NEWS
Lubbock Taxpayers to Roll Out Red Carpet for Visitors
The Lubbock City Council has just approved an engineering contract for a new $6.7 million visitors center in the city’s “Depot District.” Opponents had urged that the monies be used for streets, parks, or civic center renovations.
Enough (Tax) Money to Burn a Wet Mule
Rarely is a verbal response to a budget surplus seen that tickles my fancy, so when it happens, there are little tingles in my arm hair.
“Cut our taxes and give it back. Don’t just waste it on junk. Just like when they need more money they raise taxes, when they have extra they should give it back.”
– Upper Valley homeowner Farzad Malekzadeh
Amen brother.
Breaking Wind
A state study shows that hooking Texas’ major cities up to the new “wind farms” could exceed $6 billion — that’s more than $260 for every man, woman and child. The cheapest option would set still Texans back $3 billion.
Kay Marking
U.S. Sen. John Cornyn has a great commentary out addressing congress’ historic-low ratings. He lays the blame squarely on lawmakers’ inability to control themselves fiscally. He specifically highlights the failure of the U.S. Senate to pass earmark reform legislation. While he doesn’t say it, one obstacle is the other senator from Texas, Kay Bailey Hutchison.
Buying Endorsements
In the world of marketing, its not unusual to pay celebrities to endorse your product. Does anyone think Tiger Woods is advertising those razors for free? Apparently marketing-exec-turn-state-rep-candidate Angie Chen Button decided to try it in her election bid. So she quietly put a Garland City Councilman, Larry Jeffus, on her campaign payroll, and has him wander HD 112 criticizing her opponent, Randy Dunning… Larry neglects to mention his fiduciary relationship with Angie. He’s received nearly $40,000 for four months of “work” — not a bad gig. But wait, there’s more.
New Pig Book Shows Congress is High on the Hog
Citizens Against Government Waste has just released their annual PIG Book cataloging Congress’ waste of tax dollars. It shows there were 11,610 pork projects approved this past year at a cost of $17.2 billion. Among them: $3 million for First Tee, a character-building golfing program, $1.9 million for the Charles Rangel Center for Public Service and $742,764 to fund olive fruit fly research.
What About Breathalyzers?
Lawmakers have only recently come under fire for a decades-old practice in the Texas House: ghost voting. This is where someone votes for an absent colleague. It often happens with the consent of the absent (but not always), and usually in the manner the member would have voted (though sometimes not) — but that doesn’t necessarily make the practice palatable.
Too Smart for Tyroch
Last Sunday a group of friends and I from Young Conservatives of Texas went up to Belton to walk precincts and meet voters for Ralph Sheffield’s campaign. Ralph is a great guy. He’s the owner of a mexian food restaurant called Las Casas in Temple (Go and try the “White Wings”).
Wasting Taxpayer Dollars on Luxury Suites, Thousands on Meals
Martha Tyroch, a candidate for State Representative in HD55, has a disturbing pattern of charging taxpayers for luxury accomodations and lavish dinners.
Lewis In HD81
We hosted a live conference call last night for folks in House District 81 — and some 2,500 took part in the call to ask questions of fiscal conservative Tryon Lewis, who the Empower Texans PAC has endorsed in the run-off.
Laubenberg endorses Dunning
Taxpayer hero Jodie Laubenberg has come out strongly supporting Randy Dunning in the run-off race for House District 112 in Richardson and Garland. Why is she supporting Dunning?
Red-Light Rights
Did you know cities are required to post signs telling you red-light cameras are in effect at an intersection? And without the signs, they cannot collect a fine? We chatted this week with State Rep. Bill Callegari, who passed the law and is bothered by the lack of compliance around the state.