by Andrew Kerr | Jan. 18, 2011 | State
There’s a saying, “to make policy, you have to win politically” – and that is what conservatives did with distinction on November 2nd of last year. What’s yet to be seen is if the platform of limited government, less spending, and no new...
by Michael Quinn Sullivan | Jan. 17, 2011 | State
Political contests shouldn’t be about personalities, but rather focused on policy outcomes; we are talking about the business and future of Texas, after all. Ironically, the first business of the House of this 82nd Legislature might be more about the people than...
by Andrew Kerr | Jan. 13, 2011 | State
During a legislative session where creating more efficiency in government is essential, some legislators are examining ways to streamline the Sunset process so that it can live up to its purpose. Rep. Gary Elkins of Houston has had enough. After observing how the...
by Dustin Matocha | Jan. 13, 2011 | State
The House should be commended for the unanimous decision today to cut their office budgets across the board. By passing the HR 3 (the Housekeeping Resolution) for the 82nd Legislature, legislators lowered their operational budget allocated for salaries and other...
by Dustin Matocha | Jan. 13, 2011 | State
It seems like the more things change, the more things stay the same for Representative Jim Pitts. Rep. Pitts (R-Waxahachie), House Appropriations Chairman, announced this morning that he plans to file the current appropriations bill on Tuesday when the House...
by Pratt on Texas | Jan. 13, 2011 | Local
I’ve a perfect example for you of how even a vociferous conservative can find himself supporting a tax increase, get it through the Legislature, and get away with few ever knowing. Let’s take Leo Berman, firebrand conservative state rep. from House District 6 in...
by Andrew Kerr | Jan. 13, 2011 | State
Much of the buzz surrounding the 82nd Legislative Session seems to be fueled by angst over writing the next state budget and how legislators will make ends meet in the face of expected budgetary “shortfall.” Conservative legislators and Texans, however, should be...
by Michael Quinn Sullivan | Jan. 12, 2011 | State
Promoters of big government are pitching dark budget days ahead by claiming the state faces a $27 billion budget shortfall. Their math is built on faulty premises, and being repeated by the liberal press. Never mind their numbers don’t mesh with reality. The...
by Dustin Matocha | Jan. 12, 2011 | State
We’ve mentioned before that regardless of how much of a budget shortfall is estimated for the next biennium (anywhere from $16 billion to $27 billion), the way to approach it is not by asking what can we “cut from the top” of current spending, but what are the...
by Andrew Kerr | Jan. 11, 2011 | State
When Joe Straus was re-elected by the House of Representatives to serve again as the state’s 3rd highest ranking constitutional officer, 17 members stood on principle, keeping their word to constituents, and did not vote for Mr. Straus. Amongst what has been an...
by Michael Quinn Sullivan | Jan. 11, 2011 | State
Speaker Straus deserves our congratulations on his re-election and thanks for his service Texas. The big issues facing Texas will be solved only by the bold ideas championed by commonsense Texans in the November election. It falls to Mr. Straus to get it done. While...
by Michael Quinn Sullivan | Jan. 10, 2011 | State
Despite calls from conservative activists, tea party leaders, Republican leaders and Texas voters, the House Republican caucus voted in closed session this afternoon to endorse Joe Straus for re-election as House speaker. No doubt to the chagrin of some tepid...
by Michael Quinn Sullivan | Jan. 10, 2011 | State
It may no longer be a question of if the leadership team surrounding House Speaker Joe Straus will move to raise taxes, but when and how much. Just this weekend another Straus lieutenant announced his openness to hiking taxes this year. Hopefully Gov. Rick Perry has a...
by Andrew Kerr | Jan. 7, 2011 | State
Legislation being offered by Republican State Sen. Jeff Wentworth would create a massive land-grab for schools, forcing developers to sell property at or below market value. Sen. Wentworth’s legislation would require private residential land developers to offer...
by Fernando Trevino | Jan. 7, 2011 | Local
With Texas being the biggest winner of this decade’s decennial census and subsequent congressional reapportionment, many liberals are trying to find a silver lining, especially after their November beat down in which the Texas Democratic delegation shrunk from 12 to...
by Empowertexans | Jan. 5, 2011 | State
The vote for House Speaker will be included on the Fiscal Responsibility Index, announced the president of Texans for Fiscal Responsibility today. “Joe Straus’ record as the state’s third-ranking constitutional officer leaves much to be desired for fiscal...
by Dustin Matocha | Jan. 4, 2011 | State
It seems Speaker Joe Straus’ supporters need a refresher on Statistics. Many of those supporters cite historic GOP gains in Texas’ House as evidence of political effectiveness. That means Mr. Straus should remain Speaker, doesn’t it? Hardly. To jump to that conclusion...
by Michael Quinn Sullivan | Jan. 4, 2011 | State
It’s a safe bet most Texans haven’t heard of the Department of Information Resources. It’s hummed along under the radar for years, generating revenue by selling services to other state agencies. After a scathing Sunset Commission report, State Rep. Byron Cook is ready...
by Andrew Kerr | Jan. 3, 2011 | State
It seems time after time, the left’s go-to solution for budgetary issues is to “increase revenue streams” (ahem) raise taxes. More curious is that these “solutions” keep coming from the leadership team assembled by House Speaker Joe Straus. The latest in the litany of...
by Michael Quinn Sullivan | Dec. 27, 2010 | State
Preparing for the start of the legislative session, we last week sent lawmakers a letter outlining our priorities and reminding them how our scorecard, the Fiscal Responsibility Index, works. Of more immediate significance, we noted that House members’ first...
