Trustee Chad Green says “hypersexualized material provided by this board and administrators to minors is truly the issue.”
Local
Citizens Organize to Stop Austin City Council’s Destructive Decision
After the council’s controversial homeless decision sparked months of public chaos, Austinites are now campaigning to restore safety to their community and sanity to their local government.
Establishment Lawmakers Lining Up Support in 13th District Race
U.S. Rep. Will Hurd is the latest lawmaker to wade into the race to replace U.S. Rep. Mac Thornberry, lining up with fellow establishment lawmakers behind a lobbyist-turned-candidate.
Congressional District 11 Candidate Interview: Brandon Batch
In a continuing series of one-on-one interviews with the candidates running for Texas’ 11th Congressional District, Texas Scorecard sits down with Brandon Batch to discuss his campaign for Congress.
Noncitizen Convicted of Voter Fraud Faces Deportation
A Mexican national who went to prison for illegally voting in Texas elections is out on parole and awaiting deportation.
MOST RECENT
Challengers Seek to Reform Magnolia Independent School District
Establishment and newcomers vie over skyrocketing school property taxes and board members’ deference to school superintendent.
Is Conroe ISD Using Tax Dollars to Electioneer?
Tax-funded mailers only show voters the sunny side of proposed $807 million bond.
Amarillo PAC Launches Attack on City Council Challengers
Amarillo Matters launches mailer attacking challengers ahead of the May 4 municipal election.
Colleyville Mayor Supports Abbott’s 2.5 Percent Tax Reform
Mayor Newton expressed his support for property tax reform and relief, including Gov. Abbott’s plan that would give Texans a say on city, county, and school taxes.
Ethical Lapses Take Center Stage as Miller Runs for City Council
As TEC chairman’s wife runs for Dallas City Council, her campaign is clouded by unethical behavior.
Princeton ISD Proposes $237M in New Debt
District officials project enrollment will more than double during the next decade.
McKinney Pushes $350M in New Debt on May Ballot
The average McKinney homeowner’s city property tax bill increased 48 percent since 2013. More debt means higher property taxes.
Central Texas Mayors Unite Against Citizens
Several local mayors are adamantly opposed to giving any power to citizens.
Commentary: Mega Transit Agency in Valley Can’t Fix What’s Wrong with Transit Failures
The Texas Legislature needs to ‘Just Say No’ to creating a new Regional Transit Authority.
Taxpayers May Finally Get Answers on Billion-Dollar Bungle
Long-overdue audit of Fort Worth’s Panther Island boondoggle has begun.
ARCHIVE
Happiness Is Lubbock, Texas…
The old rock-country hit "Happiness is Lubbock, Texas, in My Rearview Mirror" had a tender, sappy-sweet quality to it. But sitting in the Lubbock airport after a great day visiting with our supporters and friends here in the Panhandle, we’re happy to report that Lubbock is just, generally, a great place to be. We’re sorry the Southwest flight is coming so quickly.
Polland For Senate? Hope So!
Last week’s announcement that State Sen. Kyle Janek of Houston isn’t seeking re-election has opened the gates of candidates rumored, potential and real. One name that’s surfaced is Gary Polland, a long-time conservative activist who lets his professional life (he’s a lawyer) fund his passion for right-thinking politics.
Please Call Again
According to KSAT, a San Antonio television station, more than 1,000 calls were made to the Bexar County courthouse by folks asking where to vote on this Super Tuesday. Of course, Texas’ primary isn’t held until March 4 — a month away.
The Grass is Always Greener…
On Wednesday the Houston City Council voted 9-5 in favor of an ordinance giving businesses the right to build electrified fences, which were previously forbidden.
ISD: Lie, Cheat, Steal
North Forest Independent School District in the Houston area is nearly bankrupt, having lied about student enrollment numbers, mismanaged the taxpayers’ cash, and cheated untold numbers of children out of an academic future. The response from the teacher union rep: worried that people might lose their jobs. That they haven’t already is part of the problem.
San Antonio Voters to Weigh $415 Million Tax Increase
The Bexar County Commissioners Court voted earlier this month to present  San Antonio area voters with a $415 million venue tax increase measure on the May ballot. While it would fund lots of nice-sounding goodies, increased hotel and rental car taxes have been proven to reduce tourism.
Taxpayers Got Hosed
Used to be selling your land to the government was a break-even proposition — you got what the government valued it at, or else. But the Austin City Council is much more progressive than that since, after all, it’s not their money. In looking to build a new water treatment plant (not exactly a tourist attraction), the city found land that they valued at $28 million. The owners said it was worth $39 million. The land was on the tax rolls for $5.8 million. So, of course, taxpayers are coughing up $32 million.
Running For Nothing
Never has a better small-government campaign been mounted than the one in Kerr County for the position of treasurer. Republican Ed Hamilton says that if he’s elected, he won’t do a single thing — he won’t even take the $46,000-per-year paycheck. Hamilton says the position is duplicative and could be handled more effectively elsewhere in county government.
Clucking Hysteria
Hysterical pronouncements by politicians can lead to both bad policy and higher costs. You don’t get much more hysterical than Arlington Mayor Robert Cluck, who told an audience that simply breathing the air in some parts of Texas places people “as at [much] risk for cancer as a smoker." Cluck-cluck, clucks Cluck.
Dallas News Highlights Random Unfairness of Property Taxes
The Dallas Morning News reports that only 7 percent of homeowners challenged their 2006 appraisals. Although 54 percent of protesters got some relief, Richard Whittle was denied when he challenged the increase of his one-story Garland house by 67 percent to $135,490 in 2006.