The Latest
Austin City Council Member Requests Audit of City Spending on Homeless Services
The request comes one day after the city’s homeless strategy officer resigned.
LA to Pursue Legal Action Against Texas for Busing Illegal Aliens
The council called on numerous officials to investigate Abbott’s busing operation.
New Law Requires Texas Schools to Hire Security Guards
Legislation mandating at least one armed security guard per school goes into effect September 1.
Fight over Regulatory Certainty Law Moves to Texas Court of Appeals
Although cities are claiming a temporary victory, legal experts say the law will still go into effect on September 1.
The Archive
Living the Good Life on Taxpayers’ Dime
Wednesday, state district court Judge John Dietz announced a new six-week school finance trial that will begin in January of 2014. As this trial drags on, and Texas school districts continually screech that they are in desperate need of more funding, one district is...
Legislators feed bad management at TxDOT
“We need to be realistic with the taxpayers … and tell them it’s going to take more money to fix this problem,” said Sen. Kevin Eltife of Tyler. Eltife and other senators claim that we’ve refused to pass enough taxes to pay for a modern road system and have voted for...
Perry Mails In Budget Vetoes
If you were looking for Governor Perry to make a statement about the excess spending and little tax relief in the state budget, you’re going to be sorely disappointed. Outside of a political swipe at the embroiled head of the state’s Public Integrity Unit, the...
And … They’re Off!
After spending your tax dollars at record-breaking and bank-busting levels, legislators are now hitting the streets looking for campaign cash. Republicans will wow you with tales of just how conservative they have been. They might think they are, but the results of...
Dallas Jumping on Bag Ban-Wagon
The Big Government fiends in Dallas are looking to follow in Austin’s footsteps and implement a ban on “single use” bags. You may remember that in March, Austin implemented a ban on “single use” carryout bags, requiring the purchase of reusable bags, or a fee for...
An abdication of fiscal restraint: Rainy day roads
Texas Politics reported this week that members of the “Senate Finance Committee meeting in Austin Wednesday were generally supportive of a plan to direct money from oil production tax revenues to road rehab and construction.” The committee did not approve the plan by...
Making a Statement (in the Journal)
Several members made a statement on some of the most ideological votes cast in the House during the regular session. No, not that kind of “statement.” The kind of statement that goes into the official journal documenting they meant to vote another way. It happens from...
Bureaucrats Set to See Pay Hikes
Come September 1, many of the state’s top-level bureaucrats are set to see some sweetheart pay raises. Of course, they come without any attempts to make state agencies more efficient with your tax dollars. Most state employees are set to see their pay stubs increase...
Letter to Governor Rick Perry
To the Honorable Rick Perry, Governor of the State of Texas: The just-ended legislative session grows government too much and offers too little tax relief. Download PDF of letter to Gov. Perry. Call his office at (512) 463-4630. The 83rd Texas Legislature appropriated...