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Do No Harm

When legislators gather in Austin, we might ask they take the Hippocratic Oath usually reserved for doctors. Or at least the part about "never do harm" as it regards our state economy. Texas Workforce Commission chairman Tom Pauken writes this week that while states...

Secret Shenanigans

Texas has led the way in transparency and open-government, from our open meetings and records laws to recent victories in posting expenditures in real-time. Texans enjoy unprecedented sunlight in knowing how tax dollars are used and elected officials act. But now some...

Senate Finance Recommends Property Tax Reforms

The Senate Finance Committee is recommending in its interim report that voters have the opportunity to opt for a higher local sales tax to buy down property taxes. The report also calls for simpler tax notices that are more transparent in revealing the true change in...

Tangible Results

Public policy efforts have real and lasting results, for well or for ill. For years Texans suffered under a hideous tort environment that enriched trial lawyers (who now use those profits to fully underwrite the liberal political movement in Texas and own the...

Perry Sets December 16 For Senate Run-Off

Gov. Rick Perry's office just announced that the run-off election for Houston's Senate District 17 will be on Dec. 16. The race pits conservative Joan Huffman, a former judge, against perennial liberal candidate Chris Bell. Given the tightened dynamics of the Texas...

King Addresses Texas Sub Prime Taxes

Though this is not a new development it warrants repeating that Rep. Phil King of Weatherford is working to reform the Texas property tax juggernaut. The Weatherford Democrat reports that King’s legislative efforts in the upcoming session will be geared primarily...

Legislature Needs Strong Fiscal Leadership

With the national economic outlook continuing to look dim, Texans must insist that the Legislature focus on policies that ensure the state’s fiscal soundness. Whoever leads the Texas House must be committed to spending restraint, low taxes, property tax reform...

Limiting Growth

Kudos are due to the Legislative Budget Board, and Lt. Gov. Dewhurst and Speaker Craddick specifically, for on Friday opting to use a low spending growth estimate. In fact, they chose the lowest growth rate number in the history of the Texas Legislature. This offers...

Legislative Nannies

Hide your wallet, protect the kids and lock the doors, legislators are preparing to invade! Pre-filing of legislation has started in anticipation of the 81st Session of the Legislature. While Texans are worried about skyrocketing property taxes, liberal lawmakers have...