by Dustin Matocha | May. 27, 2011 | State
It might not seem that newsworthy to the rest of the state, but an issue of taxation without representation is picking up lots of headlines in the Rio Grande Valley. SB 978, authored by State Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa and sponsored by State Representative Veronica...
by Andrew Kerr | May. 27, 2011 | State
According to the House-Senate Conference Committee working on Texas’ new budget, state funding for public education will increase by $125 million in 2012-2013. At a time when the “informed” class in Austin decries all reductions to government spending as...
by Michael Quinn Sullivan | May. 25, 2011 | State
Here’s more evidence you are upsetting the status quo in Austin: the media is complaining about the impact you’re having on legislators! The managing editor of one publication said this week that voters like you are “children” who legislators need to tell...
by Waste Watch | May. 25, 2011 | Local
El Paso ISD Superintendent, Dr. Lorenzo Garcia, came out in opposition to taxpayers’ interest in cutting outside the classroom, despite the administrative bloat found in the district. ABC-7 compared El Paso ISD data regarding the district’s staff and salaries to...
by Andrew Kerr | May. 24, 2011 | State
As the Texas Legislature and the budget deal seem to be breaking down over school finance, Senator Florence Shapiro (R-Plano) is going to the mat to iron out the differences and deliver what is necessary. Late last night when the House’s school finance bill was...
by Michael Quinn Sullivan | May. 23, 2011 | State
Apparently our state’s colleges and universities don’t have enough to do, so they’re trying to get permission to compete with private-sector telecomm providers. Given how little time so many university employees devote to students, at ever rising tuition rates, one...
by Michael Quinn Sullivan | May. 20, 2011 | State
Tonight’s budget agreement between the House and Senate is a big win for Texas’ taxpayers, and the future strength of the state’s economy. Legislators demonstrated tonight that they heard the November message loud and clear. Voters demanded fiscal...
by Michael Quinn Sullivan | May. 19, 2011 | State
As the close of the legislative session approaches, it appears a deal is nearly done on a 2012-2013 state budget that reflects more closely the conservative principles taxpayers have been demanding from lawmakers. While no firm details have yet been released, it...
by Michael Quinn Sullivan | May. 18, 2011 | State
Texas’ universities have a dirty little secret: they don’t want taxpayers, parents or students looking too closely at their books. And they certainly don’t want to answer questions about performance. It would seem the high priests of academia —...
by Empowertexans | May. 17, 2011 | Local
More than 5,000 letters are being delivered from taxpayers living around the state to their legislators. They are asking lawmakers to adopt a 2012-2013 budget that does not spend beyond the state’s fiscal means, raise taxes, or use the state’s Rainy Day Fund....
by Pratt on Texas | May. 17, 2011 | Local
Houston Democrat Harold Dutton isn’t ashamed to admit that his community and Harris County as a whole spawn a ton of criminals. But as with most lefties, Dutton is so concerned with political power that the he doesn’t care how bad a light the facts of his...
by Michael Quinn Sullivan | May. 16, 2011 | State
By a vote of 30 to 1, the Texas Senate today passed their version of HB 275 which taps the state’s rainy day fund for the current biennium. They are withdrawing $800 million more than the House. Remember, that draw is to fund the current 2010-2011 budget’s...
by Michael Quinn Sullivan | May. 13, 2011 | State
State Sen. Steve Ogden is telling the press today that a special session focused on the budget is in the cards. Sounds like someone may be giving up rather than getting down to work. We should expect more from the Republican chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. A...
by Michael Quinn Sullivan | May. 12, 2011 | State
Some members of the Texas Senate just can’t keep their hands out of the rainy day fund. The Senate Finance Committee voted today to take even more money out of the fund than the House did to pay for current operations. You’ll recall that the Texas House...
by Andrew Kerr | May. 11, 2011 | State
Having already lost once, liberals in the Senate are taking another stab at tapping the Rainy Day fund. Today the Texas Senate allowed Senator Royce West to late-file legislation that would raid the state’s Rainy Day Fund for $2 Billion. The official filing...
by Andrew Kerr | May. 11, 2011 | State
Usually “expanding efficiency” means streamlining and saving money. When the government is involved, more often than not, the opposite is true. Recently the Senate has passed and the House has passed on second reading SB 1125 which purports to expand...
by Dustin Matocha | May. 11, 2011 | State
Texans should be well aware of the ever-growing movement to bring more transparency to the state’s institutions of higher education with Governor Perry leading the charge. Unfortunately, the Texas Senate failed the test of upholding accountability for our public...
by Michael Quinn Sullivan | May. 9, 2011 | State
It’s telling that lawmakers are so busily pursuing new revenues this week, while the Appropriations Committee has refused to allow legislation to the floor that would limit future government growth. Conservatives should be worried about such priorities....
by Michael Quinn Sullivan | May. 7, 2011 | State
This legislative session has revealed the importance of keeping a tight control over government spending in good times, so that bad times aren’t nearly so rough. But with just days left in Texas’ legislative session, hopes are dimming for such reform unless lawmakers...
by Michael Quinn Sullivan | May. 4, 2011 | State
A Texas senator is staunchly defending the higher education establishment by opposing efforts to make college more affordable and accessible. That’s bad news for working families and students struggling to pay tuition. According to news reports, State Sen. Judith...
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