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.

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 this bill by adding necessary property rights protections.

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 agency. That’s a poorly considered idea, for a number of important reasons.

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.

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 protections Texans have already rightly established.

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 and fiscal smoke.

A bill filed by Reps. William Callegari and Erwin Cain aims to increase government efficiency by emphasizing government employee performance over longevity.

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.

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 the House’s proposal.