Commonsense, bi-partisan measures have been presented that would clarify the budget writing and reporting process, providing much needed transparency to a Texas budgetary format marked by a quagmire of confusion.

From the unsustainable expansion of entitlements and spending to the
colossal national debt and a nearly indiscernible tax code, Washington
has a habit of taking control of things and promptly making a mess of
them.

Two months ago the Senate passed it’s eminent domain bill (SB18) that doesn’t necessarily do additional harm to private property rights, but certainly left major room for improvement. Wednesday, the House has it’s opportunity to drastically improve this bill by adding necessary property rights protections.

In the midst of legislative efforts to further enhance private property rights making their way through the legislative process, two other bills taking the stage on the house floor today (HB 364) and Monday (HB 365) would instead unravel what property rights protections Texans have already rightly established.

A bill filed by Reps. William Callegari and Erwin Cain aims to increase government efficiency by emphasizing government employee performance over longevity.

Even though the House Appropriations Committee stopped with $800 million in budget cuts, conservative lawmakers kept looking for more ways to reduce spending and protect the state’s rainy day fund dollars.

A poorly prepared report from the Legislative Budget Board became fodder for liberals demanding budget bloat. House Speaker Joe Straus and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst pushed back with the truth.

After campaigning as a strong fiscal conservative, pledging to protect the taxpayer by opposing tax increases, and riding the ‘tea party wave’ back into office in November, it would seem that Rep. Jim Murphy (R-Houston) has forgotten the promises he made to his constituents on the campaign trail.