State
Abbott to Biden: Texas Will Secure the Border
Gov. Greg Abbott says the state is taking action because of a failure from the Biden administration.
Texas Will ‘Hold the Line’ On Border Despite Federal Ruling
Texas officials pledge to continue protecting the border after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled federal agents can cut the fencing stopping illegal aliens from entering the state.
Texans Respond to Supreme Court Order Allowing Federal Agents to Destroy Razor Wire Fencing
This comes as the Texas National Guard is continuing to hold the line at the southern border.
State Agency Spent Over $260M on ‘Dangerous’ Foster Care Conditions
Problems continue to abound from the Department of Family and Protective Services.
State Archive
Road Taxes Should Fund Roads? What A Crazy Idea…
State Sen. John Carona says in today’s Dallas Morning News that Texas must “stop the diversion of gas tax funds for other uses.†That’s welcome news. While the state’s constitution currently requires transportation funds to be used for transportation...
Privatization Serves Taxpayers Even When Contractors Fail
Advocates of big government rarely let facts get in the way of their pursuit of growing budgets. Such is the case with Waco Tribune-Herald editor John Young, whose weekly column is very often devoted to the worship of government (of the activist variety) and the...
Property Tax Relief… For Government Employees
The headline in today's Houston Chronicle says it all: City union asks for property tax relief. My heart leapt for joy: Bureaucrats are now joining the call for tax relief! But then I read the article... They don't want property tax relief for all taxpayers,...
Ineffective Treatment?
The Houston Chronicle reported over the weekend that medical professionals are skeptical that the legislature's new $3 billion "cancer fund" will accomplish much more than spend $3 billion of the taxpayers' money. But, don't worry, it was created with the best of...
Deadweight, and Dead Weight
An elected official (a Republican, no less) told me yesterday he doesn't mind paying taxes because it is "the price of freedom." His doe-eyed statement was wrong on a great many levels, practical and philosophical. First and foremost, freedom's price has been paid --...
Tainted Performance Measures at the Department of Agriculture
Today, the State Auditor released a report certifying that the Department of Agriculture met only 60 percent (3 of 5 with one of the three certified with qualification) of its performance measures. That's the same Department of Agriculture that, as noted in this post...
Small Businesses Bracing for Burdensome Business Tax
The San Antonio Express-News reports that many small business owners around the state are facing huge bills due under the new state gross receipts tax which starts in 2007, with the first payment to the state due by May 2008. The article notes that many firms are...
Fiscal Irresponsibility At TEA?
A report issued by the Office of the Inspector General at the Texas Education Agency has shed light on a contracting process ripe for fraud and abuse. It is alleged that individuals received large subcontracts from one of the Education Service Centers, divisions of...
Cutting Fat With Good Feelings
From the "Oh, What a Big Surprise Department," comes news that spending billions of taxpayer dollars on "nutrition education" has been a failure. The Associated Press article makes it clear that about the only thing accomplished was making kids feel good about singing...