paintings, but it ignores the most important lessons of our early history. Read More» [189]

Texas has led the way in transparency and open-government, from our open meetings and records laws to recent victories in posting expenditures in real-time. Texans enjoy unprecedented sunlight in knowing how tax dollars are used and elected officials act. But now some lawmakers want to turn back the clock by hiding their voting record from the public. Read More» [190]

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 [191]. Read More» [192]

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» [193]

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» [194]

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» [195]

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. [196] Read More» [197]

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» [198]

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" [199] 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 [200] 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» [201]

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» [202]

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» [203]

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» [204]

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» [205]

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» [206]

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» [207]

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 [208] 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» [209]

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» [210]

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» [211]

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» [212]

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» [213]

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» [214]

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» [215]

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 [216] has a 12-point lead. Read More» [217]

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» [218]

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» [219]

We reported yesterday the death of the TIF tax [220] 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» [221]

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» [222]

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» [223]

Just six months ago the Houston Chronicle editorial board was chastising State Rep. Hubert Vo for being a “slumlord.” [224] 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» [225]

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» [226]

From the Urban Forestry Files: The Statesman is reporting 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» [227]

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» [228]

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» [229]

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» [230]

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» [231]

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» [232]

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» [233]

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» [234]

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» [235]

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» [236]

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» [237]

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» [238]

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» [239]

The transcript for this week's video, Is The Classroom A Worksite? [240], is now available. Read More» [241]

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» [242]

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» [243]

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» [244]

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» [245]

We noted yesterday the $400 million the Dallas City Council wants to spend [246] 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." [247] 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» [248]

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» [249]

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» [250]

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 [251].

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» [252]

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» [253]

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» [254]

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» [255]

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» [256]

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» [257]

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» [258]

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 " to hire lobbyists for the legislative session. Their goal? To raise taxes in north Texas. Read More» [259]

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» [260]

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» [261]

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» [262]

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» [263]

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» [264]

Texas Rep. Charlie Howard R-Sugar Land crashed Fort Bend ISD’s 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» [265]

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» [266]

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» [267]

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» [268]

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» [269]

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» [270]

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» [271]

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» [272]

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» [273]

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 [274] 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» [275]

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 [276]." Since when did skipping out on the taxpayers become an issue of national security? Read More» [277]

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» [278]

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 [279] that Craddick has "accomplished several things for the Permian Basin region." Read More» [280]

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 [281]. Read More» [282]

Dallas' homeless Czar is looking to increase the size of his kingdom with a $40 million expenditure. The Dallas Morning News [283] is reporting on a plan that would construct up to 700 homes for the homeless. Read More» [284]

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» [285]

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» [286]

A new poll from the University of Texas' Government Department and the Texas Politics project finds Texans are underwhelmed by their public schools [287]. 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» [288]

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 [289] they're going to live with the existing tax rate. Read More» [290]

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» [291]

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» [292]

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» [293]

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» [294]

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» [295]

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» [296]

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 [297] for the pleasure. Just two weeks ago the Dallas city manager said they need to consider a tax increase [298] 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» [299]

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» [300]

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» [301]

Superintendent Jennings Teel and Navasota ISD [302] 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» [303]

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» [304]

All for outrageous spending by Fort Worth area schools stand up and holler. The Star Telegram 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". Read More» [305]

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» [306]

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» [307]

Further confirmation that Barack Obama will be dumping millions of dollars into Texas was noted in the Houston Chronicle [308] 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» [309]

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» [310]

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» [311]

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 [312] 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» [313]

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» [314]

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 [315] 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» [316]

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» [317]

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» [318]

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» [319]

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» [320]

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. Read More» [321]

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» [322]

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» [323]

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» [324]

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 [325]. 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 [326] 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» [327]

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» [328]

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 [329] that will help Democrats draw left-friendly seats -- and punish Republicans. Read More» [330]

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» [331]

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» [332]

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» [333]

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» [334]

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» [335]

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! Read More» [336]

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» [337]

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» [338]

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 [339], 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) [340] fighting in Washington.