Texas GOP Vote

…. Continues from Bob Lemer’s previous post:  “Stop State Spending Insanity Part I – Background”

So How Does Actual Growth In Spending From State-Generated Revenues Compare To State Economic Growth Since 1978? 

The answers to that question are presented in Exhibit A.

State revenues from the federal government first must be deducted from both total revenues and total expenditures in order to examine what is truly happening regarding spending of state-generated revenues.  The federal government furnishes only cost recoveries, with a zero bottom line effect.  Additionally, the state has no control over the revenues to be given it by the federal government.   Read more »

Disclaimer from the author: This piece was written just before the legislature "solved" the school finance problem via the business tax.

Executive Summary

Texans were seduced into voting for a 1978 state constitutional amendment that falsely promised a state tax cap.  Ever since then the state legislature has not come close to honoring even the loosest interpretation of that poorly crafted amendment, sometimes refusing to acknowledge its mere existence.
Fact is, since 1978 the rate of growth in state spending, instead of being better controlled, has been exacerbated and has greatly exceeded the combined rate of growth in the state’s population and inflation.   Read more »

Look at this attempt to tie opposition to gay marriage to opposition to amnesty.

And these Iowans, King noted, "stand in the same square they always have: They believe marriage is between a man and a woman, and they're opposed to amnesty."

They would have you believe that anyone that believes in traditional marriage is also against allowing the 12 million workers to stay!     Read more »

President Obama is proposing a wide array of tax hikes on the U.S. energy industry. If enacted, these massive tax increases would be a job-killer for Texas and a huge setback in our overall efforts to lessen our dependence on foreign energy.   Read more »