Instead, the Texas House committee heard from those attempting to chip away at the protections.
State
True Texas Project Shares Republican Runoff Recommendations
The grassroots organization has shared its recommendations in Republican primary runoff races across Texas.
Grassroots America – We The People Announces Runoff Endorsements
Ahead of tomorrow’s Republican primary runoff election, GAWTP confirms its endorsements.
Joe Straus Returns to Fund Establishment Candidates
The Texas Forever Forward PAC, run by former Texas House Speaker Joe Straus, is funding establishment picks in the Republican primary runoff election.
Teacher Unions Back Abbott’s Candidates Despite His School Choice Rhetoric
These groups have long opposed school choice and other forms of education reform.
MOST RECENT
Texas Governor, Lawmakers Continue to Do Nothing to Protect Children From Mutilation Operations
All hat, no cattle.
Texas’ Debt Obligations Have State Headed for Hard Financial Times
Unfulfilled promises and bad spending habits are hurting citizens’ futures.
Abbott Revises Previous Executive Order, Prevents New COVID-19 Restrictions
The governor’s previous order could have forced some businesses to once again limit capacity.
Texans Critique Gov. Abbott’s and Speaker Phelan’s Handling of Botched Special Session
Grassroots leaders don’t buy the narrative that Democrats alone are responsible for the special legislative session’s lack of progress.
What a Forensic Audit Can Reveal About Texas Elections
Texans want to know their votes count. Can a forensic audit give voters greater confidence in Texas elections?
New Mask Guidance From CDC Causes Further Confusion in Texas
The Legislature had the opportunity to end mask mandates, but they didn’t.
Texas Parents Can Now Choose to Keep Students Back a Grade
Due to COVID and low standardized test scores, a new law gives parents more say in their child’s education.
Federal Judge Dismisses Lawsuit, Allows University of Texas’ Race-Based Admissions
“We look forward to asking the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals to review and reverse the dismissal of this important civil rights case.”
Amid Criticism, Gov. Abbott Orders National Guard to Help Arrest Illegals Crossing Border
Abbott’s order follows criticism he’s received for posturing without compelling actions.
GOP Lawmaker Asks if Quorum-Busting Democrats’ Seats Can Be Vacated
State Rep. James White (R–Hillister) asked the question of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Tuesday.
ARCHIVE
A Clear Vision For Texas
One of the worst Republicans in the Texas Legislature is Fort Worth’s Charlie Geren. He scored an abysmal 45% on the TFR Index. He consistently votes against taxpayers, and in opposition to conservative principles, every chance he gets.
Scouting Principles
Last night I attended a dinner benefiting the Capital Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America. As an Eagle Scout, I’ll be forever in scouting’s debt for the values, principles and skills they tried to instill me – how successfully it took is perhaps a different question.
Flag This Play
No issue is too small, apparently, for legislative intervention. That’s about the only conclusion you can draw from lawmakers wanting to insert themselves’ in the dust-up between the NFL and the cable industry. One thing’s is for sure, if the Legislature does get involved, taxpayers will end being sacked, tackled and fouled.
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.