by Michael Quinn Sullivan | Oct. 25, 2007 | State
House Speaker Tom Craddick put voice this week to what conservative voters have been depressed about for several years: there are some Republican legislators who work against the conservative agenda. Here’s what Speaker Craddick said in the Midland...
by Michael Quinn Sullivan | Oct. 25, 2007 | State
While in Temple this week to guest-host a radio show, I had the opportunity to meet Michael Pearce. Hopefully you’ll get to know him, too. A Marine veteran and former classroom teacher, Pearce is running for the open House District 55 seat in the Texas...
by Mlevin | Oct. 24, 2007 | Local
Kudos to Dallas ISD for trimming its central office staff by 163, freeing up money either for classroom instruction or taxpayers. According to Texas Education Agency data we reviewed, Dallas ISD previously had 5 percent more staff per student than Houston ISD.   ...
by Michael Quinn Sullivan | Oct. 23, 2007 | State
It’s an inconvenient truth, but not only did the legislature’s effort to buy-down school property tax rates not result in lower tax bills (because they left the appraisal process untouched), but it has lead to higher school taxes. At least one elected...
by Rasamuelson | Oct. 23, 2007 | State
In 2003, the State Legislature passed the tuition deregulation plan which gave university systems the ability to raise their own tuition rates. Previously, the tuition rates for state universities were controlled by the State Legislature. We were assured by university...
by Michael Quinn Sullivan | Oct. 21, 2007 | Local
It’s not every day that a Republican runs on tax increases, especially tax increases to fund more boondogles. After all, conservative voters — who tend to make up the bulk of the Republican base — are rightly suspicious of higher taxes and...
by Mlevin | Oct. 18, 2007 | State
With increasing warnings of an economic meltdown due to the subprime crisis, the best thing Texas government entities could do is provide property tax relief, especially since Texas has the 5th highest foreclosure rate in the nation, which is increasing at a...
by Michael Quinn Sullivan | Oct. 18, 2007 | State
Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson is under fire from environmental groups because of his decision to sell the so-called “Christmas Mountains†which abut Big Bend National Park in far west Texas. Patterson rightly believes that the land will be better...
by Admin | Oct. 17, 2007 | Local
AUSTIN, Texas – The Empower Texans PAC has announced their endorsement of Craig Goldman in the special election to fill the vacated House District 97 seat in the Texas Legislature. “Mr. Goldman has demonstrated a strong commitment to promoting taxpayer protection...
by Admin | Oct. 17, 2007 | State
by Mlevin | Oct. 16, 2007 | Local
Houston is ground zero for the state revolt over property taxes, and it seems most elected officials have finally gotten the message. KTRK-TV reports that after Harris County District Clerk Charles Bacarisse courageously called for a 5 cent county property tax cut...
by Michael Quinn Sullivan | Oct. 15, 2007 | Local
Collin County Judge Keith Self must feel like the only sane man in an asylum. As the chief administrator in fast-growing Collin County north of Dallas, he is trying to stop a $328.9 million bond package being sold as a plan to reduce traffic congestion. What’s his...
by Michael Quinn Sullivan | Oct. 15, 2007 | Federal, State
Seventeen members of the Texas House have sent a letter to Texas’ delegation to the U.S. Congress, urging them to sustain the President’s veto of the massive expansion of the Children’s Health Insurance Program. Don’t expect the letter to make...
by Michael Quinn Sullivan | Oct. 13, 2007 | State
Newspapers around the state are breathlessly reporting that the Marxist-leaning Center for Public Policy Priorities thinks a massive national expansion of the Children’s Health Insurance Program is good for Texas. Of course, these are the same people who think...
by Michael Quinn Sullivan | Oct. 11, 2007 | State
The Texas Department of Transportation has been saying they’re broke, and cannot afford to build new roads. On the other hand, they have engaged in a multi-million-dollar advertising campaign to convince taxpayers to embrace new transportation policies. Now we find...
by Mlevin | Oct. 11, 2007 | Local
An October 1 analysis from the Harris County Tax Office confirms the vaunted school property tax cut will be short-lived. Paul Betttencourt’s number-crunching shows that by 2009, the HISD school property taxes on the average residence will be only 2.02% less...
by Michael Quinn Sullivan | Oct. 10, 2007 | State
Texas’ budget surplus has grown even more. State employees will get a pay raise, taxpayers? Still nothing. The Office of the Comptroller announced yesterday that the state is bringing in $1.5 billion in additional revenues – over and above the previously announced...
by Michael Quinn Sullivan | Oct. 9, 2007 | State
What was Kay Bailey Hutchison thinking? As the only Texas Republican to support a massive expansion of the Children’s Health Insurance Program, Hutchison’s vote is contrary to the wisdom of Texas’ fiscal conservatives on a program of questionable...
by Michael Quinn Sullivan | Oct. 8, 2007 | State
Never has a newspaper gotten the story so right. The section heading said it all, “Taxing As A First Option.†That’s precisely the attitude of so many in government, and in this case the government apologists are admitting it. A Dallas Morning News article about...
by Michael Quinn Sullivan | Oct. 8, 2007 | State
Texas school districts are showing kids that it is okay to lie and cheat so that you may get your way. This valuable life lesson comes courtesy of school districts efforts to convince voters to raise their taxes, as reported in today’s Dallas Morning News. At least...
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