State
Pro-family ‘See You at the Library’ Events to be Held Across Texas Saturday
The “pro-God, pro-America” story hours started by Kirk Cameron and BRAVE Books will include 39 parent-led events.
Incoming Lawmakers Challenge TxDOT’s Plan to Maintain Tolls After $1.7 Billion Buyout
The Republican Party of Texas platform calls on the Texas Legislature to “abolish existing toll roads and prohibit future construction.”
Texas Children’s Hospital Whistleblower Fired After Alleging Medicaid Fraud for Child Gender Mutilations
Vanessa Sivadge first disclosed the information just days after federal prosecutors indicted another whistleblower, Dr. Eithan Haim.
Parker County GOP Debunks Immigrant Voter Registration Claim
Even still, Texans are urged to be vigilant of election fraud.
State Archive
Bark Up A Tree
Here is the perfect job for the outdoorsman who doesn’t like nature, and the wildlife nut who won’t sacrifice a vibrant nightlife: An Urban Forester! The Texas Forest Service (bet you didn’t know we had one of those, now did you?) is handing out your money to cities...
Big John
Hanging in Sen. John Cornyn’s office is a guitar signed by rockers ZZ Top. Pretty cool. More cool is the way Cornyn has been rocking the U.S. Senate. He forced the hand of the liberals on their global warming scam, and has become a consistent champion of free markets...
Earmark Accountability
Transparency is good for what ills us at all levels of government. Whether its local school checkbooks, state agency contracts, or federal earmarks, transparency is a powerful tool for meaningful reform. Chatting this week in Washington with two senior staffers in Kay...
$5 Billion Property Tax Hike Proposed – It’s Called Sales Price Disclosure
At a Senate hearing yesterday, Dallas officials called for sales price disclosure. This would raise appraisal values, resulting in $4 billion in additional school property taxes plus billions more in other local property taxes. As the new Texas GOP platform declares,...
More Affordable Fords Can Help Texas Counties Economize
Dallas County is facing a budget shortfall of $20 to $30 million, largely because they have gotten used to increasing spending at double-digit rates, but for the first time in years, appraisal increases didn't quite keep up. Commissioners are looking for savings, and...
New Texas Democratic Party Platform Silent on Taxes, Big on Spending
With the Texas GOP platform on deck this weekend, the Texas Democratic Party has posted their new platform. It does not address taxes except claiming that current state taxes favor big over small business, but includes items such as universal government health care...
It’s Time To Abolish School M&O Taxes
For decades the school property tax that funds "maintenance and operations" has been causing troubles for taxpayers -- skyrocketing burdens, lawsuits and confusion. Legislators, taxpayers, school boards and judges have all taken cracks at reforming a system that is...
Dewhurst Suggests Repeal Of Business Tax
The business tax may not have long to live. Apparently the state's lieutenant governor, David Dewhurst, rattled a rather formidable saber last week at a business group meeting in Austin, saying he'd like to consider a repeal of the gross margins tax passed in 2006....
Job Growth In Texas
Found a fun fact in a mailer from Gov. Rick Perry today. Over the last 12 months, Texas has seen 262,000 jobs created -- 95 percent in the private sector. Compare that to the national scene, 462,000 jobs were created -- and half of which were government jobs. Dig a...