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Taxpayers Funding Anti-Taxpayer Lobbyists

by | Sep. 26, 2007 | State

Taxpayers had a good day in court this week, but it doesn’t make up for the untold millions of dollars government entities have used in our money to lobby against the interests of the people paying for big government. Some time ago my friend Peggy Venable at...

A Hero And A Gentleman

by | Sep. 25, 2007 | State

Not only is he one of the best members of the Texas Legislature on fiscal issues, but State Rep. Jim Jackson (R-Carrollton) is a gentleman in the finest sense of the word. I had the honor of presenting him the “Texas Taxpayer Hero” Award at an event in...

Lawmakers Caught With Hands in Trauma Cookie Jar

by | Sep. 22, 2007 | State

Remember how the sporting goods tax has been diverted from state parks and the soon-to-be-abolished telephone infrastructure tax was funneled into general revenues after its purpose of connecting rural schools andl libraries had long been achieved. The San Antonio...

One Spendoholic Goes Honest

by | Sep. 20, 2007 | State

Not much of a surprise, everyone’s been whispering about it for weeks, but it was announced last night that State Rep. Kirk England of Grand Prairie is swapping the “R” for a “D.” Given that he only rated a 47% on fiscal issues,...

Checking The Receipt For State Government

by | Sep. 19, 2007 | State

You can watch the TFR Spendometer to see how fast state government is spending your money, but a great feature at Comptroller Susan Combs' official website lets you see where the money goes. Thanks to legislation championed by the friends of TFR, Comptroller Combs...
State Rep. Hill’s Retirement Good For Taxpayers

State Rep. Hill’s Retirement Good For Taxpayers

by | Sep. 18, 2007 | Local

The Dallas Morning News is reporting that Fred Hill (R-Richardson) isn’t seeking re-election. This is welcome news for Texas taxpayers, according to the president of Texans for Fiscal Responsibility. Michael Quinn Sullivan said today that Fred Hill was the chief...

Politician Promises

by | Sep. 13, 2007 | State

What does a political promise go for? What real value should we place on the promises of elected officials? Remember the Texas Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund tax? It was implemented back in the 1990s to fund high-speed internet wiring of rural schools,...

Unsettled Records For Taxpayers

by | Sep. 13, 2007 | State

Texas’ pols can often be found busily rewriting history in advance of their ongoing campaigns; nothing new there, but, still, taxpayers should expect better. Having been confronted with the legislature’s well-known inaction on the $14.3 billion surplus,...

A Taxpayer’s Rock Star

by | Sep. 10, 2007 | Local

People respond to leadership, especially when it is leadership driven by principles. It’s always good to see people recognize a good thing when they’ve got it. And in Tarrant County, they know they’ve got a good legislator, who leads by principle....

And How Much For The Photocopier?

by | Sep. 10, 2007 | State

Legislators failed to return the $14.3 billion surplus, giving Texans some much-needed property tax relief. But, as a consolation, now comes word that your state government is spending your money to buy a letter many experts say is a fake. Seems like bureaucrats are...

Pigs Squeal When You Stick ‘Em

by | Sep. 6, 2007 | State

How do you know you’ve got a pig cornered? When it starts squealing. A reporter stopped by unannounced on Wednesday. It appears several Republican lawmakers are angry that you are paying attention. They don’t like the fact taxpayers and voters are now...

Beaumont To El Paso, Taxes Going Up

by | Sep. 4, 2007 | State

Reports keep filtering in from cities and counties across the state: local officials are jacking up property taxes. When the Legislature “bought down” school property taxes, the inevitable result was other taxing entities filing the gap created and raising...