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The Latest
TEA Finds Houston ISD Superintendent Did Not Misuse Tax Dollars
The investigation was initiated after a report suggested Mike Miles sent public funds to Colorado to offset the debt of his Third Future Network charter schools.
Houston Controller Accused of Pay-to-Play by Mayor Whitmire
Controller Chris Hollins is selling sponsorships, the highest level of which awards the donor with a private dinner.
Dallas HERO Calls on Senate Committee to Hold City Governments Accountable
The group’s executive director says lawmakers need to look into reforms to prevent local governments from undermining citizens.
Investigations, Local, South Texas, State
TAMU-San Antonio Library Highlights ‘Anti-Racist’ Resources
Resources include a section on “examining whiteness.”
The Archive
Don’t Bet Budget On Gambling
Enticing whispers are floating through Capitol halls that Texas can have it all: more revenues, lower taxes and balanced budgets. All that – and more! – would come simply by expanding legalized gambling in Texas. Such promises might look good under flashing neon at...
Eltife’s Crazy Budget
Well, you should give State Sen. Kevin Eltife two points for consistency. It seems that his knee-jerk reaction to principled, fiscally responsible public policy is to decry it as "crazy" and "insane". When Sen. Eltife, a member of the Senate Finance Committee, was...
Duncan on statewide school property tax
On yesterday's Pratt on Texas, Senate State Affairs chairman Robert Duncan, SD28, explained his position on a statewide, as opposed to the existing local, property tax for public education funding. The total interview is about 10 minutes long. You can listen here:...
Education Spending: Texas vs. California
We Texans love to compare ourselves with California; we have created more private sector jobs, have a lower tax burden and lower unemployment rate, and folks are leaving the formerly 'Golden' State in droves to seek Lone Star prosperity. Without a doubt, there is much...
Jump-Start the Volt?
One more industry is about to affix itself to the taxpayer's already-abused wallet. The City of Austin is looking at plans to subsidize electric car charging stations, providing charge-ups on the taxpayer dime via the federal government. This week the City of Austin...
An Open Letter to Parents
As you know, due to the projected reduction in tax revenues from the recent economic crisis, Texas must reduce the size of its $87 billion biennial budget by approximately $15 billion. Currently, 40% of Texas’ budget is dedicated to funding public and higher...
SB600: Typical Liberal Fear Mongering
On Friday, February 11, freshman State Senator Jose Rodriguez (D – El Paso) filed SB600 which is basically the antithesis of Arizona’s SB1070 and then some. If passed, which I highly doubt (it’ll be lucky if it’s even assigned to a committee), SB600 would prohibit...
“Sonogram Bill” Vote Coming Soon – Senate Dems Divided
While I typically do not agree with Democrats, I completely believe in giving credit where it is due. When it comes to the “sonogram bill” making its way through the Texas Senate, I’d like to thank the three Democrats who have stood by their faith and values rather...
Surveying The Art Of Lost Money
Is there an art to losing track of the taxpayers' money: just ask the Texas Arts Commission. Texas Watchdog's Mark Lisheron reminds us that the agency "was criticized for a longstanding inability to keep track of its funding" in a report by the state auditor. In the...