Motions to dismiss the charges were unsuccessful, moving the trial forward.
State
Texas GOP Calls for ‘Derelict Democrats’ to Be Removed From House Leadership Positions
“I want to be clear: I have never seen an issue that so firmly unites Republicans across the political spectrum as this one does.”
Sex Trafficking in Texas: How to Fight Back
In the fourth installment of this series, Texas Scorecard examines how the Lone Star State can lead the fight against the modern slave trade.
Major Election Integrity Bill Passes Texas House
The amended version of SB 1 now goes back to the Senate.
Texas Legislature Prioritizes Property Tax Relief That Picks Winners and Losers
Though it would provide some relief to Texas property taxpayers, critics believe it is not enough to alleviate much of the burden.
MOST RECENT
Is Property Tax Relief Coming?
The gap between what legislators could do and what they are doing currently shows little promise.
Brian G. Yarbrough: Education Lobbyist
Texas Scorecard examines Texas’ highest-paid lobbyists.
2021 Texas Scorecard Fellows Ready to Help Expose Government Corruption
The spring fellowship program provides an opportunity for young liberty-minded Texans to influence government and the culture.
Teachers Have a Lack of Confidence in Administration
Teachers’ responses to a Teachers for Texas survey show their displeasure with the administration in Texas schools.
Freshmen to File Bill to End In-State Tuition for Illegal Aliens
“As Texas taxpayers are seeing their property taxes rise, they are rightfully even more frustrated to find out that the Texas Legislature has seen fit to give handouts to illegal immigrants.” – State Rep. Jeff Cason
Reed Clay: From Government to Lobbying
Texas Scorecard examines Texas’ highest-paid lobbyists.
Texas A&M: We Never Actually Considered Removing Sul Ross Statue
The Young Democratic Socialists of America at Texas A&M had previously organized a “Bye Bye Sully Ross” protest.
Will Texas Lawmakers Do Anything to Stop Big Tech’s Rampant Censorship?
“Texas, why are we not leading the way?”
Daniel Hodge: The Highest-Paid Lobbyist in Texas
Texas Scorecard examines Texas’ highest-paid lobbyists.
Abbott Set to Announce Priorities in State of the State Address
Gov. Greg Abbott will have the opportunity to provide more clarity to lawmakers and citizens alike.
ARCHIVE
Maybe We Can Just Walk To Work?
A friend of Empower Texans and TFR today passed along the "newsletter" that accompanies his water bill in the City of Taylor. The newsletter brags about a $574,000 grant from the Texas Transportation Commission to the Taylor Independent School District for the construction of new sidewalks "in several neighborhoods." What?
TPPF Commentary – Schools Can’t Break Addiction to Higher Taxes
Remember the big school property tax cut you were supposed to get? Your local school district might be about to take it away.
Last year, the Legislature passed a plan that used the state’s new business tax and part of the state’s $14 billion budget surplus to buy down the property tax rates for day-to-day operations to $1.00.
Constitutional Propositions
My friends at the Plano-based Free Market Foundation have produced a fantastic summary of the statewide constitutional ballot, with "pro" and "con" arguments for each. (You can view their work here.) Remember, your local ballot will probably have additional questions — school districts seeking to raise taxes, county bonds, etc. Check your county’s website to see the full ballot for your area.
Republicans In Name
House Speaker Tom Craddick put voice this week to what conservative voters have been depressed about for several years: there are some Republican legislators who work against the conservative agenda. Here’s what Speaker Craddick said in the Midland Reporter-Telegram: "Even though we’ve got this Republican majority, we have several Republicans who don’t vote with the rest of us."
Running Right
While in Temple this week to guest-host a radio show, I had the opportunity to meet Michael Pearce. Hopefully you’ll get to know him, too. A Marine veteran and former classroom teacher, Pearce is running for the open House District 55 seat in the Texas Legislature. Not only does he appear to be right on the issues, he is running a campaign in the right way.
Is Lege’s School Rate Cut Driving Higher School Taxes?
It’s an inconvenient truth, but not only did the legislature’s effort to buy-down school property tax rates not result in lower tax bills (because they left the appraisal process untouched), but it has lead to higher school taxes. At least one elected official is calling it right.
Proposition 2 Shows the Problems with Higher Education Finance
In 2003, the State Legislature passed the tuition deregulation plan which gave university systems the ability to raise their own tuition rates. Previously, the tuition rates for state universities were controlled by the State Legislature.
Subprime Crisis Solution – Reduce Runaway Texas Foreclosures by Reducing Property Taxes
With increasing warnings of an economic meltdown due to the subprime crisis, the best thing Texas government entities could do is provide property tax relief, especially since Texas has the 5th highest foreclosure rate in the nation, which is increasing at a staggering annual rate of more than 60 percent in some counties like Collin.
Merry Christmas
Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson is under fire from environmental groups because of his decision to sell the so-called “Christmas Mountains†which abut Big Bend National Park in far west Texas. Patterson rightly believes that the land will be better utilized (and better protected) by private owners.