The Latest
Attorney General Paxton Highlights Importance of Recent SCOTUS Ruling for Border Security Case
The federal government has invoked the Supremacy Clause to prevent Texas’ new border security law from taking effect.
Houston Teacher Arrested for Improper Relationship with a Student
Cy-Fair teacher Kayden Burbank allegedly had a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old student.
Feminist Media Critic to Depart UT-Austin Over DEI Ban
UT Professor Jennifer McClearen also took aim at the state’s lack of COVID restrictions.
Allen High School Resource Officer Speaks Out on Fentanyl-Related Overdoses
Matthew Johnson administered the lifesaving drug Narcan three times this year to students who overdosed.
The Archive
Hang Up on the Texas Telephone Tax
Not including the new margin tax surcharge from Sprint, Texans already paid 18 percent of their telephone bill in government taxes and fees. That's outrageous. Why shouldn't the same sales tax apply to telephone bills as to every other purchase? Now, the...
Sprinting To A New Tax
My Sprint cellphone bill arrived today, featuring a brand new fee: The Texas Margin Fee Reimbursement. This is Sprint's attempt to make visible the new business tax implemented by the Texas Legislature last sprint. Some in the legislature are crying foul, but Sprint...
Governor’s budget proposals will promote accountability, transparency
AUSTIN, Texas – Gov. Rick Perry today proposed four key budget reforms designed to promote fiscal responsibility. Michael Quinn Sullivan, president of Texans for Fiscal Responsibility, praised the proposals, saying they shine more sunlight on the state’s finances....
Who in Austin is Concerned About Taxpayers? Who Won’t Mention Them?
A central purpose of Texans for Fiscal Responsibility is to give taxpayers a voice in Austin in the face of the powerful forces that lobby for more spending. Is there a way to determine whether fiscally conservative organizations or groups that advocate more...
˜Local Control’ Poor Excuse For High Taxes
Local bureaucrats and their Austin apologists have found the ‘local control’ religion, but only as a convenient foil against taxpayer protection. Fearful that their days of unrestricted access to taxpayers’ wallets might soon draw to an end, we suddenly find them...
You Can Vote Today to Return the Surplus
In a matter of months, your legislator will hopefully, after hearing from you, vote to return the surplus to taxpayers. However, you can vote today in an online poll sponsored by the Houston Business Journal which asks respondents how the Texas surplus should be...
Rep. Paxton Files Amendment to Allow Governor to Reduce Wasteful Spending
Today, State Rep. Ken Paxton filed a proposed constitutional amendment (House Joint Resolution 46) that would give the Governor authority to cut wasteful spending in the budget. Currently, the Constitution allows the Governor to exercise a line item veto over...
Taxpayers urged to contact lawmakers
AUSTIN, Texas – More than 29,000 households in eight senatorial districts are receiving mail about the importance returning Texas’ record budget surplus to taxpayers. The president of Texans for Fiscal Responsibility said taxpayers deserve to see further tax...
Rep. Hughes Files Bill to Shine the Light on State Agency Expenditures
Today, State Rep. Bryan Hughes (R-Mineola) filed House Bill 640 to require all state agencies to post a list of their expenditures online. The bill states: Each state agency that maintains a generally accessible Internet site or for which a generally accessible...