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Defending the Spendoholics?

by | Jun. 11, 2007 | State

On the website, in e-mails, and recent speeches, TFR hasn’t been bashful about calling out the Tax-and-Spenders infesting the Republican Party’s legislative delegation. By their actions (stopping additional tax relief, preventing tax reform, sponsoring tax hikes,...

Frustrated Taxpayers

by | Jun. 7, 2007 | State

Sitting in the back of the Laredo auditorium on Wednesday night, I was struck by the level of frustration. These were hard-working folks I was listening to, most arrived in pick-ups and older cars; none belonged to a country club.  The event was a free training...

Robin Armstrong

by | Jun. 6, 2007 | State

I had the pleasure of sharing a podium last night with Robin Armstrong, vice chairman of the Texas Republican Party. We were speaking at an event in Horseshoe Bay (Llano County). A practicing physcian (and a fellow graduate of Texas A&M), Robin has risen quickly...

Pitt$ Fiscal Hypocrisy

by | May. 27, 2007 | State

State Rep. Jim Pitts should be ashamed of his bald-faced hypocrisy. Jim Pitts is saying tonight that he is voting against the budget on the grounds that it represents an irresponsible jump in state spending, and criticizes it for being laden with pork. This begs a...

Who in the Fred Hill is being represented?

by | May. 26, 2007 | State

For Texas taxpayers, the record of State Rep. Fred Hill (R-Richardson) adds up to higher taxes. The Dallas Morning News is reporting in today’s edition that residents in Mr. Hill’s home county of Dallas had a “sharp increase” in property tax appraisals –...

Senate (Finally) Passes TIF Tax Repeal

by | May. 23, 2007 | State

The Senate this evening finally passed House Bill 735, legislation that represents one of the largest tax cuts in Texas history. The House version had the tax cut going into effect immediately, but the Senate opted to keep taking the tax for one more year. This is a...

No Tax Reform, But An Industry Blooms

by | May. 22, 2007 | State

Remember the campaign promises for property tax relief? Seen your latest property tax bill? The rates are going down (a little, because of the 2006 tax swap), but the bills are going up (a lot, thanks to appraisal creep).  Six days remain in the legislative...

That ticking sound from Austin

by | May. 18, 2007 | State

With just 10 days left in the legislative session, time is running out. On the one hand, that is a good thing – less time for bad things to get done. On the other, it’s less time for good things to be accomplished. Either way, the clock is ticking. Here are some...

Texas House turns tax cut into spending increase

by | May. 10, 2007 | State

I've never seen anything quite like it. The Texas House today turned a $2.5 billion tax cut (H.B. 2785) into a $4.4 billion spending increase! Texans now know that too many legislators – Republicans and Democrats – are more interested in growing the size of...

Your Tax Relief On Life Support

by | May. 9, 2007 | State

It’s hard to believe I’m even having to write this: but your only shot at getting even a little bit of honest property tax relief is on life support, and hours away from death. Please call your legislator today and ask them to demand that House Bill 2785...

Senate Leaders Won’t Answer Taxpayers’ Calls

by | May. 4, 2007 | State

When the moderate to liberal editorial board of the San Antonio Express-News blasts ostensibly conservative Republican Senate leaders for not getting rid of an outrageous tax, something is seriously wrong in Austin. That is what happened earlier this week. While the...

Thousands of Texans Demand Budget Reform

by | May. 2, 2007 | State

Real Spending Limits, Budget Transparency Highlighted In Letters AUSTIN, Texas – By the thousands, Texans are demanding that the legislature act now on significant budget reforms that will provide for a strong spending limit and real spending transparency. Thousands...

More Taxes, Courtesy of Republican Fred Hill

by | Apr. 27, 2007 | Local

There was once a time when Republicans were known as the tax-cutters; people who – if nothing else – would work to make sure the taxpayers’ money stayed in the taxpayers’ wallet (as State Rep. Rob Eissler likes to say). That was then, this is now. State Rep....

House Votes to Stop Appraisal Districts from Suing Taxpayers

by | Apr. 27, 2007 | State

While little has been accomplished this session for taxpayers so far, some good news came today when the House unanimously  passed HB3490 which will prevent appraisal districts from suing property taxpayers when they win their appeal before the Appraisal Review Board...

Super-Subsidize Me

by | Apr. 16, 2007 | State

 It’s getting increasingly easy to get on the government gravy train. From movie studio execs to Ph.D. families, the hand-outs just don’t end in this Republican-controlled legislature. Small government. Right… This week, the Texas Senate’s...

Pauken Tries to Push Property Tax Relief Up the Hill

by | Apr. 15, 2007 | State

The Tyler Morning Telegraph has a revealing story today (see link or below) in which Tom Pauken, the chair of the Governor’s Property Tax Reform Task Force, is quoted stating how disappointed he is with the lack of progress so far.  He speaks candidly about...