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...
by Cary Cheshire | Mar. 17, 2015 | State, Uncategorized
Voting along partisan lines, the Senate’s State Affairs Committee voted 7-2 on Monday to move the ironically named Public Integrity Unit out of the Democrat-controlled Travis County District Attorney’s Office, instead placing the authority under the state Attorney...
by Greg Harrison | Mar. 17, 2015 | Local, Uncategorized
On February 17th, hearings began regarding the Brazos River Authority’s (BRA) proposed Permit 5851, a measure which would empower the BRA to sell approximately half a million additional acre-feet of water from the Brazos River, which stands to effect Lake Granbury the...
by Ross Kecseg | Mar. 16, 2015 | Local
In a stunning display of unprincipled hypocrisy during a recent interview, Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price and Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings doubled down against pro-taxpayer reforms using worn out “local control” rhetoric. Conveniently, they abandoned such rhetoric for...
by Michael Quinn Sullivan | Mar. 16, 2015 | Uncategorized
It was the week that went from bad to worse for a “progressive” Republican in the Texas House. It ended when Dallas State Rep. Jason Villalba was exposed for attempting to run roughshod over the constitutional rights of Americans. The effect was to unite...
by Tony McDonald | Mar. 16, 2015 | State, Uncategorized
UPDATE: After further inspection of HB 1987, I have to lend a bit of a mea culpa to Rep. Drew Springer. Under the current provisions of Chapter 313, school districts are allowed to “waive” the jobs requirement for projects receiving tax abatements. This...
by Charles Blain | Mar. 15, 2015 | Citizen Profiles
Similar to many tireless activists, Kelli Cook isn’t afraid of taking on big tasks—especially when it comes to combating big government. As the Montgomery County Coordinator for Campaign for Liberty, Cook enjoys standing up to tyrannical officials and bloated...
by Michael Quinn Sullivan | Mar. 13, 2015 | State, Uncategorized
Two years ago, State Rep. John Zerwas was a relentless zealot for imposing ObamaCare on Texas. Conspiring with House Democrats, the Simonton Republican used parliamentary tricks and floor confusion to sneak an amendment into the budget that would have pulled Texas...
by Cary Cheshire | Mar. 12, 2015 | State, Uncategorized
With religious liberty under near constant assault in Houston, Plano, and other Texas cities legislation was needed to protect the rights of business owners. Originally filed by State Rep. Jason Villalba (R-Dallas), HJR 55 would do exactly that. If passed the bill...
by Cary Cheshire | Mar. 12, 2015 | State, Uncategorized
Abortion advocates rallied at the Texas Capitol on Wednesday to lobby the legislature for increased access and taxpayer funding for themselves as part of Planned Parenthood Lobby Day. In advance of the event, Texas Right to Life distributed signs saying, “Former...
Page 881 of 1,006FIRST<—...1020...880881882...890900...—>LAST
