by Michael Quinn Sullivan | Nov. 5, 2008 | State
It was a bad night for conservatives around the nation. Even Texas wasn’t completely sheltered from the storm. The gap between conservatives and liberals in the Legislature became more narrow. The good news is that 22 of our 23 Taxpayer Heroes and Champions on the...
by Michael Quinn Sullivan | Nov. 4, 2008 | Local
Politicians pay close attention to what newspaper editorial boards write, but why? The latest report from the newspaper industry’s “Audit Bureau of Circulation” reports circulation is continuing its downward spiral — falling almost 5 percent...
by Michael Quinn Sullivan | Nov. 3, 2008 | State
In less than 36 hours, the polls will be closed. Our Texas House and Senate races will be determined and we’ll know the outcome of what seems to have been the longest presidential race in U.S. history. Even as we enter the polling places divided by party and...
by Mlevin | Oct. 31, 2008 | State
A new State Auditor’s report finds that the use of state planes has cost taxpayers $1.4 million from May 2007 to May 2008. For example, a flight from Austin to Dallas cost $990 a person that would have been $248 roundtrip on Southwest with no advance purchase....
by Admin | Oct. 30, 2008 | Local
Texans for Fiscal Responsibility is calling on State Rep. Abel Herrero to forfeit all proceeds a company owned by his wife has received from the state Medicaid program. At a press conference in Corpus Christi, TFR president Michael Quinn Sullivan provided copies of...
by Daniel Greer | Oct. 28, 2008 | Local
It is aggravating when superintendents ask for more money because they are operating with a deficit but it’s infuriating when they ask for it while operating with a surplus! That is the name of the game in Humble ISD where Superintendent Dr. Guy Sconzo is begging tax...
by SGriffiths | Oct. 27, 2008 | Local
Colleges students have been eager to complain about the rising cost of tuition, but students at the University of North Texas last week voted to hike their per-hour fees to pay for a new football field. Of course, they actually voted for a fee that won’t go into...
by Daniel Greer | Oct. 27, 2008 | State
No, not the University of Texas football team, the State of Texas according to a piece by the Financial Times of London. Texas was ranked number one in its measured ability to weather the current economic downturn based on four economic indicators. Texas leads the...
by Betchison | Oct. 26, 2008 | Local
In just the few days that early voting has been available to there has been a huge spike in early voting in Tarrant County from the 2004 election. According to the Arlington Star-Telegram, early voting is up nearly 51,000 from four years prior in the 2004 election...
by Michael Quinn Sullivan | Oct. 24, 2008 | Local
State Rep. Valinda Bolton (D-47) is a pleasant lady, but she seems to have a spotty memory. Her campaign sent out an e-mail this week claiming she beat former State Rep. Terry Keel two years ago. Facts are so pesky: Terry Keel retired from the Texas House, gave up the...
by Michael Quinn Sullivan | Oct. 23, 2008 | Local
Palmer ISD, located south of Dallas, is putting their check register online for all to see. Superintendent Alan Oakley told me that “it only makes sense” for taxpayers to see how their dollars are being spent. He said that since the technology exists, taxpayers should...
by Michael Quinn Sullivan | Oct. 21, 2008 | Local
Midlothian ISD voted this week to limit their budget growth to inflation and enrollment growth! This marks a tremendous victory for taxpayers and should become a model for school districts around the state. Joey Dauben, news editor of the Ellis County Press, is going...
by Michael Quinn Sullivan | Oct. 21, 2008 | Local
The orwellian-named “Parent PAC” (which actively opposes parent involvement in the education of their children) has unsurprisingly endorsed the liberal lawyer in El Paso’s H.D. 78 race. They are apparently the only ones. The El Paso Times reports the...
by TCollins | Oct. 21, 2008 | State
The story is the same across the state: long lines at early voting locations. Record turn-outs. Unusually high voter participation for Day One of early voting. While good for democracy to have a high turn-out, for the sake of this democracy we are left to merely hope...
by Michael Quinn Sullivan | Oct. 17, 2008 | State
Conservatives nationwide have been reporting historic apathy, frustrated with national leadership that seems to have lost its philosophic moorings. But Texans have reason for excitement this election season, thanks to the leadership of conservative legislators...
by Michael Quinn Sullivan | Oct. 17, 2008 | State
We reported yesterday the death of the TIF tax in Texas. We rejoiced too soon. Reporters at the Lone Star Report found out AT&T plans to continue collecting the tax until December! A tax that lawmakers killed in early 2007, was signed by the governor in June 2007,...
by Admin | Oct. 16, 2008 | State
Texans are finally rid of a tax, thanks to action taken by the Texas Legislature in 2007. The Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund tax has now been eliminated, an action championed by Texans for Fiscal Responsibility. At a press conference in the Capitol today, Lt....
by Michael Quinn Sullivan | Oct. 15, 2008 | State
While the rest of the nation is deep in a slump (or worse), Texas’ economy is faring relatively well, thanks in large part to the relatively wise and conservative stewardship of the last eight years. But Texas Gov. Rick Perry is urging caution, and telling...
by Michael Quinn Sullivan | Oct. 14, 2008 | Local
Just six months ago the Houston Chronicle editorial board was chastising State Rep. Hubert Vo for being a “slumlord.” Now they’ve endorsed him. It would appear the Houston Chronicle just cannot stomach the idea of replacing an ineffective left-winger, even a lefty...
by Michael Quinn Sullivan | Oct. 13, 2008 | Local
So Nick Jimenez of the Corpus Christi Caller Times is worried about voter turn-out on a school tax hike vote. But it is unclear what he is worried about. Previous school district ballots had dismal turn-outs. This year the school bond and tax propositions are on the...
