State
Texas A&M Names Pro-DEI Obama-Appointee President of the University
Mark Welsh has served as interim president since July and was named the sole finalist for the position in November.
Texas Democrats Renew Challenge to Vote-By-Mail Age Limit
Lawyers from Texas and California petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to reconsider forcing states to adopt universal mail-in voting.
Texas Supreme Court Stays Court Decision Allowing Abortion
The Texas Supreme Court has blocked a lower court’s ruling allowing a pregnant woman to get an abortion.
Houston Mayoral Victory Marks End of Democrat Chairs in Texas Senate
State Sen. John Whitmire was the last Democrat committee chair in the Senate.
State Archive
Super-Subsidize Me
 It's getting increasingly easy to get on the government gravy train. From movie studio execs to Ph.D. families, the hand-outs just don't end in this Republican-controlled legislature. Small government. Right... This week, the Texas Senate's Finance Committee is...
Pauken Tries to Push Property Tax Relief Up the Hill
The Tyler Morning Telegraph has a revealing story today (see link or below) in which Tom Pauken, the chair of the Governor's Property Tax Reform Task Force, is quoted stating how disappointed he is with the lack of progress so far. He speaks candidly about what he...
Senator Patrick Goes to Bat for Taxpayers – Identifies Nearly $3 Billion in Spending Cuts to Save Taxpayers’ Money
Senator Dan Patrick has once again demonstrated that he is not afraid to rock the boat in order to stand up for taxpayers.  He not only voted against a $152 billion Senate budget ($2 billion more than the House version) but further listed over $2.9 billion in...
State, Texas Scorecard Podcasts
The Elephant In The Room
Take the Scissor to Big Government: Tuesday’s Blockbuster Hearing on Tax and Spending Limits
If you can come to the Capitol only once this session, tomorrow Tuesday, April 10 is a great day to do it. Vitally important legislation to limit the growth in government will be heard by the House Appropriations Committee beginning at 12:30 in Capitol Extension Room...
‘Cut and Run’ Republicans?
So the cut-and-run retreat of Republicans from conservative values and principles continued this week. While the modern French are widely known for a willingness to surrender before a battle is fought, it seems Republicans in the Texas House are even willing to...
Lower Than Expected Business Tax Revenues No Reason to Raise It
Comptroller Susan Combs this week estimated that the new state business tax on gross revenues would bring in $500 to $800 million less than expected. This estimate is based on voluntary submissions made by many affected businesses. However, many business, particularly...
Protecting Texas’ Free Market
For the last decade, Texas has been the national leader in making moves toward substantive, free-market reforms as means to solve problems and improve the quality of life.  T exas’ accomplishments have played an important role in helping other states, and even...
Rep. Hancock Seeks Death Penalty for Unused Life Insurance Tax
Representative Kelly Hancock , a Tarrant County Republican, has filed House Bill 1849 that will eliminate a tax imposed by the Texas Department of Insurance to Texas life insurers that now serves no purpose. In 2007, the state of Texas will collect $8.9 million in...