The taxpayer-funded university’s focus on “LGBTQ friendliness” has earned it a 4.5 star-rating by an LGBT index.
Local
Did Fort Worth’s City Council Defy Abbott by Banning In-Person Worship?
Confusion surrounds conflicting statements from Fort Worth’s mayor, city council members, police department, and city attorney.
Cameron County Judge Ignores Abbott, Bans In-Person Easter Services
Among a slew of other restrictions, Judge Eddie Treviño Jr. stated he will not be allowing any in-person congregations or even drive-in services.
Dallas Bans In-Person Worship Services During Coronavirus Emergency
In apparent conflict with the governor’s edict, County Judge Clay Jenkins’ stay-at-home order restricts religious services to audio, video, and teleconference only.
Fleming: Citizens Must Hold Local Governments Accountable Over Coronavirus Response
“What we have seen is we have some elected officials who talk to citizens as if they’re children and have no common sense.”
MOST RECENT
Midland ISD Spends Big in Spite of Robin Hood Payment
In spite of a massive $118 million recapture payment, Midland ISD approves buying 116-acre golf course.
“California Refugee” Warns Texans: Don’t Make the Same Mistakes
Free-market economist Lydia Ortega encourages her new neighbors to avoid the trap of big government.
Austin’s New Cash Grab Threatens Seniors
Citizens pleaded for their homes, but Austin City Council wanted their cash more.
Amarillo City Council Approves Funding for “Technology Accelerator Program”
The $600,000 program is to be funded over the span of three years.
Williamson County Courts Flying LGBT Flag?
Two recently elected progressive judges wanted the county to publicly promote high-risk sexual behavior. On Tuesday, the county made a decision.
How Will Leander Move Forward from “Drag Queen Story Time”?
After a wildfire of controversy over the recent event, the city will have to decide if they still want to promote high-risk sexual behavior to the community—and to their children.
Plano Grassroots Cheer New Council Members
Hundreds celebrated the swearing-in of Lily Bao and Shelby Williams as Plano City Council members Tuesday night, after helping the two win June 8 runoffs.
Tarrant County Renews ICE Agreement
Commissioners vote 3-2 to approve continued cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Odessa to Circumvent Voter Approval for More Debt
In a move that circumvents voter approval, Odessa City Council will consider issuing debt obligations for upwards of $93 million.
Local Governments Favor Big Business over Taxpayers
Ben E. Keith to receive property tax reductions of up to 50 percent from both Fort Worth and Tarrant County.
ARCHIVE
Dems Lose On Birdwell (Get Used To It)
Texas Democrat’s frivolous lawsuit to knock state Sen. Brian Birdwell (R-Granbury) off the November ballot has been thwarted. But the perception that they’re anti-military has been accentuated. There was a previous determination that Mr. Birdwell was eligible, and he was resoundingly elected in a special election in June. But that didn’t stop the partisan scheme against a native Texan and retired Army officer who survived the 9/11 terrorist attack on the Pentagon.
Austin ISD and the quest to raise your taxes
KLBJ reported this afternoon that Austin ISD has a public meeting tonight to discuss a possible $.05 property tax increase, ostensibly to pay for teacher pay raises
Taxpayers on the hook for $2.4 trillion – in local gov’t debt
It’s much “sexier” for bloggers and the MSM to talk about the trillion-dollar national deficit and even Texas’ projected budget shortfall than about local government debt. But I like talking about pesky local government, mostly because I believe that the government closest to us also does the most damage.
“Happy Meal” Economics
The Williamson County Commissioners Court is being urged to adopt the effective tax rate raise taxes in order to push through a pay raise for county employees. After looking at the proposed tax hike, one advocate said, “There it is, in black and white. 3.43 a month. Cheaper than one happy meal.”
Oh! Well, if you put it that way. Just a “happy meal,” okay, well, go ahead then.
Never Let A Budget Crisis Go To Waste
President Obama’s chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, once said, “You never let a serious crisis go to waste. And what I mean by that it’s an opportunity to do things you think you could not do before.” Some Texas Democrats appear to be taking a page from his playbook, and are wanting to use the looming budget debate to enact a state income tax.
If It Quacks Like a Duck
It seems the folks over at the new Williamson County Employee’s Association are very worried that we might think the WCEA is a union, and are adamantly protesting the reference on their blogsite. The WCEA claim is that since they can neither strike nor engage in collective bargaining, they are really just loveable, harmless, little fuzzballs.
Can Conservative Complacency Bring Liberal’s Victory?
Conservatives are energized about the prospects of numerous electoral wins throughout the state in November. But don’t think for a moment that the other side has accepted this as inevitable. Even Williamson County, a conservative bastion in Central Texas that traditionally votes Republican, has a liberal Democratic state representative vying for re-election with major help from her friends.
Taxpayer Beware! Local government budget season has arrived
Brace yourselves, folks. Just yesterday, the Statesman’s Laylin Copelin reported that Travis County property appraisals had fallen 3.5% this year. Which means every taxing entity in the county that collects property taxes will lose revenue.
Royger’s Fork
One of the most reviled characters in English history was John Morton, Lord Chancellor and chief tax collector to the Tudor king Henry VII. Morton was known for an infamous logical fallacy: if a subject lived extravagantly, he must have plenty of money to pay hefty taxes; likewise, if he lived frugally, he must have ample savings and thus could also give generously for the king’s coffers.
Monument To Big Government… Literally
Conservatives like to joke about pork-barrel projects being a “monument to big government” or a “monument to waste.” Well, let this be a warning about how you joke in the future: the North Texas Toll Authority has now created a monument to big-government porkers. All big-spenders who just happen to still be spending your money.