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Bed Time for Bad Government

A group of citizens is suing their city council for “carpet bombing the constitutional rights” of short-term rental owners and tenants through an absurd new ordinance. They allege the new regulations violate property rights, going so far as to set a “bedtime” for...

Texas Travelers and Businesses Face Record High Hotel Taxes

Texas has among the highest combined hotel occupancy tax rates of any other major metropolitan areas in the nation, according to the Texas Hotel and Lodging Association. Unfortunately, there are no signs of that changing anytime soon. Considered a “tourist tax” to...

Zimmerman Sues Adler Over Ballot Language

Confusing ballot language was used to engineer the outcome of Austin’s recent election on ridesharing services. That’s the claim in a lawsuit filed this week by a city councilman who says Austinites not wanting to drive are left to choose between antiquated and...

Cities Make Regulations Harder For Uber Than Taxis

With Uber recently pulling out of Austin, returning to Midland, and potentially leaving Houston, ridesharing in Texas has been hotter than the weather. The chief argument centers on cities’ obsession with fingerprinting Transportation Network Company (TNC) drivers in...

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Hillary Clinton? Not in Texas

Recently, the as-yet-unindicted Hillary Clinton made a little news by suggesting Texas was going to be “in play” for her presidential campaign this fall. Er, probably not, say… Texas Democrats. Heading into this weekend’s convention for the Texas Democratic Party,...

Midland ISD to Add Tax Increase to November’s Ballot

Midland ISD school board members voted unanimously to raise property taxes via a tax ratification election this November. Although a rate has yet to be set, the district says that the only way for MISD to get out of the red is to raise the rate to the highest allowed...

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Taxpayer Guide to Property Taxation

The simple truth about property taxes is that local officials—not appraisal boards—control how much your tax bill increases. Unless they vote to lower tax rates every September to adequately offset rising property values, Texans will pay higher taxes. When governments...

Texas House Committee On Pensions Houston Hearing

Despite skyrocketing costs and staggering debt in Houston, the mayor is taking an absolute position opposing reforms that would offer greater security for government employees and lower costs for taxpayers. Sylvester Turner's comments came during a House Committee on...