We keep being told the Texas Department of Transportation has completely run out of money, completely broke, and that all road construction will grind to halt in short order... unless Texans get behind a tax hike of one sort or other. And yet word comes this week that the state is paying for an $8.7-million "environmental impact" and preliminary design studies for an Austin-to-San Antonio passenger-rail line. Read More»

Many conservatives have suggested Texas House Speaker Joe Straus might be a little too cozy with the Legislature’s liberals. The policy results of that relationship has been mapped and diagrammed by a Rice University professor and publicized by the Texas Tribune. All things considered, the Republican Straus allowed Democrats to run things pretty much to the same degree they did 2001… when their party held the speakership. Read More»

Even as the legislative cheerleaders for raising gas taxes have been sidelined and admit there isn’t the political will to grow government while making travel and transportation more expensive, other big spenders are stepping up efforts to build new avenues draining your wallet. They are seeking support from statewide associations and trade groups, hoping for grassroots support in pushing a big-tax agenda even as the national and state economy struggle to climb out of the worst recession in decades. Read More»

It's not often I recommend an Austin American Statesman editorial. Snidely nicknamed the "Socialist," the liberal-leaning board rarely does much to live down the reputation. But this week they shine needed truth on the relationship between money and educational excellence. The editorial board writes: "But as much as money matters, it must be spent the right way to make the kind of gains our students need and deserve." Read More»

Tomorrow will be a better day, because it's the first day you start working for yourself and your family. From January 1 until today, though, you've been working to pay for the cost of government. And it's a month more than we were working just two years ago. Read More»

Now we know what Bill White was doing while ducking President Obama's visit: he and his fellow Democrats were busily preparing to promote a scheme that would simultaneously stall Texas’ rebounding economy and grow government. Meanwhile, the state's House transportation committee chairman (a Democrat favors raising gas-taxes statewide. Read More»

Looks like another Democrat statewide hopeful is following Bill White's lead in avoiding President Obama's Texas trip. The latest is Jeff Weems, a candidate for the Texas Railroad Commission. What makes his silence ironic is that Weems has been an enthusiastic supporter of Obama... until seeking office himself, apparently. Read More»

Apparently the only thing scarier to Bill White than commonsense fiscal policy, is a visit to Texas by his party's president, Barack Obama. When Mr. Obama visits Texas on Monday, Bill White will be nowhere close: he has mastered the art of "duck and cover." Read More»

Just how scary is Barack Obama? Scary enough that Democrats running for office in Texas are running far away from his August 9 visit to the Lone Star State. No Dem wants to be photo'd with the radioactive president. Meanwhile, the president is dodging a clearly-needed lecture from Gov. Rick Perry. Read More»

Texas consumers will soon be paying more for electricity. But this isn’t because of deregulation and greedy electricity companies, as is so often claimed. Instead, it is the result of some decisions soon to be made by Texas’ Public Utility Commission. Read More»