by Tony McDonald | Mar. 24, 2015 | State, Uncategorized
Last session, members of the Texas Senate were used by Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst to defend Bill Powers and the elites who control the University of Texas at Austin. In light of recent reports exposing corruption at UT, will Senators allow themselves to be used again by...
by Tony McDonald | Mar. 23, 2015 | State, Uncategorized
Greyhound 2k, a Boston-based advocate for the welfare of Greyhounds has lodged complaints against Gulf Greyhound Park related to the abuse of dogs at the track. The track is owned in part by Robert and Gordon Johnson, two longtime Austin lobbyists for gambling...
by Michael Quinn Sullivan | Mar. 23, 2015 | Local
A new group has surfaced in Texas, and it seems to be spreading some misinformation about the Texas Legislature. Specifically, it’s trying to make Straus-affiliated, politically insecure Republicans sound more conservative than they are. Some Texans are receiving...
by Michael Quinn Sullivan | Mar. 23, 2015 | Uncategorized
[Updated below.]While taxpayers are eager for relief, crony-business interests are working to undermine the Texas Senate’s tax relief efforts. In votes that will test the new resolve of the conservative majority, senators will be choosing on Wednesday between...
by Buddy Kipp | Mar. 23, 2015 | State
After spending millions of dollars based on claims of rampant steroid use in high schools, the Texas Legislature has been advised to shut down the six-year-old random testing program it began with great fanfare in 2008. Supporters of the program, however, say that the...
by Tony McDonald | Mar. 23, 2015 | State, Uncategorized
Despite being one of only two Republican Senators refusing to sign on in support of the Senate’s bipartisan property tax relief measure, State Sen. Kel Seliger is authoring legislation aimed at giving horse and dog racing tracks special treatment—a 100% refund of...
by Ross Kecseg | Mar. 22, 2015 | Citizen Profiles
Originally from Pontiac, Michigan, Michael Dion and his wife have lived in the Austin area since 1974, when parts of Hwy 183 were still a four-lane divided road with little traffic. Prior to settling in Cedar Park, Texas in 2004, Michael and his wife sailed their...
by Michael Quinn Sullivan | Mar. 22, 2015 | Uncategorized
It was 250 years ago today that the British government dropped a sizable straw on the oppressed back of the American colonies. On March 22, 1765, Parliament enacted the Stamp Act on the American colonies. Their stated intention was to raise funds to pay for British...
by Ross Kecseg | Mar. 21, 2015 | State
In an attempt to make transportation funding a legislative priority, State Rep. Matt Shaheen (R-Plano) has filed legislation to dedicate more tax revenue to non-tolled roads. His reform mirrors State Sen. Robert Nicohols’ original proposal (SB 5) prior to moderate...
by Cary Cheshire | Mar. 20, 2015 | State, Uncategorized
While reducing debt is generally a good thing, comments by State Rep. John Otto (R-Dayton), a lieutenant of liberal House Speaker Joe Straus, reveal what conservatives have feared – some “debt reduction efforts” in the legislature have ulterior motivations. As he...
by Cary Cheshire | Mar. 20, 2015 | State
Attorney General Ken Paxton joined 22 other state attorneys general are urging the Obama administration to permanently discard a proposed ban on M855 5.56 x 45mm ammunition. The Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) had recently proposed the ban under...
by Cary Cheshire | Mar. 19, 2015 | State
Almost everyone hates hidden hotel fees. However, while one lawmaker is fighting back against them, she’s catching heat from local officials unhappy with her position. Always beating the drum for bigger government, the “local control” (see: local tyranny) mob has...
by Owen Stroud | Mar. 19, 2015 | State, Uncategorized
On Tuesday morning, witnesses testified before the Senate Finance Committee concerning SJR 2 and SB 9 by State Sen. Kelly Hancock (R-North Richland Hills). Ursula Parks, representing the Legislative Budget Board (LBB), argued against the population-plus-inflation...
by Cary Cheshire | Mar. 18, 2015 | State
If the Texas Senate gets its way, the familiar term “CHL” might be losing a letter. On Tuesday, Senators passed legislation by Sen. Craig Estes (R–Wichita Falls) which would remove the requirement that concealed handgun license holders conceal their weapon when they...
by Texas Scorecard | Mar. 18, 2015 | State, Uncategorized
DENTON, Texas – Re-affirming the decision of a previous district court judge’s ruling, the Texas Ethic Commission’s politically-motivated case against the president of Empower Texans was dismissed. [side_text]”For the sake of silencing the critics of their...
by Ross Kecseg | Mar. 18, 2015 | State
Local economic development deals would be brought out of the shadows and into public view if State Sens. Brian Birdwell (R-Granbury) and Konni Burton (R-Colleyville) are successful this year. Their proposed legislation would make deals between politicians and...
by Michael Quinn Sullivan | Mar. 17, 2015 | State
[Update below.] Given how long he has been in office, you’d think State Sen. Kel Seliger of Amarillo would be better at lying to his constituents. Or, at least, you’d think he wouldn’t tell such outrageous whoppers. Last week, we sent a memo to taxpayers in SD 31...
by Owen Stroud | Mar. 17, 2015 | State, Uncategorized
The Senate Finance Committee met Tuesday morning to discuss legislation that would require the adoption of the population-plus-inflation metric to calculate the state’s spending limit. This metric, which is based on gradual trends and hinders the rate of governmental...
by Ross Kecseg | Mar. 17, 2015 | Uncategorized
Liberty-minded Americans are often misunderstood. They’re dismissed as “anti-tax” radicals who “hate government, clinging to their guns and Bibles” as if individual liberty, patriotism and faith were shameful passions. On the contrary, these uniquely American values...
by Tony McDonald | Mar. 17, 2015 | State, Uncategorized
The speech regulators at the Texas Ethics Commission are going after the constitution again, this time attacking sec. 16 of the Texas Bill of Rights, which prohibits “ex post facto” or “retroactive” laws. On Friday, March 13, the TEC published a proposed amendment to...
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