Editorials

		Citizens Have Opportunity to Claim Property (St. Rep. Ken Paxton) One in four Texans has unclaimed property, and Texas is currently holding more than $2 billion in cash and assets that need to be returned to the rightful owners.
		"Political Fiction That Stimulus Dollars Were Necessary To Balance Our Budget" (Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst) Unlike Washington, we balance our budget every session, control spending, keep taxes low and ensure our children and grandchildren aren’t saddled with the kind of crippling debt that our federal government has irresponsibly created.
		When will Big Government advocates take a deep breath? (John Colyandro) Today, two news reports should -- but won't -- give proponents of the health care nationalization plan serious pause about what they are intent on doing.
		Prop. 11 Provides Greater Private Property Protection (Peggy Venable, AFP) Passage of private property protection has been a long time coming in Texas. Passage of Prop. 11 will send a clear message to legislators that the issue is of utmost concern to the voters.
		2010 Governor's Race (Peter Morrison Report) The race for Governor of Texas is starting to heat up, and conservatives will soon have to decide whom we're going to support in the GOP primary. We'll look at the pros and cons of the major candidates in this week's report.
		Why Texans Should Vote YES on Constitutional Amendment #7 The purpose of Proposition 7 is simply to conform the Texas Constitution to the current structure of the Texas Military Forces: the Texas Army National Guard, the Texas Air National Guard and the Texas State Guard.
		Focus Health Care Reform on Patients, Not Government (The Hon. Arlene Wohlgemuth, TPPF) Our research establishes that a patient-centered approach to health care reform would build on America’s world-leading quality and high patient satisfaction in a way that extends those benefits to even more people and empowers all patients to make their own medical decisions.
		Thought While Shaving: It Just May be Huckabee’s Time (Tom Roeser, DallasBlog) The year 2008 was definitely not the right time for Huckabee. Then candidates were deftly hinting their opposition to abortion but not being straightforward about it. That was because the times were different. They have changed enormously since.
		An Argument In Favor of Prop. 11 (Michele Samuelson) There is a lot of debate happening with regards to this amendment at present. It isn't divided on ideological lines, either. Some think it doesn't go far enough, some think it goes too far, some are worried that if this doesn't pass, the legislature will continue to fail to do anything to oppose the Kelo decision and Texans will be unprotected.
		A Republic, If We Can Keep It (Michele Samuelson) A republic. If we can keep it. That was what the founders (no monolithic group themselves) set out to create and what we have endeavored to keep. It has been battered and bruised before, but no threat has been more insidious than the most recent one to utterly redefine the relationship the federal government should have with the states
		The 72 Hour Rule: Read The Bill (Kathleen Hartnett White, TPPF) Last month, the Polling Company found that 95 percent of Americans believe that Congress should not vote on bills until read in full. A recent Zogby poll found that 91 percent supported posting all non-emergency legislation on the Internet for three days prior to final passage.
		State forensics board: Smoke may indicate fire, question flame’s source. (Robert Pratt) I finally discovered why this story is being pushed hard, aside from election politics. It came when I noticed that the latest big story on the matter, printed by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, turned out to be from a story in the Chicago Tribune.
		Voters Should Reject FWST Recomendations (Empower Texans) We at Texans for Fiscal Responsibility are going to be recommending that voters support propositions 2, 3 and 5 while keeping in mind they are temporary and incomplete solutions to the ultimate problem, our property tax system.
		The Risky Business of Immigration Reform (Marc A. Levin, Esq., TPPF) As American businesses navigate a challenging economy, it is imperative that any immigration reform legislation balance the private sector’s appropriate role in enforcing immigration laws with the need for greater fairness, predictability, and efficiency.
		A Reality Check for the White House (Bill Hammond) The tenor of the political discourse in America has become increasingly contentious. I’m one of those angry at how our fiscal issues are being managed. But more than anything, people are worried that their government will fail them.
		Health Insurance Mandates Explained (Bud Schauerte) Mandated coverages embodied in state health care insurance policies, are huge obstacles to the design and development of national health insurance “reform” legislation. Health insurance consumers want mandates. Members of Congress, who are writing new insurance “reform” rules, do not. This issue will not stay “pending.” A decision will come.
		Let's Talk About Race - Railroad Commissioner Michael Williams We have rid our institutions of government of the practice of discrimination, if only we could rid our political discourse of the ugliness that ensues when we ascribe discriminatory motive to statements with no obvious discriminatory aspect.
		"An Open Letter to Nancy Pelosi" - State Rep. Ken Paxton I want to be one of the first to welcome you to Texas for your fundraising visit on Saturday in Austin. You should feel at home as you drive from the airport to your event, passing by businesses that were once located in your home state of California and being greeted by the smiles of friendly Californians who now call Texas home.
		More Government Is No Solution For Healthcare (Steven F. Hotze, M.D.) No amount of speech making can hide the fact that Obama believes that federal government is the solution to America’s healthcare problems.
		Will Government Jobs Keep Growing? (Tom Pauken, Texas Workforce Commission) Government is dependent upon a vibrant private sector if it is going to be able to have sufficient tax revenues to provide for necessary public services. The problem with the American economy is that we are not creating enough good-paying jobs in the private sector here in the United States to pay for a government that continues to cost more.
		The Cult of Obama Comes to School (Peter Morrison Report) No, the parents who objected to Obama's speech aren't racist, and they're certainly not stupid. They see exactly what's going on, and are doing their best to fight it.
		President Obama Opens Door For Pilot Project On Malpractice Reform (Peggy Venable, AFP-Texas) Earth to Obama: Texas enacted malpractice reform years ago. The President would benefit from a phone call to Texas Governor Rick Perry.
		Please Don't Tread On Us (The Honorable Joe Nixon) Only in Washington, D.C. would someone come up with the idea that to “fix” health care we need to sue doctors more often.
		Texas Should Replace Bilingual Education (Christine Rossell, Ph.D.) Texas lawmakers need to examine whether the state’s bilingual education programs can be more effective at teaching students English. The new research report I produced for the Texas Public Policy Foundation, *Does Bilingual Education Work? The Case of Texas*, examines this question and determines that current bilingual education programs are ineffective and should be replaced with sheltered English immersion.
		Our Second American Revolution (Donald May) Our Second American Revolution is peacefully taking place in Town Hall meetings and on the Internet with emails and blogs. It is taking place on talk radio and on the Fox News Channel.
		Your Tax Dollars Being Used Against You (Still) - Michael Quinn Sullivan, Empower Texans When we know entities like the Dallas Area Rapid Transit -- a big beneficiary of the tax-grab effort -- have lost or mis-accounted billions of dollars in recent years. Fundamental operating reform and real-time fiscal transparency should be pursued and implemented long before taxes are raised.
		New Booster Seat Law Goes Into Effect September 1 Effective September 1, a new law will require the use of a safety seat system for all child passengers under eight years old, unless the child is taller than 4 feet 9 inches. The term "safety seat system" includes booster seats and traditional car seats with a harness.
		ACES Wild! (Kathleen Hartnett White, TPPF) What weighs 16 pounds, stands 14 inches tall, includes 1,480 components and 500 internal mechanisms, costs $825 billion, has more than 1,000 teeth, and may need 200,000 caretakers?
		Plaintiff’s Bar Funding Its Own Demise (The Honorable Joe Nixon) In Texas, the rights of the individual are still paramount, including the right to a fair trial before a fair judge, with a fair jury, in a fair venue. This public policy has brought to Texas more jobs, more doctors and better health care. That’s why the big government agenda has been rejected by most Texans.
		Skills Training Is Even More Important in Difficult Times (Chairman Tom Pauken) As for Texas, we will take the initiative to provide for our own needs through grit and entrepreneurial determination. There is no doubt that our economic troubles are severe. It’s tough out there, but by making effective skills training available to workers seeking to retrain for better careers, we are empowering Texans to take charge of their economic future.
		Privacy Option Available for Parents of Newborn Babies (St. Rep. Ken Paxton) This past legislative session, my colleagues and I passed House Bill 1672, which allows parents of children born in Texas to direct the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) to destroy dried bloodspot samples collected as part of a routine “heel stick” screening of newborns.
		Single-Member Districts Violate Rights of Minorities – Time for Austin to Give Them Up (James Bernsen) For all its talk about diversity, tolerance and acceptance, the government of the City of Austin, and of Travis County, shows little respect to any of that when the diversity comes in terms of opinions. Sure, Austin loves your diversity of skin color, but God forbid someone have a diversity of the mind. God forbid that someone in Austin be...a Republican.
		Governor Perry: We don't need Washington...Until we do (Denise McNamara) While Governor Perry postures as an anti-Washington maverick, he is not only accepting substantial stimulus funding, he has even asked for more in a telephone conversation with Vice President Joe Biden. The Governor’s office almost missed the deadline for application for education stimulus funds, but got its request in under the wire.
		Just How Gullible Are Republicans, Anyway? (Denise McNamara) If Perry, who served as presidential candidate Al Gore’s 1988 campaign manager in Texas, thought that he needed to be pro-choice in order to win, he would change positions so fast your head would spin. One recent article accuses Perry of having a Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde personality. Governor Perry says one thing, then does something completely different. And it's a pattern.
		Texas Comptroller Web Site Helps Kids Plan Their Future (St. Rep. Ken Paxton) During the summer, many children complain about not having anything to do. This may prove to be the perfect opportunity to help them explore career opportunities and create a plan to help them reach their goals.
		Consequences of Losing: Soaring Debt, Socialism, Sotomayor (Denise McNamara) We are in deep trouble. So in deciding whom to support in future elections, I urge all of my fellow conservatives to remember the advice of our favorite President, Ronald Reagan: “My eighty-percent friend is not my twenty-percent enemy.” And, as unfortunate as it is, purists in politics don’t get very far.
		Where Have All The Voters Gone (Michael Quinn Sullivan, EmpowerTexans) If conservatives are going to pick up seats in the 2010 election season, we need candidates (incumbents and challengers alike) able to convince voters of their sincere dedication to following-through on the planks of their campaign platform.
		Proposed Health Care Reforms Bad for Our Health (Dr. Ronald Trowbridge, TPPF) I worked in Washington, D. C. with Congress every day for 10 years. Not once was I ever remotely fearful of any government proposal or legislation. But for the first time in my long life, I am genuinely afraid. Current proposals for health care reform are frightening—not so much because of stratospheric costs but because of the reduction of the quality of health care that these proposals will mandate.
		Unlocking Justice for Texas Juveniles (Marc A. Levin, Esq., TPPF) After years of following the wrong path, Texas’ juvenile justice system is on the right track to become a national model rather than a source of embarrassment.
		Special Session Wrap-Up (St. Rep. Ken Paxton) Special Sessions can be very costly. The scope of this Special Session was extremely focused and limited, and I am pleased that we were able to accomplish our work in three days, which will ultimately save taxpayers money.
		Rick Perry: How to Blow an Election in One Easy Step? (James Bernsen, TRN) Looking back, it seems a bit prophetic. Perry, the hare, took a detour on a side route to go indulge in a drug he’s chronically addicted to: really controversial transportation policy. What’s he going to try next? A hit on the Human Papiloma Virus bong?
		Stifling Charter School Growth (Brooke Dollens Terry, TPPF) As a result of the legislature’s failure to lift or raise the cap on charter schools, nearly 17,000 Texas children on a waiting list will not be able to attend the public charter school of their choice. In addition, it is harder for the Commissioner of Education to shut down the few failing charter schools.
		Ramblings on the Fourth of July 2009 From a New Dad All throughout history, whenever power is given away in the name of helping those like me and my family, it is accompanied by the power to take away even more from those like me and my family.
		Health Care Reform Should Empower Patients, Not Government (Andrea Whitman, TPPF) All sides of the current health care debate acknowledge that American health care is in crisis and that changes must be made. But the consensus disappears when it comes to choosing the path toward successful health care reform.
		Prepare for the Fifth of July (Michael Quinn Sullivan, EmpowerTexans) In this year, once the parades conclude, BBQs end, and fireworks explode, what will we do for the cause of liberty on the Fifth of July? That’s the day that counts, and each day after. While it’s good to celebrate our national independence, we must daily take action to preserve our liberty.
		Are We Setting Ourselves Up For A Jobless Recovery? (Tom Pauken) The national jobless rate is the highest since July 1983, and this current economic environment has a more worrisome feel to it than the recession back then. What is troubling is the sense that there is no place to hide when it comes to loss of jobs in the private sector.
		Stay-at-Home Mom Finds Her Calling in the Tea Party Movement (Heather Liggett) I see that allowing the current administration to trample on the freedoms and prosperity of our future generations is no longer acceptable. Conservatives in Washington, D.C. are powerless to stop the tax-and-spend assault raging in Congress. It is up to Americans like me to stand in unison at Tea Parties across this nation to Take Back America.
		Federal Aid Overtakes State Revenue (James Quintero, TPPF) In the first three months of 2009, money pouring out of the federal government to the 50 states grew by 15 percent, while sales tax revenue – typically the number one source of state and local taxes – declined by 2 percent. This trend marks a first for state finances and is troubling on a number of fronts.
		From Best to Worst – Barack Obama’s Plan for our Health Care (Dr. Donald R. May) Government run health care does one thing that is attractive to politicians — it puts the lives of everyone under the control of the politicians. They who run the government control the life, health, and death of their subjects.
		Foundation: Texas economy will benefit from business tax relief (David Guenthner, TPPF) he Texas Public Policy Foundation applauds the leadership of Gov. Rick Perry, Sen. Dan Patrick, Rep. Rene Oliveira, and all of the legislators whose efforts led to today's signing of House Bill 4765, which increases the exemption for the state's gross margins tax.
		A Latina’s Case Against the Sotomayor Pick Blind justice, as represented by Lady Justice herself, would argue that the courts treat all individuals equal under the law, regardless of their race, ethnicity or gender. This is a judicial philosophy that is seemingly rejected by Sotomayor...
		Exhaust Options Before Raising Taxes (Daniel Greer, Empower Texans) Texas needs answers to taxing and spending as badly as it needs answers to gridlock on our roadways. Instead of using what avenues were readily available this Session, stopping diversions and assigning $5 billion in bonding already available big government lawmakers tried to impose higher taxes.
		The Verdict: Judge Sonia Sotomayor Whether it’s Judge Sotomayor’s “impressive” record as a U.S. Court of Appeals Judge – she has been overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court in 60% of the cases they have heard from her court – or her now infamous racist ideology – hoping a Latina woman would reach a better conclusion than a white male when deciding cases – the Judge must certainly be examined further and not simply rushed through the confirmation process.
		I Need the iCongressman App (Cynthia Wilkerson, Right Side of Texas) I would personally love to really know that someone was elected by informed voters, that he reacts according to what his constituents actually desire, and that he fully understands the impact of his choices prior to voting to spend my money or alter my life.
		Local Option Tax Demise is Victory for Taxpayers (Peggy Venable, AFP-TX) Taxpayers are the big winners as the so-called "local option" transportation tax fails to make it onto the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) Sunset legislation. Even high-priced taxpayer-funded lobbyists and local elected officials descending upon the Capitol for a last-ditch effort couldn't put lipstick on this pig.
		Final Days of Texas’ 81st Legislative Session (St. Rep. Ken Paxton) Texans have trusted us to maximize our short time in Austin and efficiently address the issues that are important. Regardless of one’s opinion regarding any of these bills, each bill set on the House calendar deserves appropriate consideration and review.
		Obama Nominates Racist (The Peter Morrison Report) Sotomayor is proud of her racism. In a speech given at a law school in 2001, she said that a female Hispanic judge like herself is probably superior to a white male judge: "I would hope that a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would more often than not reach a better conclusion [as a judge] than a white male who hasn't lived that life."
		Conservative Bills Stymied (The Peter Morrison Report) Any group or organization that doesn't have a clear understanding of what the current situation is and what the situation requires, is simply never going to be an effective force on the political scene. It's vitally important to be able to see things as they really are and not as we wish they would be.
		Legislature Shouldn’t Mess With Effective Legal Reforms (Clay McPhail) We need a civil justice system that is fair, but not overrun with questionable lawsuits. The bills pending in the Texas Legislature would be a step backward, weakening an already slow economy and hampering a health care system in need of improvement.
		Voter I.D Bill and Local Option Transportation Tax Proposal (St. Rep. Ken Paxton) In the past few weeks, I have written about the two most hotly-debated bills currently being discussed in the Texas Legislature: Voter ID and the Local Option Transportation Tax proposal. This week, I would like to provide you with an update on these two bills.
		Texas’ New Energy Taxes (Bill Peacock, TPPF) A recent study estimated that proposed federal legislation aimed at decreasing greenhouse gas emissions would increase Texans electricity bills by a minimum of $10 billion. Meanwhile, the Obama administration announced new fuel standards that could cost American car buyers $19 billion a year when fully implemented.
		My Reluctant Pro-Life Journey (Right Wing Sparkle) We may never win, but we should never stop being a voice for those who cannot speak for themselves. The truth about abortion was never getting out there and it still isn't in so many ways.
		Thank You, Leon Panetta! (Donald R. May) It is not often that I agree with a California Democrat on anything other than perhaps where to find the best food and lodging. However, I presently appreciate the strong stand CIA Director Leon Panetta is taking against Nancy Pelosi and her slanderous remarks directed against our CIA.
		Courage is Contagious (Gina Parker Ford) Evangelist Billy Graham said, “Courage is contagious. When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are often stiffened.” Let us follow the example of Miss California, Carrie Prejean, and be people of moral courage.
		Unemployment stimulus is no free lunch (Dr. Arthur Laffer, TPPF) To ignore the collateral damage higher benefits for the unemployed and higher taxes on employers have on employment and output is just plain bad economics and bad politics. A big heart needs a clear eye and vice versa.
		Up or Down: Are You Opposed to Fraud or Not? (James A. Bernsen) The Texas House of Representatives will finally get a crack at legislation requiring voters to show a photo identification to vote. Democrats – and the media – will say that this is a horrible piece of legislation that will discourage voter participation and disenfranchise minorities. They could not be more wrong. Tuesday’s vote, quite simply, is a vote for or against voter fraud.
		Suffering the Results of "My Way or the Highway" (Denise McNamara) Instead of “my way or the highway,” Evangelicals are going to have to remember that for the GOP, it’s united we stand, divided we fall. If we will stop the circular firing squad and focus on our core principles, we may once again prevail.
		Saying No To Property Taxes (Michael Q. Sullivan, Empower Texans) We now know who is, and isn't, serious about weaning Texas from oppressive property taxes. The Texas House narrowly stopped a constitutional amendment that would have allowed more entities to claim a piece of your property, and your wallet.
		A Momentous Day Passed, Largely Unnoticed (Kathleen Hartnett White, TPPF) On April 24, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), under the full authority of the Clean Air Act (CAA), declared carbon dioxide a pollutant “reasonably anticipated” to endanger public health and welfare. This “Endangerment Finding,” expected since a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in 2007, is the first legally potent rupture of the energy system that made modern industrial civilization possible.
		Obama’s Energy Tax Proposals a Job-Killer for Texas (Tom Pauken) The Obama Administration’s punitive tax measures on our domestic energy industry will be job-killers here in Texas. We need to let our representatives in Washington, D.C., know that Congress should reject this badly conceived legislation.
		Where Are the Angels of Socialism? (Donald R. May) President Obama and the Democratic Congress are giving away the accumulated and future wealth and productivity of the United States as they seek to expand and deepen our financial crisis. They use this crisis as an ongoing excuse to secure their grasp on power.
		Scoring The House (Michael Q. Sullivan, EmpowerTexans) We've begun putting together the Fiscal Responsibility Index for this 81st Session. Obviously four weeks are left and a lot of legislation remains unheard, but the picture we're seeing isn't a good one. And let's not even get started on how things look in the Senate...
		Public Universities Belong to the Public, Not the Faculty (Jeff Sandefer, TPPF) In the May 6th Austin American-Statesman, University of Texas professor Thomas Palaima asks us to “thank” tenured professors for improving “what they (have) rightly come to view as ‘their’ colleges and universities.”
		Florida’s Lege Says No (Michael Sullivan, Empower Texans) Even as the Republican-led Texas House and Senate work furiously to unravel our unemployment rules to make them more appealing to Barack Obama, Florida’s legislature rejected such efforts.
		Re-Introducing the Core Liberal Arts Curriculum to Texas Universities (Marvin Olasky) A bill being considered in our state’s House of Representatives takes an important step toward returning Texas universities to education’s real ethical purpose, free of these distortions. The legislation, HB 2746, introduced by State Rep. Lois Kolkhorst (R-Brenham), would establish a School for Ethics, Western Civilization and American Traditions at the University of Texas at Austin.
		Texas Conservative Coalition Sounds Off on Voter ID Elections are the bedrock of a representative democracy. Elections free of fraud are imperative to maintain public trust in the integrity of our political system. Please work with us to get HB 125 to the House Floor.
		The Supreme Law of the Land (Gina Parker Ford) Our Founders thought it wise that our blossoming nation should remain sovereign and that the laws of this land should rule. At least one current Supreme Court Justice could not disagree more.
		Obama's Next Big Crisis - Pandemic Influenza (Denise McNamara) Ultimately, we cannot depend on the government to save us from every eventuality. Individuals must be prepared. Research your options and take responsibility for your family. Let’s use this potential crisis to prepare, not panic.
		The Texas Perspective on Card Check and Unionization (Peggy Venable, Americans for Prosperity) Texas believes in free enterprise, limited government and the ability for business owners to openly talk with their employees about the benefits and drawbacks of unionizing. We support HCR 64 by Rep. Carl Isett which states that Texas would urge Congress to oppose any efforts to adopt the so-called “Employee Free Choice Act” or any similar legislation.
		Age of Propaganda - End of Main Stream Media (Denise McNamara) It is a shame, but the media elite have lost touch with mainstream America. There is a growing divide, and new media fills that gap. RIP MSM.
		Carbon Tax and Ration (Kathleen Hartnett White, TPPF) Carbon cap-and-trade proposals have carried staggering price tags, but check out the carbon whopper in President Barack Obama’s budget plan. In the section entitled “Jumpstarting the Economy and Investing for the Future,” the President proposes an “auction” of initial carbon allowances. Sound market friendly? Not really!
		Where Charity Is Right and Wrong (Ronald L. Trowbridge, TPPF) “Coerced charity” is good and bad. Today, we are much further along on the spectrum toward coercion than toward individual liberty, progress, or choice.
		French Republicans? Pursuing Nothing, Defending Less (Michael Q. Sullivan, Empower Texans) Less than three days after tens of thousands of Texans took to the streets in massive demonstrates of support for limited government, lower taxes and conservative principles, the politicians of the party that allegedly represents those values might took a nap.
		A Second American Revolution is Brewing (Gina Parker Ford) An estimated one million Americans shouting “U-S-A, U-S-A, U-S-A,” pledging Allegiance to the American flag, and carrying signs protesting the big spending and big taxing Obama administration attended TEA (Taxed Enough Already) Parties in 2000 cities across America on April 15th, income tax day.
		Supplemental Spending Bill (St. Rep. Ken Paxton) I, along with my legislative colleagues from the Texas Conservative Coalition, have consistently called for fiscal restraint in the face of the current economic crisis.
		Perry and the Secession Comments (James Bernsen, TRN) The media across America has seized upon Gov. Rick Perry’s recent comments that don’t completely rule out secession as an option for Texas, should the federal government’s powers grow too oppressive.
		Is Kay Fiddling While Perry Tears It Up? (James Bernsen, TRN) Gov. Rick Perry’s highly energized appearance at Tea Parties around the State of Texas yesterday has dramatically improved his visibility across Texas and the nation. Coupled with an aggressive courting of conservatives which included the endorsement of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, Perry has quite simply been tearing it up.
		The Right Prescription for Crime (Marc A. Levin, TPPF) Mentally ill inmates cost more to house and they stay longer. They are also more likely to recidivate. Fortunately, there are policies that can reduce both the recidivism and cost associated with the mentally ill in the criminal justice system.
		Don't Waste Americans' Hard-earned Tax Dollars (Matt Mackowiak) It would be one thing if Americans were taxed too much for things the country absolutely needed, like mobilizing for a war or building an international highway system. But a not-so-silent majority of Americans increasingly feel as though their hard earned dollars have been wasted on Wall Street and Detroit and there's no end in sight.
		Paid or Incurred: Combating Insurance Company Windfalls Paid for by Texas Consumers and Taxpayers (Mark McCaig, TXIR) HB 1956, also known as the "paid or incurred" bill, by conservative stalwarts John Smithee (R-Amarillo) and Bryan Hughes (R-Mineola) would clarify a section of state law to ensure that injured individuals who are responsible enough to purchase health insurance do not suffer a financial penalty that benefits wrongdoers and liability insurance carriers.
		Bad Ideas are the Result When Good Ideas are Plundered (TRN Editorial) HB 855 is wrong for Texas, but the answer to the question is not to just say “no” but to offer constructive solutions. Building highways is not an optional thing. At some point, one must make a choice – keep Texas growing or shut the spigot down.
		Efforts for Property Tax Relief and Appraisal Reform (St. Rep. Ken Paxton) Recently, I joined my colleague Representative Phil King in a long-term effort to decrease the property tax burden for homeowners. The current school finance system has resulted in unsustainably high property tax bills and has caused the re-distribution of wealth system known as "Robin Hood," in an effort to equalize school funding.
		Unnecessary Regulations Prevent Access to Care (Andrea Whitman, TPPF)
		Obama's Strategy and the Summits (Stratfor Global Intelligence) U.S. President Barack Obama wanted the week to appear successful, and therefore backed off on key issues; the Europeans did the same.
		Legislative Lunacy - The Cult Continues: Legislator Wants Barack Obama Freeway (TRN Editorial) State Senator Royce West (D-Dallas), wants to name a freeway after the president after the latter has served only nine weeks in office. Never mind that Texas law says that in order to name a freeway after someone, that person must either be dead or a former president.
		Give Me Liberty... Not Debt!!! (Thomas Newton Lochridge) Mid-day Event: Tax Day, April 15, 11:30-1:30 at the Freedom Fountain in downtown Waco, located between the Hilton and the Convention Center at: 300 Austin Avenue
		The Texas House Has Picked Up Wheels (St. Rep. Dan Flynn) After riding what has seemed like a very fast moving rocking chair that was going nowhere the Texas House now appears to have picked up wheels and is beginning to move.
		Academic Sociopaths at State Level In Charge of Math? (George Scott) The Texas Education Agency’s pervasively dishonest accountability system for two decades has conditioned parents to believe that poor and average are good; good is great; great is outstanding; and outstanding is exemplary.
		Don't Drink Pepsi! (Gina Parker Ford) Recently, the American Family Association called for a boycott of Pepsi due to their advertising support of the Fox network’s program Family Guy. This animated television program, which airs each Sunday during the prime time family viewing hour, unashamedly promotes homosexuality, gay orgies, and also slanders Christianity.
		Hiding the Jewels from Robin Hood Means Other Texans Will Have to Pay (Brent Bullock) There are those who like Robin Hood, and those that don't. Some see theft from the rich as a path to equality. We're seeing more and more "economic justice" in our nation. I'm still looking for the "just" part of it.
		Central America: An Emerging Role in the Drug Trade (Stratfor Global Intelligence) While the United States remains the top destination for South American-produced cocaine, and Mexico continues to serve as the primary transshipment route, the path between Mexico and South America is clearly changing.
		“Going to Texas” - There's a Reason People Want to "Rush" Here (Bill Peacock, TPPF) Dear Mr. Limbaugh: I noted your evident frustration this week with the high tax policies of New York that subject you to a punitive income tax rate anytime you step foot in the state to perform your show.
		Darwin, Evolution, and the Structure of Scientific Revolutions (James A. Bernsen) Ultimately, then, this is not about the science of evolution, it is about the faith in evolution. And just like all dogmatists, the faithful might just get bitten when the next scientific revolution comes around.
		What’s Up with Democrats and Definitions? (Denise McNamara) Democrats intend to eliminate any phrase associated with the Bush Administration, hence the new terminology. President Obama has a much more sophisticated way of expressing himself, after all.
		Iran's View of Obama (Stratfor Global Intelligence) U.S. President Barack Obama released a video offering Iran congratulations on the occasion of Nowruz, the Persian New Year, on Friday. Israeli President Shimon Peres also offered his best wishes, referring to “the noble Iranian people.”
		Representative McClendon Endorses Lawsuit against Public Safety Commission (St. Rep. Ruth Jones McClendon) The Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF), a non-profit advocacy group, has recently sued for an injunction against the Texas Department of Public Safety and Public Safety Commission, which I support in principle.
		How to Save Texas Consumers a Lot of Money (Bill Peacock, TPPF) Contrary to expectations, government is making life more expensive for consumers. Just the opposite of the free market, which has consistently driven down costs while improving quality.
		Perry Was Right to Reject “Cheese Heroin” Stimulus Funds (James Bernsen, TRN) Perry was right, and the New York Times is wrong, as it almost invariably is when looking at any part of the country that doesn’t share its values and frankly doesn’t give a damn what their cloistered, elitist editors think.
		We Are Exactly Who The Founders Were Trying To Protect Us From (Bill Keffer) We seem ready to accept the trendy rationalization that action ceding massive power and control to the federal government must be taken because certain entities, industries, and markets are just too big to fail. Have we also deluded ourselves into believing that our nation is somehow too big to fail?
		Proposed Legislation Clouds Texas’ Transparency Award (James Armstrong, Americans for Prosperity-Texas) Texas placed first in the Sunshine Week survey, posting public information online in all 20 categories surveyed. Categories included teacher certifications, campaign finance information, building inspections and financial disclosures. If passed, HB 3641 would certainly bring cloud cover to the Texas sunshine.
		All Education Reform Is Not Equal - Many Roads Do Not Lead To Rome (George Scott Reports) It is not wrong to pursue the road of business efficiency and higher ethics in public education. However, that road perfectly traveled still leaves an educational system in serious decline if not a death spiral.
		Proposal to Stop the Diversion of the Gasoline Tax (State Rep. Ken Paxton) Stopping the diversion of gas tax dollars should be the first step to meeting our State’s ever-growing transportation needs.
		Really Mad In Houston? You Are Not Alone (Peggy Venable, Americans for Prosperity) A revolution is brewing as American patriots and advocates of the free-market system unite in protest against out-of-control government spending.
		Our Brother's Keeper (Gina Parker Ford) What America needs now are more heroes. When brothers help brothers, role models and mentors are born and the weak are empowered to say I am strong. Then they too become a helping hand.
		Gov. Perry’s correct call to reject federal UI strings (James Quintero, TPPF) By James Quintero - Texas Public Policy Foundation To draw down these one-time funds, Texas would be forced to make permanent changes in its unemployment eligibility system.
		Politically Correct Stem Cell Research is Bad Medicine (Donald R. May) A dangerous combination of political and social ideology is determined to make embryonic stem cell research succeed.
		You Get What You Vote For: An Eloquent Incompetent (Denise McNamara) By Denise McNamara Just two months into the Obama Administration, the bad decisions are piling up. Pundits, who previously praised Barack Obama, liberal and conservative alike, are now sounding the alarm.
		Keep Teacher Performance Pay (Brooke Dollens Terry, Texas Public Policy Foundation) By Brooke Dollens Terry- Texas Public Policy Foundation Children in Texas need and deserve the best and brightest teachers in the classroom. Yet many top college graduates pick other professions over teaching.
		Legislative Lunacy - From Bag Ideas To Worse Ones (TRN.com editorial) A TexasRepublicNews.com Editorial Legislators should offer the public bags to put over their heads while watching their government in action.
		Transporting Taxes (Michael Q. Sullivan, EmpowerTexans) At this moment, everyone in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex are the target of a massive tax increase effort in the Legislature. For example, they could be on the hook for an $8,700 “parking fee” just for having a car!
		Boehner, Cantor, McConnell, Kyl …Do you have a Plan? (Denise McNamara) By Denise McNamara House Republican Leader John Boehner, Republican Whip Eric Cantor, Senate Minority Leader Mitchell McConnell, and Senate Republican Whip John Kyl hold the leadership positions in the U.S. House and Senate. We must send them this message: Forget bipartisanship. Start leading.
		Where Will Canadians Go For Health Care? (Donald R. May) Government healthcare worldwide has created massive tax burdens, a place in line for patients with serious medical and surgical conditions, and untold suffering, pain, and unnecessary death.
		Gas Pain - Local Pols Eye Motor Fuel as Revenue Generation Tool (Travis Fell, TRN) A set of recently filed bills would enable local governments to levy local gasoline taxes of up to 10 cents a gallon for transportation projects. This on top of the 23 cents the state and the 15 cents the feds already pile on to the price of gasoline.
		Liberals Are Control Freaks (Gina Parker Ford) Whether the liberals are passing a stimulus bill that creates a new government agency to compile an electronic database of the medical records of every American, “stealing” a working man’s money and giving it to an illegal alien, or attempting to prevent a person from owning a gun to defend themselves, it is obvious that they are delusional control freaks.
		No Margin for Error (Talmadge Heflin, Texas Public Policy Foundation) By The Honorable Talmadge Heflin - Texas Public Policy Foundation Just how much money should Texas businesses pay under the newly revised franchise tax? That is the question many legislators are trying to answer and one that will soon be up for serious debate.
		Legislative Lunacy - Carbon Impact Statements (TRN.com Editorial) A TexasRepublicNews.com Editorial State Rep. Mike Villarreal (D-San Antonio) wants to know how much carbon legislators are producing each time they draft a bill.
		Darwin Would Not Have Supported Censorship (Terri Leo, Member, State Board of Education) By Terri Leo, Member, State Board of Education As Charles Darwin so aptly stated in On the Origin of Species, "A fair result can be obtained only by fully stating and balancing the facts and arguments on both sides of each question.”
		Take time to celebrate Texas history in March (Commissioner Jerry Patterson) By Jerry Patterson, Commissioner, General Land Office In Texas, we’re surrounded by our history. From businesses that feature images of the Alamo to streets named after Texas heroes, history is a part of our daily lives.
		Licensed Gunholders Have Right to Protect Selves, Others (Shane Rainey, TCU Daily Skiff) By Shane Rainey, TCU Daily Skiff Some of us are living in denial, even in the wake of the Virginia Tech massacre.
		And the Oscar for Best Political Performance goes to: President Obama (Denise McNamara) By Denise McNamara They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, but our new President is anything but old, and he has a lot of new tricks in his bag.
		A Strong and Responsible Fiscal Plan for Texas (Texas Conservative Coalition) Board of Directors - Texas Conservative Coalition Ultimately, the key to a strong, vibrant economy lies not in handouts or bailouts, but in sound and responsible tax, fiscal, and educational policies that encourage growth, risk-taking and opportunity.
		Carbon Audacity (Kathleen Hartnett White) By Kathleen Hartnett White - Texas Public Policy Foundation The ever-widening recession apparently will not delay the Obama Administration’s plans to mandate carbon reductions.
		Government Gone Wild! (Gina Parker Ford) We will all have a hang-over when we wake up to the reality of the enormous cost of this “stimulus” bill.
		The Wrong Equation for Algebra (George Scott) By George Scott - George Scott Reports Classroom teachers are not the enemies of philosophical or political conservatives that some seem to think they are.
		Obama’s Standard for Judges is Their “Heart”, Not the Law (Gina Parker Ford) By Gina Parker Ford President Obama’s standard for appointing justices is a feel good, us against them, unconstitutional standard.
		Controlling Corrections Costs (Marc A. Levin, Esq.) By Marc A. Levin, Esq. - Texas Public Policy Foundation As state agencies are asked to prune 2.5 percent of their budgets, lawmakers must take a hard look at Texas’ corrections budget during this legislative session.
		Cheating the Taxpayers on Stadium Naming Rights (James Aalan Bernsen) By James Aalan Bernsen, TexasRepublicNews.com The latest news is that Jerry Jones may wait a year or two to sign a multi-million dollar naming deal for the new Dallas Cowboys football stadium in Arlington. Why look so hard, Jerry?
		Job Creation in the Private Sector - A Real Economic Stimulus Plan (Tom Pauken) By Tom Pauken, Chairman - Texas Workforce Commission The Wall Street Journal has said that the nation can learn from the Texas Model of economic development: low taxes, fiscal restraint, and regulatory reform. Instead, the federal government seems hell bent on following the California Model:
		Pay Close Attention to the Plans Behind the Curtain (Denise McNamara) By Denise McNamara They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, but our new President is anything but old, and he has a lot of new tricks in his bag.
		Don’t Strangle a Patient on Life Support (Kathleen Hartnett White) By Kathleen Hartnett White - Texas Public Policy Foundation After providing more than $30 billion of taxpayer money to save U.S. automakers from bankruptcy, new federal powers have not wasted time before complicating the U.S. auto industry’s return to profitability.
		Conservatives Should Reach Out to Texas Teachers (George Scott) By George Scott - George Scott Reports Classroom teachers are not the enemies of philosophical or political conservatives that some seem to think they are.
		Employment Statistics Highlight Need for More Pro-Growth Policies (James Quintero) By James Quintero - Texas Public Policy Foundation Last month, the Texas Workforce Commission reported that the state's economy shed 25,700 jobs in December 2008.
		Great Opportunities in Financial Crisis (Steven F. Hotze, M.D.) By Dr. Steven F. Hotze - Conservative Republicans of Texas In every adversity there is a seed of equal or greater benefit. Those who are prepared will view the current financial crisis as the greatest business and political opportunities since the Great Depression.
		How Daytime Curfews Impact Home Schoolers (Tim Lambert) By Tim Lambert - Texas Home School Coalition A home school student in Houston was separated from his father and while waiting for a bus was stopped by city police and given a citation for violating the daytime curfew of the city.
		Multi-District Panels Shift Justice Away from Voter Accountability (Mark McCaig) By Mark McCaig - Texans for Individual Rights Here in Texas, we are lucky to have a judiciary that is locally elected and accountable to the voters.
		New Rules for Science Class: No Questions Allowed (Jonathan Saenz & Kelly Shackelford) By Jonathan Saenz and Kelly Shackelford - Free Market Foundation You've probably heard that seven elected Texas State Board of Education (SBOE) members voted to eliminate the 20-year policy of teaching the strengths and weaknesses of all scientific theories, including evolution.
		Texas Hangs Tough on Budget While Other States' Budgets Hang Them (William Murchison) By William Murchison - Lone Star Report Imperfect as Congress' economic "stimulus" bill may be (how's that for understatement?), at least the Senate compromise trims from it $40 billion in aid to state governments.
		Is Obama Stepping Back from War on Terror? (Gina Parker Ford) By Gina Parker Ford During last year's primary campaign, Hillary Clinton warned that Barack Obama lacked the experience to handle foreign affairs.