by Michael Quinn Sullivan | Apr. 19, 2009 | State
On the one hand, the Texas House adopted a budget $4 billion lower than the Senate. Overall government growth has been kept below population and inflation. So why does it feel so meaningless? Perhaps because Republicans absolutely failed to provide the conservative...
by Michael Quinn Sullivan | Apr. 17, 2009 | State
House members will begin debating the state budget today, and while we offered strong praise for the version adopted by the Appropriations Committee, liberal lawmakers are ready to unravel that work with a series of amendments that will spend more and grow government....
by Daniel Greer | Apr. 16, 2009 | Local
The removal of a witness yesterday during a senate committee hearing was startling but not without cause. The man was making physical threats and disturbing the day-to-day operations of the Senate. A similar situation played out on the 9th at a Duncanville city...
by Michael Quinn Sullivan | Apr. 7, 2009 | State
While we’ve been critical in the past of State Rep. Jim Pitts, his do-over term as chairman of the House Appropriations Committee is looking good for taxpayers. The committee this morning approved the House version of the budget, coming in about $4 billion...
by TCollins | Apr. 7, 2009 | Local
The free money now flowing from your great-grand-children’s credit cards into the coffers of state government will cost the state 131,400 jobs — or so says a report issued yesterday by the Texas Public Policy Foundation. Experience shows increased...
by GerryH | Apr. 3, 2009 | State
While not to be confused with a conservative position, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram very sensible is very sensibly opposing the creation of yet another law school in Texas. Let’s face it: There isn’t a shortage of ambulance chasers. The Star-Telegram piece...
by Michael Quinn Sullivan | Apr. 3, 2009 | Local
One of the leading lights in Texas’ conservative movement is Collin County Judge Keith Self, who has led the fight for tax relief, transparent government and responsible spending. His reward? The typical response from the liberal establishmentarians: vicious personal...
by Michael Quinn Sullivan | Apr. 2, 2009 | State
Any thought this new Texas House would be promoting public debate and open participation, as promised by Speaker Joe Straus on taking the gavel, was dashed on Wednesday. The chairman of the House Business & Industry Committee, Joe Deshotel, engaged in the worst...
by Bkeffer | Mar. 31, 2009 | Commentary
In American history and government classes across this country, we still teach our children that our founding fathers demonstrated genius both in articulating the inalienable rights belonging to each person in our Declaration of Independence, and then in preserving...
by Michael Quinn Sullivan | Mar. 26, 2009 | State
Property taxes? Apparently not a concern. Relief for small businesses struggling under the Gross Margins Tax? Who cares! Providing public transparency for our education dollars? Maybe some other time. So what was the first bill to be considered by the Texas House?...
by Captain Watchdog | Mar. 24, 2009 | State
It is time for someone to pull the covers back on the number one tactic liberals have used to stymie conservatives for decades. It is known mostly by its common name “The Process” (TP), but political scientists know it by its scientific term; “liberalus muckus...
by Daniel Greer | Mar. 19, 2009 | Federal
States are taking a closer look at the stimulus package, sifting through the provisions and stipulations that it contains and rejecting funds. The likely culprits are among those sending the money back; Bobby Jindal Governor of Louisiana, Mark Sanford Governor of...
by Michael Quinn Sullivan | Mar. 18, 2009 | State
When people talk about Republican elected officials betraying conservative principles and the trust of their voters, one need look no further than State Sen. John Carona of Dallas. Just a week ago he was promising to include taxpayer protections and transparency in...
by TCollins | Mar. 18, 2009 | Local
Some west Texas kids are getting snowmobile trips, vacations to Hawaii, California, LA and elsewhere — all courtesy of the schopol district. Actually, thanks to the state’s Robin Hood funding scheme, courtesy of taxpayers elsewhere in the state. The Austin...
by Michael Quinn Sullivan | Mar. 15, 2009 | Federal
Oh, what a surprise — the liberal-dominated Texas House Select Committee on Federal Porkulus invited only big-spending grow-government shills to speak. How could that have happened? Oh, because Chairman Jim Dunnam is using his committee as a cheerleading ground...
by Daniel Greer | Mar. 13, 2009 | Local
Two months ago I posted a blog about the stimulus package and how it would affect unemployment insurance (UI) in Texas. Yesterday Gov. Perry rightly rejected the stimulus funds allocated to unemployment insurance saying there were too many strings attached. It would...
by TCollins | Mar. 13, 2009 | Local
If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em. That’s the educational philosophy in Plano where the school district is looking to implement rules letting kids cheat on papers and turn in homework whenever they like. Plano teachers would “still assign...
by Michael Quinn Sullivan | Mar. 6, 2009 | State
At this moment, everyone in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex are the target of a massive tax increase effort in the Legislature. For example, they could be on the hook for an $8,700 “parking fee” just for having a car! And gas taxes will be set to rise faster than...
by Empowertexans | Mar. 3, 2009 | Federal
A group of Democratic legislators just concluded a press conference calling on Texas Gov. Rick Perry to accept and use more of the federal stimulus money. But the president of Texans for Fiscal Responsibility says this “California-based prescription” will...
by Daniel Greer | Mar. 3, 2009 | Local
It’s hard to disagree with the notion that some lawmakers just don’t operate on the same planet as the rest of us. Consider House Bill 1867, filed by State Rep. Rafael Anchia (D-Dallas). This remarkable example of government micromanagement would regulate...
