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Tea Parties: Volume Versus Principles

An interesting story line some have tried to create in Texas’ gubernatorial race has been that Debra Medina is the “tea party” candidate, while Governor Rick Perry and U.S. Sen. Kay Hutchison are not, or worse. Certainly many have wanted that line to be true, and...

Smith: Voters “Too Stupid” To Know What’s Best For Them

You have to give State Rep. Todd Smith credit for saying what too many incumbents believe: some voters are just "too stupid to realize it" when doing what he knows is best for them. In this case, Smith was delaying to death legislation dealing with Voter ID. Worse, he...

Truitt’s Blunt Sword

Throughout the last session, State Rep. Vicki Truitt kept repeating the same line when confronted about her fiscally irresponsible bill to hike gas taxes and impose new fees, "I will fall on my sword over this." Well that must have been a blunt sword or she has...

Demonic Conservatives?

You know an election must be close when politicians start telling voters not to look at their records. Some incumbents hate it when voters get uppity and start getting educated and acting empowered. Earlier this week, the campaign consultant of choice for moderates...

Texas is Redistricted!

Before you get carried away, I am not talking about the 2011 event that will determine how our state's electoral lines are drawn, though I am glad to have hooked some readers. No, I am issuing a cheer for the actions of the University Interscholastic League (UIL). The...

Transportation Testimoney: Are New Sources Of Money Needed?

Despite legislative efforts to allow for the creation of new sources of transportation financing, it is not at all clear that there is currently a lack of transportation funding in Texas.    [This testimony was presented to the Joint Meeting of the House...

Carona and the Gospel of Higher Taxes

Proponents of higher taxes, less government accountability and no transparency gathered in Austin yesterday at the behest of their ally State Sen. John Carona. The cheerleading for bad policy and reckless economics lasted all day. The shills for higher taxes allegedly...

Big Rail

While I agree with Michael Sullivan that it was nice to hear Kay Bailey Hutchison on Friday push against the proposed gasoline tax hikes and other revenue grabs proposed by the proponents of boondoggles like light-rail. But her new oppositions to such porkbarrel...

Who Lost GOP Debate? Gas-Taxers

Clearly, everyone is convinced their candidate won the Friday night Belo debate of Republican gubernatorial candidates. Sure, whatever. In reality, there was one clear loser: the gas-tax lobby. The gas-tax lobby is comprised of the editorial boards of the two...