Corporate Welfare

Surplus of hindsight

Surplus of hindsight

State Legislators banking on a healthy state budget surplus to ease funding tensions next session are in for an unexpected comeuppance. A major state employee benefit system for retired teachers is in danger of imminent insolvency. A surprising twist to this problem...

Hungry for Taxpayer Handouts

Hungry for Taxpayer Handouts

A popular political bumper sticker reads, “If you’re not angry, you’re not paying attention.” Citizens of the small, Central Texas town of Taylor now have a reason to do both: Taylor’s City Council has given away over $200,000 in tax money to build a pizza restaurant...

Gears: The Crony That Won’t Quit

Gears: The Crony That Won’t Quit

The Dallas Morning News released a soft-ball piece on Irving’s Mayoral race between the incumbent, Beth Van Duyne, and her opponent, former Mayor and City Councilman, Herb Gears.  It focused on the lack of bitterness between campaigns this cycle, in stark contrast to...

Students Arrested Protesting Bill Powers

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Students Arrested Protesting Bill Powers

Yesterday 18 University of Texas students were arrested after occupying the office of UT President Bill Powers in opposition to a University initiative for “shared services,” a euphemism for administrative consolidation and out-sourcing. The group protested after...

David vs. Goliath

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David vs. Goliath

Despite long odds for his conservative challenger, liberal Republican State Senator Bob Deuell is in the fight of his political life. According to Texas Ethics Commission reports, Deuell astronomically outspent his conservative challenger, entrepreneur and Tea Party...

Irving: Public Cost, Private Benefit

Irving: Public Cost, Private Benefit

If the thought of public officials trading fiscal imprudence for political expediency infuriates you, the remaining details of ARK’s proposal will leave you speechless.