State

State Archive

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Billions More for Bigger Government

While other statewide leaders are calling for reducing spending and cutting wasteful government, House Speaker Joe Straus is telling the media he wants to break out the checkbook this session. In preparation for the 83rd Legislature, Gov. Rick Perry and Lt. Gov. David...

Why School Choice Must Be Universal

Who knows what's best for children in terms of education?  The adults responsible for them - i.e., parents and guardians - or politicians and bureaucrats?  I know, this is one of those times when you look at the screen and scoff.  "Obviously," you say, indignantly,...

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Gone with the Wind?

Texas has received federal subsidies for wind farms since 1992, providing the “green energy” sector with an artificial leg-up against other forms of energy. But with the fiscal cliff in Washington looming, this particular incident of corporate welfare could finally be...

Krause Makes Good on Reform

After drawing the top-seniority rank among the 42 members of the Texas House freshmen class, incoming State Rep. Matt Krause of Arlington put taxpayers first by filing legislation to require zero-based budgeting. During freshman orientation, new members draw numbered...

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The Curse of Low Expectations

On Friday, State Rep. Tim Kleinschmidt (R–Lexington) announced his intention to again vote for Rep. Joe Straus as House Speaker this upcoming session, reiterating the tired and debunked rhetoric that the House had a truly conservative session under his watch in 2011....

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Failing the Test

While good intentions no doubt drove the imposition of the state’s increasingly heavy-handed testing regimen for schools (well, good intentions, plus a big pay-day for a politically connected, London-based publishing firm), righteous outrage from parents and teachers...

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Granting More Electric Car Subsidies

Who needs more roads when you can have more electric-car charging stations? A new federal grant is set to build more charging stations along the I-35 corridor in Central Texas at the same time lawmakers in Texas are voicing concerns about lack of gas tax revenue from...

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Flawed Limit

Despite 94 percent of Republican primary voters and 70 percent of Texas voters demanding a limit on government spending to no more than population and inflation, the Legislative Budget Board today voted to let lawmakers exceed that rate for the 2014-15 budget cycle....

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First Look at Pre-Filed Bills

Pre-filing for bills in the 83rd Legislature has already begun. Here’s a look at some notable pieces of legislation so far. Good HB 88 by Bill Callegari – this would set a constitutional limit on the rate of growth of approprations to no more than the sum of...