by Michael Quinn Sullivan | Jun. 3, 2009 | Local
Fort Worth and Dallas are just 30 miles apart, but the attitudes on the opinion pages of the two daily papers might as well be from different planets. Both papers strongly supported the gas tax hike and fee increase plans pushed by government-financed lobbyists. TFR...
by Michael Quinn Sullivan | Jun. 1, 2009 | Local
Ever notice political “courage” is defined only as raising taxes and padding the pockets of special interests? It’s apparently cowardice to actually demand responsibility and integrity, to make hard choices rather than pave problems with patronage....
by EmpowerTexans.TV | May. 31, 2009 | Uncategorized
New Video: With the end of 81st legislative session, we asked conservative legislators what questions voters should be asking.
by Daniel Greer | May. 28, 2009 | Local
In a blog posting this afternoon, Dallas Morning News editorial writer Rodger Jones admits his position in support of heavy increases on gasoline and new motor vehicle fees isn’t friendly to taxpayers. His admission came in a posting cheering on the pro-tax...
by Michael Quinn Sullivan | May. 27, 2009 | Local
Most conservatives have in recent years come to suspect that Texas Monthly’s “Ten Best” legislators list is little more than a compilation of the biggest shills for big government. Now comes proof. In a May 26 posting on the “BurkaBlog,” Texas Monthly writer Patricia...
by Daniel Greer | May. 26, 2009 | State
While House Democrats have been busily chubbing up the Calendar, the Texas Senate was preparing a sneak-attack on the taxpayers’ wallets. State Sen. John Carona (R-Dallas) has tacked his Senate Bill 855 — allowing the imposition of new gas taxes and fees...
by Michael Quinn Sullivan | May. 25, 2009 | Local
Conservatives tend to think local government is better because it is, well, local. But is that a reasonable assumption, if the Local spending is hidden from view and bureaucrats don’t accurately report results? I recently gave a speech in which the topic of...
by Michael Quinn Sullivan | May. 23, 2009 | State
Anyone who thinks lawmakers don’t move to fix unintended problems in legislative initiatives should see what State Rep. Jerry Madden of Plano did. He took what could have accidentially been a joke on the taxpayers, and fixed it to become a cost-saving initiative...
by Michael Quinn Sullivan | May. 21, 2009 | Local
If the Austin American-Statesman is to be believed, “votes are not there in the House” to push the 125% tax hike. That’s a direct result of the effective pressure folks have been applying! But don’t get too cocky: the measure lives… State...
by Michael Quinn Sullivan | May. 18, 2009 | Local
Dallas city council members are facing a $190 million deficit, and much hand-wringing is going on about which services to cut. One expense that should, but won’t, be touched is the half-million in taxpayer dollars being used to lobby for more taxes and fewer limits on...
by Michael Quinn Sullivan | May. 14, 2009 | State
Everyone knew this was going to be a less conservative Texas House. After all, Republicans had lost seats. In this 81st Session, economically sound legislation has been killed in committee, while big-tax/big-government bills are flying. The cause? The House committee...
by Empowertexans | May. 12, 2009 | State
In these final weeks of the session, the Texas Legislature is poised to adopt an approach that could permit the gas tax to skyrocket from 20 cents to 45 cents per gallon. These new transportation tax proposals passed by the House Transportation Committee are being...
by TCollins | May. 12, 2009 | State
For all the whining Democrats do about unfunded mandates on public education, they sure don’t mind implementing them. The Texas House voted last night on legislation mandating that every public and private high school principle designate four people as deputy...
by Michael Quinn Sullivan | May. 11, 2009 | State
We now know who is, and isn’t, serious about weaning Texas from oppressive property taxes. The Texas House narrowly stopped a constitutional amendment that would have allowed more entities to claim a piece of your property, and your wallet. According to the...
by Michael Quinn Sullivan | May. 7, 2009 | State
We’ve begun putting together the Fiscal Responsibility Index for this 81st Session. Obviously four weeks are left and a lot of legislation remains unheard, but the picture we’re seeing isn’t a good one. (Updated May 11.) Our goal is to create an...
by Michael Quinn Sullivan | Apr. 29, 2009 | State
Even as the Republican-led Texas House and Senate work furiously to unravel our unemployment rules to make them more appealing to Barack Obama, Florida’s legislature rejected such efforts. My friend Adam Hasner, the Florida House Majority leader, said, “The strings...
by Michael Quinn Sullivan | Apr. 28, 2009 | State
Under legislation adopted by the Texas House yesterday, you’ll soon be paying state employees not work at their tax-funded jobs; no, you’ll be paying them to volunteer their time! The Texas House approved HB 1462 by a margin of 87-57. The legislation lets...
by Daniel Greer | Apr. 23, 2009 | Local
On May 9th Dallas taxpayers will decide the fate of the City’s involvement in the construction of a convention center hotel. The Dallas Morning News reports that opponents of the Dallas Convention Center hotel are winning but there are several grow government...
by Michael Quinn Sullivan | Apr. 23, 2009 | Uncategorized
A $4.3 million helicopter will have to be purchased by the Department of Public Safety and based in Longview under an amendment added, without a vote, to the House version of the state budget by Rep. Tommy Merritt (R-Longview). But it’s a bird that won’t...
by Michael Quinn Sullivan | Apr. 22, 2009 | State
Who wants to be the ruling couple of earmarks in Texas? What first family of waste would build a Texas-size bridge to nowhere? Behold the heftiest of the special-interest spenders: State Rep. Dawnna Dukes (D-Austin) and State Rep. Pete Gallego (D-Alpine). She wants to...
