State news in Texas
Statewide Texas News
Islamic Center Under Securities Investigation Amid Growing Scrutiny
This is the latest in a series of state-level actions targeting EPIC and its controversial planned development.
Texas Senate Passes Ban on Red Flag Gun Laws
Critics of red flag laws argue they trample on due process and Second Amendment rights, allowing firearms to be seized based on accusations alone.
Medicaid Provider Under Investigation for Spying on Patients and Legislators
Superior HealthPlan CEO acknowledges company hired investigators to research patients, journalists, and state officials.
Trump’s Executive Order Strengthens Election Laws
Texas already complies with most of the order’s sweeping election reforms.
State Archive
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...
Governor Signs Pro-Taxpayer Legislation Into Law
In signing two pieces of legislation today, Texas Governor Rick Perry and the Legislature delivered on two elements of the sound fiscal agenda promoted by Texans for Fiscal Responsibility and supported by thousands of voters and taxpayers. The governor today announced...
Legislature Bombs In Fiscal Rating
Just how did the legislative session go? We’ll be releasing a full legislative score card soon, but overall, this legislative session was a bust. The cumulative score of all members of the Texas House and Texas Senate, on fiscal issues, was an abysmal 52%. Meaning?...
Legislature Squandered Opportunity, But Taxpayers Ready For Action
Defending the Spendoholics?
On the website, in e-mails, and recent speeches, TFR hasn’t been bashful about calling out the Tax-and-Spenders infesting the Republican Party’s legislative delegation. By their actions (stopping additional tax relief, preventing tax reform, sponsoring tax hikes,...