NEWS
Carona’s Tax Betrayal
When people talk about Republican elected officials betraying conservative principles and the trust of their voters, one need look no further than State Sen. John Carona of Dallas. Just a week ago he was promising to include taxpayer protections and transparency in the massive tax-hike and fee-grab bill he was carrying for government spenders. As he presents the legislation to his transportation committee, those protections are gone.
More Education Waste
Some west Texas kids are getting snowmobile trips, vacations to Hawaii, California, LA and elsewhere — all courtesy of the schopol district. Actually, thanks to the state’s Robin Hood funding scheme, courtesy of taxpayers elsewhere in the state.
Surprise: Dunnam Stacks Deck
Oh, what a surprise — the liberal-dominated Texas House Select Committee on Federal Porkulus invited only big-spending grow-government shills to speak. How could that have happened? Oh, because Chairman Jim Dunnam is using his committee as a cheerleading ground for far-left activism, rather than good public policy. Speaker Straus should end this charade now.
Stimulating Unemployment
Two months ago I posted a blog about the stimulus package and how it would affect unemployment insurance (UI) in Texas. Yesterday Gov. Perry rightly rejected the stimulus funds allocated to unemployment insurance saying there were too many strings attached. It would be nice if that was the final word on the issue but sadly it’s not.
Plano Cheating Kids
If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em. That’s the educational philosophy in Plano where the school district is looking to implement rules letting kids cheat on papers and turn in homework whenever they like.
Transporting Taxes
At this moment, everyone in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex are the target of a massive tax increase effort in the Legislature. For example, they could be on the hook for an $8,700 “parking fee” just for having a car! And gas taxes will be set to rise faster than inflation. Today it’s Dallas, tomorrow everywhere.
Tax Relief, Not Stimulus Money, Needed In Texas
A group of Democratic legislators just concluded a press conference calling on Texas Gov. Rick Perry to accept and use more of the federal stimulus money. But the president of Texans for Fiscal Responsibility says this "California-based prescription" will make things worse by straddling the economy with bigger government. He called on the Legislature to make immediate cuts to property taxes the business tax as a way to effectively free the economy and help all Texans.
Paper, Plastic Or Regulation?
It’s hard to disagree with the notion that some lawmakers just don’t operate on the same planet as the rest of us. Consider House Bill 1867, filed by State Rep. Rafael Anchia (D-Dallas). This remarkable example of government micromanagement would regulate the bagging choices of customers, by requiring check-out clerks to “ask the customer if the customer would like to purchase a reusable bag… at reasonable price.” Is he kidding?
Texas Independence
Happy Independence Day! Texas Independence Day, that is. We should pause to consider not only the blessings of our great state, but the dedication of those who declared our freedom on March 2, 1836.
Tea, Anyone?
What started as a reporter’s unscripted rant on a cable news channel is turning into a movement. In cities across the nation, informal “tea parties” are being planned for Friday, Feb. 27, to protest the stimulus packages and out-of-control spending. Such gatherings will be taking place in Texas starting at 11 a.m. There will be a party in Austin at the state Capitol.
Yes, They Will Listen
Taxpayer outrage forced the City of Houston to cancel a program that would have seen taxpayer-funds used to pay off other people’s credit card debt — all in the name of encouraging folks with bad credit scores to have ready access to home mortgages. Apparently the city council hadn’t been paying attention to the national financial news. But they did pay attention to their constituents, thanks to the Houston Chronicle and the work of TFR and other outlets.
Texas Should Forgo Ellis’ Proposal
Now is not the time for state leadership to lose their heads and begin enacting laws that would increase taxation by expanding programs. But that’s exactly what State Senator Rodney Ellis (D-Houston) is proposing.