by Michael Quinn Sullivan | Oct. 9, 2008 | Local
In the waning days of a campaign, strange things happen. But few are stranger than the actions of Robert Miklos, the Democrat running in Mesquite’s open House District 101. It’s tempting to say he is ‘telling lies’ — in reality,...
by Daniel Greer | Oct. 8, 2008 | State
While the Fort Worth Star Telegram editorial staff is recommending Phil King for H.D. 61, they aren’t endorsing his pursuit of sound policy. They like his years-in-office, but they write that they have to hold their nose over his ideas about protecting taxpayers,...
by Michael Quinn Sullivan | Oct. 8, 2008 | Local
Nearly 60 percent of voters in the Duncanville school district voted against a massive property tax hike on Tuesday, while some 73 percent voted against a similar measure in Cedar Hill. The multi-million-dollar tax hikes were defeated by a $30 grassroots campaign. And...
by Michael Quinn Sullivan | Oct. 7, 2008 | Local
Hats off to the Austin Independent School District for taking innovative steps to improve public education. The district is re-structuring their schools to provide more choices for student needs — including the option for all-boy and all-girl classes and...
by TCollins | Oct. 7, 2008 | State
Legislative employees are constitutionally forbidden from receiving bonuses in Texas. But don’t let a little thing like “the law” stop some state senators. According to news reports, it seems state senators of both parties are playing semantic games...
by Michael Quinn Sullivan | Oct. 6, 2008 | Local
A candidate for state representative is actually calling for property tax increases as part of her general election strategy. She apparently hasn’t being paying attention. Sandra Phuong VuLe, the Democratic Party’s candidate for Texas House District 112,...
by Mlevin | Oct. 3, 2008 | Federal
In a disturbing development, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger sent a letter today to U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson saying the state may need to borrow $7 billion from the federal government to pay its bills. This indicates just how vital it is for...
by Daniel Greer | Oct. 2, 2008 | Local
Travis County Commissioners are doing their best to make sure taxpayers aren’t stuck paying the bill for county employees’ parking and toll violations. KXAN reports that Travis County employees have racked up more than $10,000 in unpaid parking tickets and...
by Michael Quinn Sullivan | Oct. 1, 2008 | State
At a Sunset Advisory Commission meeting last week, Republican senators Kim Brimer (Fort Worth), Craig Estes (Wichita Fallas) and Bob Deuell (Greenville) and Representative Lois Kolkhorst (Brenham) sided with liberals in calling for a return to the bad-old-days of...
by TCollins | Oct. 1, 2008 | State
If you like the current property tax system, love illegal immigration and think the government should get much bigger, the Fort Worth Star Telegram is in your corner, promoting the “change” candidacy of far-left Democrat Chris Turner against conservative...
by Michael Quinn Sullivan | Sep. 30, 2008 | State
When Allen Vaught accidentally became the state representative for House District 107, everyone knew it would be a huge loss for taxpayers there and statewide. His term in office has only served to prove everyone right. The incumbent, conservative Bill Keffer, was the...
by Admin | Sep. 29, 2008 | State
The transcript for this week’s video, Is The Classroom A Worksite?, is now available. Why don’t teachers get professional respect in Texas? It might have something to do with the unions that represent them. The teacher unions do their dead-level best to cast...
by Michael Quinn Sullivan | Sep. 29, 2008 | Local
Voters in Houston’s House District 149 have a clear choice: a proven reformer versus a slumlord. HISD school board member Greg Meyers is taking on incumbent Hubert Vo this November, and taxpayers statewide are watching the race with interest. Hubert Vo’s...
by Mlevin | Sep. 28, 2008 | Local
Do you think the City of Dallas should check in with voters before spending $550 million on a government-owned convention center hotel? If so, you can find out how to sign the petition that would amend the City Charter to prevent the hotel by going to...
by SGriffiths | Sep. 25, 2008 | Local
One would assume that a city mayor has a lot of responsibilities. One would think there are important issues a mayor would take priority in addressing. But would you ever imagine one of those issues would be the fashion trend of baggy pants among our youth? ...
by Michael Quinn Sullivan | Sep. 25, 2008 | Federal, State
Few things are more disgusting than having our principles sold-out by our political leaders. Make no mistake, the proposed federal “bail-out” of the credit market is a sell-out of our fundamental beliefs about freedom and the role of government. The action will burden...
by Michael Quinn Sullivan | Sep. 24, 2008 | Local
We noted yesterday the $400 million the Dallas City Council wants to spend of the taxpayers money to get the city into the hotel business. Today the Dallas Morning News reports “43 percent of Dallas’ sidewalks are rated unsatisfactory.” There’s...
by Michael Quinn Sullivan | Sep. 24, 2008 | State
One small section of legislation is making big waves in the world of state finance. Thanks to House Bill 3560, passed in 2007, taxpayers are saving millions this year by consolidating procurement for items big and small. The driving force behind it is our state...
by Michael Quinn Sullivan | Sep. 24, 2008 | State
Mark Shelton is a pretty easy fellow to find — just look for all the activity in House District 97, and chances are he’s in the middle of it. A pediatrician, Shelton is a man constantly on the go — setting a high standard for the kind of constituent...
by Betchison | Sep. 23, 2008 | Local
The city of Mansfield is looking to expand its appeal and services to more out-of-towners thanks to previous visitors. The city council is considering letting the Mansfield Economic Development Corporation, or MEDC as it is so well known around here, to conduct a...
