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.
TCollins
5% Solution
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.
Perry Sets December 16 For Senate Run-Off
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.
Voting Early (And Dead?)
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.
Bumping A Non-Bonus Bonus
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.
Wrong Change
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.
At DFW, Your Dollars Fly Away
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.
Teacher Blows Whistle On Fraud
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.
Readin’, Writin’ and Diaperin’
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.