- Forcing the State to Live Within Its Means (Page 411)
Authored by State Rep. Mike Lang (R–Granbury), this amendment would protect the Economic Stabilization Fund (also known as the Rainy Day Fund) by cutting the budget across the board by a small percentage.
The Rainy Day Fund was created for, as the name implies, “rainy days” when the state’s revenues aren’t sufficient for its bills. But with Texas bringing in more revenues than last session there isn’t a cloud in the sky. The truth is that Texas doesn’t have a revenue problem; it has a spending problem and Lang’s amendment is a good cure.
- Paycheck Protection (Page 371)
Authored by State Rep. Jason Isaac (R–Dripping Springs), this amendment would prevent the government from deducting union dues from public employee paychecks.
Ending government collection of union dues has been a priority for Republicans for a number of years. They rightly argue that assisting left-leaning labor unions in collecting revenues for Democrat campaign spending is not a proper role of government. Legislation to stop the practice has already passed the Texas Senate, but faces an uphill battle in the House where State Rep. Byron Cook (R–Corsicana) killed it last session.
- Privacy Protection (Page 369)
Authored by State Rep. Valoree Swanson (R–Spring), this amendment would prevent government institutions which receive funding under the budget from allowing men to enter women’s bathrooms, showers, and locker rooms.
The “Bathroom Battle” has been raging in the Texas Legislature and across the nation as left-leaning business organizations pressure establishment Republicans into supporting the radical left’s campaign to redefine gender. Texas shouldn’t place women in harm’s way to appease far-left activists with eccentric gender theories.
- No More Music Marketing (Page 61)
Authored by State Rep. Matt Shaheen (R–Plano), this amendment would eliminate the Governor’s Texas Film and Music Marketing program, saving almost $10 million.
Conservatives in the Texas Legislature have long targeted this fund as one of the most egregious examples of corporate welfare. At all times, but especially in a tight budget cycle, lawmakers should be reserving taxpayer dollars for core functions of government.
- No More Bingo Cops (Page 331)
Authored by State Rep. Kyle Biedermann (R–Fredericksburg), this amendment would eliminate Bingo Education and the Bingo Cops, providing the state a savings of $3.4 million.
Believe it or not, Texas actually employs individuals to enforce regulations on the game of bingo—ensuring the game is played fairly with proper state-approved products. Somehow, we believe Texas will manage to make do without state bingo enforcers.
State Rep. Briscoe Cain (R–Deer Park) has a similar amendment.
- End Tax-Funded Lobbying (Page 367)
Authored by State Rep. Valoree Swanson (R–Spring), this amendment would prevent governments from using appropriated funds to hire lobbyists to lobby the Texas Legislature.
Across the state of Texas, taxpayers are constantly forced to subsidize the lobby agendas of cities, school districts, and counties whose interests do not always align with their constituents. In fact, often these local governments use tax dollars to fight against things like property tax relief, ballot integrity, and election reform. Ending this practice would be a major victory for taxpayers.
- Defund Commission on the Arts (Page 3)
Authored by State Rep. Tony Tinderholt (R–Arlington), this amendment would eliminate the Commission on the Arts, saving almost $14 million.
Much like the Texas Film and Music Marketing program, the Commission on the Arts spends taxpayer money on pet projects outside of core functions of government.
- Driving Out Corporate Welfare (Page 55)
Authored by State Rep. Matt Rinaldi (R–Irving), this amendment zeroes-out the Texas Enterprise Fund and redirects the $43 million within the account into the Texas Department of Transportation’s State Highway Fund. His amendment also prevents the funding from being used to pay for toll roads.
Ending the Texas Enterprise Fund, an inefficient slush fund for the governor to hand out corporate welfare, and returning taxpayer dollars to a core government function would be a major conservative victory.
- No Sex Changes for Convicts (Page 283)
Authored by State Rep. Briscoe Cain (R–Deer Park), this amendment would prevent the Texas Department of Criminal Justice from providing inmates sexual re-assignment surgery.
With radical gender theory continuing to find a place in law and such a practice already being conducted in California, this amendment is a necessary defense to prevent taxpayers from being forced to subsidize such behavior.
- Cut Funding to Universities with Illegal Immigrants (Page 242)
Authored by State Rep. Jonathan Stickland (R–Bedford), this amendment would remove illegal immigrants from the funding formula for Texas colleges and universities.
Texas taxpayers should not be on the hook for providing in-state tuition for illegal immigrants.
