State

State Archive

Lawmakers Caught With Hands in Trauma Cookie Jar

Remember how the sporting goods tax has been diverted from state parks and the soon-to-be-abolished telephone infrastructure tax was funneled into general revenues after its purpose of connecting rural schools andl libraries had long been achieved. The San Antonio...

One Spendoholic Goes Honest

Not much of a surprise, everyone's been whispering about it for weeks, but it was announced last night that State Rep. Kirk England of Grand Prairie is swapping the "R" for a "D." Given that he only rated a 47% on fiscal issues, first-termer England had signaled his...

Checking The Receipt For State Government

You can watch the TFR Spendometer to see how fast state government is spending your money, but a great feature at Comptroller Susan Combs' official website lets you see where the money goes. Thanks to legislation championed by the friends of TFR, Comptroller Combs...

Politician Promises

What does a political promise go for? What real value should we place on the promises of elected officials? Remember the Texas Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund tax? It was implemented back in the 1990s to fund high-speed internet wiring of rural schools,...

Unsettled Records For Taxpayers

Texas' pols can often be found busily rewriting history in advance of their ongoing campaigns; nothing new there, but, still, taxpayers should expect better. Having been confronted with the legislature's well-known inaction on the $14.3 billion surplus, some...

And How Much For The Photocopier?

Legislators failed to return the $14.3 billion surplus, giving Texans some much-needed property tax relief. But, as a consolation, now comes word that your state government is spending your money to buy a letter many experts say is a fake. Seems like bureaucrats are...

Pigs Squeal When You Stick ‘Em

How do you know you've got a pig cornered? When it starts squealing. A reporter stopped by unannounced on Wednesday. It appears several Republican lawmakers are angry that you are paying attention. They don't like the fact taxpayers and voters are now asking questions...

Beaumont To El Paso, Taxes Going Up

Reports keep filtering in from cities and counties across the state: local officials are jacking up property taxes. When the Legislature "bought down" school property taxes, the inevitable result was other taxing entities filing the gap created and raising their...

If Conroe ISD Can Cut Taxes, Why Can’t Your School District?

While we often pass along bad news for Texas taxpayers, it gives us pleasure to recognize the exceptional government entities that exercise fiscal responsibility.  A newspaper report reveals that Conroe ISD  "is among a very select group of Texas school districts to...