The Latest
Texas Lawmaker Names and Shames Colleagues for Killing Conservative Bills
In a recent interview, State Rep. Brian Harrison names three members responsible for scuttling Republican priorities.
Fort Worth Resident Ejected From School Board Meeting for Quoting Explicit Book
A local man quoted an inappropriate book school officials had previously put in the district library.
Los Angeles Mayor Complains About Illegal Aliens Bused Into City
Abbott’s busing scheme has delivered more than 21,000 illegal aliens to “sanctuary” cities such as D.C., New York City, Philadelphia, Chicago, and Denver.
Decision Texas, Local, South Texas
South Texas Democrat Switches Party Affiliation
Kleberg County Attorney Kira Talip Sanchez announced she now aligns with the Republican Party.
The Archive
North Texas Cities: Top 20 Highest Spenders
Complexity is the enemy of transparency. Unfortunately for Texans seeking to hold their local governments accountable on fiscal issues, local budgets, and financial statements are hopelessly complex. For example, the City of Irving’s annual budget is over 490 pages,...
Houston Reforms
With the first three Houston mayoral debates completed, campaign rhetoric revolving around municipal reforms is heating up. Two ideas in particular warrant a deeper look—one directed at Houston’s crime lab known as the Houston Forensic Science Center (HFSC), and...
Taking Credit for Gutting Tax Cuts
House Republicans are retrospectively arriving at a sweeping consensus—not enough was done to curb property tax increases. But if members supporting the coalition government of liberal House Republicans and Democrats had their way, Texans would pay even more. That’s...
Straus’ Revisionist History
In a recent interview, liberal House Speaker Joe Straus was asked to respond to allegations from many, including Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, that conservative bills went to House Calendars only to die without a vote. Citing the example of SB 1968 by State Sen. Joan Huffman...
House Tax Revision
In the days since the legislative session ended, House Speaker Joe Straus and his coalition government of Democrats and liberal Republicans has been bragging about passing the very tax cuts they had opposed. “We cut taxes,” Straus bragged in a statement issued by his...
Harless Claims Hijacked Ethics Bill “Was Never Going to Pass”
Just days after the end of the 84th legislative session, one state representative is admitting that provisions added to Gov. Greg Abbott’s landmark ethics legislation by the leadership of the Texas House were designed to kill the bill. State Rep. Patricia Harless...
Midland County and School Board Talk Taxes
In the petroleum-rich town of Midland, TX, the fluctuation of oil prices and population numbers weigh heavily on property tax-dependent entities, such as the school district and county. With last year’s dip in oil prices and the subsequent effect on mineral valuations...
Dan Patrick Got It Done
On his first vote as a state senator, Dan Patrick voted alone. In the recently concluded legislative session, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and the state senate substantively delivered on every measure he campaigned on last year. A main stay of Patrick’s policy agenda, since...
Abbott: House Hijacking of Ethics Bill Unconstitutional
In an interview with reporters yesterday about the death of his landmark ethics legislation, Gov. Greg Abbott laid the blame for the bill’s death squarely at the feet of State Rep. Byron Cook (R–Corsicana) and the leadership of the Texas House. “It’s important for...