Federal
Former Houston Police Officer Convicted of Murders
The 2019 Harding Street Raid was based on falsified reports and took the lives of Dennis Tuttle, Rhogena Nicholas, and their dog.
Advocates Stress Water Conservation in Legislative Hearing
Although Texas’ water supply is improving, there is still work to be done.
Government Doing Evil…In YOUR Name, With YOUR Money
On this Salcedo Storm Podcast: Luca Cacciatore, journalist at Texas Scorecard.
Texas Scorecard Podcasts, Texas Scorecard Video
Are Your Taxes Going Up?
Across the state, local taxing entities are taking full advantage that allows them to raise your taxes...
Federal Archive
Relish This
As part of an effort to trim the county budget, Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez is cutting condiments from the budget. Prisoners will have to go without mustard, ketchup, sweeteners and jelly -- saving taxpayers $150,000. Her office might also charge inmates for...
When Times Are Tough, Tax-n-Spend Away
School districts around the state are crying poverty -- and hiking your taxes. But just like the studies showing how many welfare recipients own DVD players, cell phones and late-model cars, we would be wise as taxpayers to start demanding a little cleaner view of how...
That’s Some Banjo Hall
Taxpayers in Midland and Odessa -- along with the rest of us -- are shelling out big bucks for a new "performing arts" center to be built between the two cities. The facility, which is described as standing "90 feet tall at its center, far surpassing the height of the...
Survey Says New Business Tax Inflicts Pain on Employees, Consumers
A survey of 790 Texas small businesses finds that because of the new margins tax: 1) 50% will raise prices 2) 20% will lay off at least one employee 3) 33% won't hire new employees 4) 14% will drop health care or other benefits 5) 3% will close Meanwhile, thanks to an...
Got Freedom?
This week marked "cost of government day" -- the date in which the average American has now paid the cost of taxes and regulations handed down from federal, state and local governments. The date, July 16, means Americans work more than half the year to pay for all the...
You’re Getting Joysticked
Hold on to your wallets, the governor and Legislature are taking aim at your wallet with a little video game waste. Unfortunately, this isn't the virtual variety but the real-world deal. Texas Gov. Rick Perry wants lawmakers to give video game manufacturers boatloads...
Does Texas Need an Independent Inspector General’s Office to Root Out Fraud & Waste?
Senator Bob Deuell proposes the creation of such an office for the "main" state agencies in today's Dallas Morning News and Governor Rick Perry's office indicates support. The issue came up after controversial firings at the Texas Education Agency's Inspector...
French Fashion Show Tops Spring Branch ISD’s Wasteful Spending
Conservatives in Texas often talk about how wasteful our government school system can be, yet we rarely find a gem as perfectly flawed as two stories that appeared recently in the Houston Chronicle. On May 1, the Chronicle breathlessly reported “Spring Branch ISD...
Budget Busters
There’s very little that ails us that a little sunlight and fresh air can’t cure – and that’s especially true when it comes to government waste and bloat. Our friends over at the Texas Public Policy Foundation this week unveiled a snazzy little tool called...