by Michael Quinn Sullivan | Apr. 21, 2011 | State
The Senate Finance Committee took the easy way out in crafting a budget that exceeds the taxpayers’ means. Rather than prioritize spending within available revenues, the committee is choosing to tap the rainy day fund and use other one-time revenue sources to...
by Andrew Kerr | Apr. 20, 2011 | State
Commonsense, bi-partisan measures have been presented that would clarify the budget writing and reporting process, providing much needed transparency to a Texas budgetary format marked by a quagmire of confusion. Currently the ins and outs of the Texas Budget are...
by Dustin Matocha | Apr. 20, 2011 | State
Conservatives of all stripes agree on the need to limit the unchecked growth of government, and a year that has lawmakers tightening the state’s belt anyway seems like a good time to champion such commonsense, pro-taxpayer legislation. Yet, House leaders are...
by Michael Quinn Sullivan | Apr. 19, 2011 | State
In what might one day be a textbook example of how to ruin a comparably prosperous state’s economy, the Texas Senate could be considering a business income tax in the very near future. Taking such a reckless action amounts to political and economic suicide....
by Andrew Kerr | Apr. 18, 2011 | State
From the unsustainable expansion of entitlements and spending to the colossal national debt and a nearly indiscernible tax code, Washington has a habit of taking control of things and promptly making a mess of them. Calls needed today for House Bill 5! NEW FEATURE:...
by Michael Quinn Sullivan | Apr. 18, 2011 | Local
Investors trying to speed off with the taxpayers’ money hit a roadblock late last week: State Sen. Dan Patrick. He struck a blow against the proposed $25 million earmark to subsidize construction of a Formula One racetrack. The hyped project in southwestern...
by Dustin Matocha | Apr. 15, 2011 | State
More than 6,000 state employees are currently “double dipping” by retiring, drawing a pension, and then going back to work while still receiving retirement benefits, costing taxpayers millions. According to a KRGV News open records request, there are 50 different...
by Andrew Kerr | Apr. 12, 2011 | State
Two months ago the Senate passed it’s eminent domain bill (SB18) that doesn’t necessarily do additional harm to private property rights, but certainly left major room for improvement. Wednesday, the House has it’s opportunity to drastically improve...
by Michael Quinn Sullivan | Apr. 12, 2011 | State
They don’t have much to do with railroads anymore, but the elected three-member Railroad Commission plays a vitally important check in the state’s regulatory environment affecting the oil and gas industry. Some in the Legislature want to eliminate this constitutional...
by Fernando Trevino | Apr. 11, 2011 | Local
Get the popcorn! It has been nearly a month since it was revealed that bigots exist, and yes, in the Democratic Party. What an embarrassment! Last year, the treasurer of the Bexar County Democratic Party had siphoned $202,000 from the county party, and in the fall...
by Dustin Matocha | Apr. 8, 2011 | State
On Monday, several bills will be coming up in the House Ways & Means Committee to make the $1 million franchise tax exemption permanent. Doing so will go a long way toward protecting small businesses and securing economic liberty. Prior to 2007, the Texas...
by Andrew Kerr | Apr. 8, 2011 | State
In the midst of legislative efforts to further enhance private property rights making their way through the legislative process, two other bills taking the stage on the house floor today (HB 364) and Monday (HB 365) would instead unravel what property rights...
by Michael Quinn Sullivan | Apr. 7, 2011 | State
While the Texas House passed a state budget for 2012-2013 that stays within the taxpayers’ means, a document floating around the Texas Senate carries ideas to bring in new revenues – more than $1 billion through new and increased taxes. It also employs budget mirrors...
by Andrew Kerr | Apr. 6, 2011 | State
A bill filed by Reps. William Callegari and Erwin Cain aims to increase government efficiency by emphasizing government employee performance over longevity. The words “government” and “efficiency” don’t often find themselves in the same...
by Pratt on Texas | Apr. 6, 2011 | Local
Speaking to students and administrators at the University of Texas at Austin’s Texas Politics Speakers Series, House Speaker Joe Straus essentially answered back this week’s calls in the press from Senator Ogden for some type of fast-fix of the business tax to bring...
by Dustin Matocha | Apr. 5, 2011 | State
Two state representatives are taking aim at elected officials and public employees who committed felonies during their time in office. The bills represent a great step forward towards bringing more accountability and integrity in government. Rep. Eric Johnson...
by Fernando Trevino | Apr. 4, 2011 | State
Over the weekend, the Texas House finally got to passing our state’s budget for the next two years with less than half of the legislative session left. Of course the House budget is balanced, and will now go to the Senate where more revenues will probably be added to...
by Pratt on Texas | Apr. 4, 2011 | Local
The Austin-American Statesman reports that during the budget debate, State Rep. Mark Strama, rabid liberal Democrat of Austin, said “the two-year budget is a vestige of bygone days when members traveled to Austin by horse and is no longer feasible.” “No economist...
by Michael Quinn Sullivan | Apr. 3, 2011 | State
Tonight’s final vote on House Bill 1 tells us House leaders got the message taxpayers have been sending: live within our means! But taxpayers must remain vigilant; the session is far from over, and opportunities for taxing-and-spending mischief abound. Certainly...
by Andrew Kerr | Mar. 31, 2011 | State
Even though the House Appropriations Committee stopped with $800 million in budget cuts, conservative lawmakers kept looking for more ways to reduce spending and protect the state’s rainy day fund dollars. Amendments doing both will be offered on the House floor...
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