Asbestos lawsuit trial lawyer Fred Baron of Dallas might wish he has some of that magic material, given the heat he’s getting for paying hush-money, er “assistance” to liberal former senator/presidential candidate John Edwards’ mistress. It’s unclear how much he paid out, but he has been on the chief underwriters of the left in Texas — spending $1.82 million in this election season alone.

What a surprise, the superfluous “children’s” hospital in El Paso is going to add an additional burden on already overwhelmed taxpayers. And it isn’t even built yet.

Don’t think taxpayer pressure matters? Don’t tell the people in Stephenville. Just hours after school district officials implemented a tax hike, the school board decided to meet in special session and cancel the plans. Why?

In a sign of how disconnected tax-spenders are from taxpayers, Dallas city officials are digging deep into the taxpayers wallets to hand cash directly over to one of the nation’s biggest companies. AT&T is moving their corporate headquarters 275 miles north from San Antonio to Dallas. So, of course, Dallas is going to bilk taxpayers out of $11.5 million for the pleasure. Just two weeks ago the Dallas city manager said they need to consider a tax increase to close a $15 million budget gap. Tax increases to pay for AT&T’s move? Taxpayers can be forgiven if they hear a ringing in their ears.

You gotta feel sorry for the San Antonio ISD school board president. He wants to increase spending — but “the downside to all this is having to go to the voters… That’s what’s really troubling us.” Yep, it’s a real hassle, having to get voters to approve more taxes and spending just one year after voters said no to a similar proposal.

Superintendent Jennings Teel and Navasota ISD trustees were chastised by teachers at a school board meeting on Monday. The teachers claimed that the group had dealt with them in a caviler manner and had exhibited generally poor decision making abilities. The merit of those allegations is subjective and therefore difficult to validate what is not is Mr. Teel’s resolve to keep taxes low.

Taxpayers in Clear Creek Independent School District, in Galveston County, are facing a $9.2 million tax hike. The superintendent, with a straight face, tells the local newspaper the schools have “exercised significant restraint.” Sounds nice, but that’s not what the record shows. School revenues are have risen 60 percent since 2001, even though the district only has 18 percent more students. Where’s the money going? Hint: not the classroom.