Voters in Hidalgo County now have twice rejected adding another administrative special taxing district– and were wise to do so. Adding new districts simply adds more layers of bureaucracy and increases costs, while redistributing more money from taxpayers and away from needed services, instead of focusing on the intended beneficiaries — patients, in this case.
Texas is often referred to as a poverty-ridden state due to its reliance on a model of limited government. More prosperity is preferred, and the evidence is clear that standards of living are substantially higher in Texas than in California, which has a model of excessive government.
A return to the decentralized government envisioned by America’s Founding Fathers would alleviate our political malaise
Data show better economic outcomes in places with less government and more economic freedom
"The incoming Administration has pledged to open federal lands – onshore and offshore - for oil and gas production."
"We must remember that government spending is the disease, and taxes are just a symptom. If we want to cure the disease and keep taxes low, we must be vigilant in keeping spending constrained, no matter the source."
Even though this election would appear to continue a trend of minimum wage increases, Texas shouldn’t take part in these job-killing measures. For those who view the minimum wage as a manner of assisting low-skilled, hard-working Americans, the best solution is simple: create more jobs, don’t eliminate them.
The power sector is too fundamental to economic growth to dismiss pragmatic, cost-effective solutions.
While Texas is a leader on many fronts, it is sadly behind on education reform. The Texas Supreme Court called upon lawmakers to “upend an ossified regime ill-suited for 21st century Texas” and the Legislature holds the key to unlocking parents’ ability to improve the educational welfare of millions of Texas children. Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) provide an exciting opportunity for Texas children and for the quality of life of future Texans.
As the calendar year inches its way to a close, the 2017 Texas Legislature is primed to start session in January with an increasingly tight budget brought on partially by the slowdown of the oil industry. This has created a buzz around the state regarding spending money from the state’s Economic Stabilization Fund (ESF), often...
Certificates of Obligation, or COs, let local governments issue debt without voter approval. They are supposed to give officials a way to cope with emergencies, like natural disasters; but, as I’ve argued in the past, COs are increasingly used as a way for officials to spend on feel-good projects or things that voters would never...
The city of Amarillo wants voters to approve a big new bond package — but is it really needed or are officials confusing wants with needs?