Tarrant County taxpayers may soon be paying more for local government. On Monday, the Tarrant County Commissioners Court held a public meeting to discuss its proposed budget for fiscal year 2023, which totals $916 million, less capital expenditures. That represents about a $120 million increase from the prior year’s budget total ($797.2 million). To help...
The Harris County Commissioners Court has green lit the exploration of a lawsuit, in a 3-2 vote along partisan lines, over the county’s inclusion in the next round of election audits. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo attacked the selection as “politically motivated” and “a distraction.” Other county officials disputed (without evidence) the randomness of the...
Everyone is feeling the pinch at the supermarket these days, as inflation—measured by the decline in the purchasing power of money for a basket of goods and services—recently hit a 40-year high. From eggs to milk, it is getting harder to bring home the bacon. Nowhere has that been more visible than in the prices...
Leftists in D.C. have reanimated pieces of the Green New Deal, the Clean Power Plan, and Build Back Better and stitched them into the “Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.” But they left out the job growth part. The bill would be better named the “Inflation Reduction and Job Growth Act of 2022—for China.” There’s nothing...
There is always an incentive to break the law. Speeding saves time, Ponzi schemes make money, and ripping the tag off a mattress in violation of California regulations is eminently satisfying. But an existing incentive to break the law isn’t a reason for courts to excuse unlawfulness. Federal law stipulates that universities cannot charge illegal...
With extensive economic pressure facing the U.S., progressive lawmakers in Washington believe they have found a new solution: taxing and spending. This failed fiscal framework has become an easy sell for each new progressive administration. But this time the Biden administration has placed America in a high-inflation recession, and looks to do more harm with...
While a stagnating economy with high inflation is what economists usually call stagflation, the current situation is worse, as the real economy is declining. So there’s much less to go around for everyone—making us poorer in the process. This inflation-recession could be resolved by Washington reversing course, but President Joe Biden and Democrats in Congress...
Americans are sacrificing their savings to keep up with soaring inflation. This burden has contributed to consumer sentiment reaching its lowest level in June since the University of Michigan started the survey in January 1978. And the progressive policies in D.C. could soon make this bad situation worse. The personal saving rate, which is the...
The U.S. government is bankrolling favored businesses at the expense of taxpayers and other businesses. Again. By continually involving itself in the market, government is impeding economic growth and the potential of industries to reach their full potential. That must change. Congress recently passed the CHIPS Act, which is a $280 billion spending boondoggle that...
Building out broadband internet is the “wild west” of public policy, and naturally, the various proposals fall into three categories: the good, the bad, and the ugly. Because of a digital age that has made it more difficult to live everyday life without high-speed internet, broadband access affects quality of life. Poor access can hinder...
Kari Anne Roy, an Austin resident, had her 6-year-old son escorted home from playing outside by a woman she didn’t know. Her son was outside with his 8-year-old sister, less than 150 yards away from the house. The woman was concerned for the child’s safety in playing outside without an adult, and within a few...
In carefully measured tones, a dad pleaded with the Lovejoy ISD school board not to disrupt his sons’ lives and educations. Like many other families, he had enrolled his fifth and third graders in the Lovejoy Scholars program for out-of-district students. “I’d like to thank Lovejoy for welcoming our family; our kids are thriving in...