With the national unemployment average now at a 26-year-high of 10.2 percent, Texas is doing much, much better. Not only is the state’s unemployment two-points lower (8.3 percent), but lead the nation in job creation last month.

John Carona and Hank Gilbert hail from different political parties, but they have the same view on transportation: raise those taxes. They want more of our money.

Whether you like it or not, your local tax dollars are subsidizing an effort to effectively gut the state’s open meetings laws. The Texas Municipal League, which is funded by local governments using the taxpayers’ dollars, is working vigorously to gut laws that have given Texans access to local government.

Friday, we were finally witness to an actual decision from Senator Hutchison in which she said that she would not resign from the Senate until after the Republican Primary election. The announcement immediately followed this headline: In Texas GOP Showdown, Perry Leads Hutchison 46% to 35% – that from a new Rasmussen poll.

A hot topic of discussion on Empower Texans lately has been the potential threat of rising state gasoline taxes. Clearly there have been revenue shortfalls due to the recession, but is this the only reason?

A Dallas Morning News story about the GOP race for Texas governor included this: “…Rep. Mike Conaway, R-Midland, isn’t taking sides in the governor’s race but he’s unhappy about the way Perry has indiscriminately bashed Washington insiders.”

Texas Tribune is reporting that the education commissioner has found a way to increase the number of charter schools. That’s great news for kids, even if the teacher unions and state Democratic party are up in arms.

When State Rep. Chuck Hopson switched from the Democratic to Republican party, the partisan balance for the GOP in the Texas House has improved. But does his switch mean an improved voting record? Apparently not. Indeed, it seems centered more on his own political convenience than any sense of conservative conscience.