Blogs

Listen to my debate from last night on the Nightly News Roundup with Scott Braddock, KRLD News Radio 1080 AM, Dallas. I face off against Andy Ramirez, from the Law Enforcement Officer Advocates Council, on the topic of immigration reform. Read more about Immigration Policy Reform Debate - the Scott Braddock Show

A mass rally of Hispanics, led by Hispanic pastors gathers in front of New York Governor David Paterson's office to protest . . .  what?  Gay marriage in New York.

See the National Review Online article here.
Read more about GOP Outreach?

"Blue State" California voters just voted down tax hikes support by "Ahnold" and his cohorts in the legislature.  Now, the question is whether California voters will demand the next step toward true reform: cutting government spending.  This victory won't be much good without it.
Read more about Is California Finally Waking Up?

Below are excerpts from testimony I submitted during a Texas State Affairs Committee hearing on April 21st of this year. I submitted my testimony in an effort to alert Texas legislators about the devastating economic effects the Legal Arizona Workers Act has had on Arizona.

As a businessman that is opening up several new locations in Texas, I wanted to do my best to discourage Texas legislators from passing similar legislation that harmed law abiding employers: Read more about A Sad Case Study in Failed Immigration Policy

I fully expect to see President Obama’s social engineering plan collapse in late calendar year 2009 and thus all of the debate over the plan will become moot. The collapse will occur because the President has succumbed to the very trait that he accuses CEOs of having in the private sector---overreaching for short-term goals to the detriment of the long-term picture.  In his zeal for instant success for his social engineering agenda, he and his team overlooked some basic numerical facts. Read more about Obama's Social Engineering Plan Doomed to Fail

Do you think $100 Million is a lot of money?  Not when were talking about government spending!  This short video helps you visualize the size of Obamas budget cut initiative when compared with the rest of the federal budget!!

  Read more about Visualize Obama budget cut initiative

…. Continues from Bob Lemer’s previous post:  “Stop State Spending Insanity Part II – Out of Control!”

Suggested Composition Of The Special Commission. 

I have already presented the reason for having Mr. Paul Burka of the Texas Monthly serve as chairman.  The commission needs to have significant input from the applicable areas of elected state government that deal with the state’s finances.  Read more about Stop State Spending Insanity Part III - Solutions

Think Obama and the Democrats are going to let up on ICE raids?  Think again!  Check out these new guidelinesfrom the DHS that makes it even harder on Employers!  Tamar Jacoby, president of Immigration Works USA, brings up an interesting point regarding this according to this e-mail:

"DHS Worksite Enforcement Guidelines Tougher on Employers"

The Department of Homeland Security released new enforcement guidelines today. As expected, they shift the department's focus away from unauthorized workers to employers.

…. 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 about Stop State Spending Insanity Part II - Out of Control!

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 about Stop State Spending Insanity Part I - Background