In late January, news broke that Samsung is seeking a 100 percent tax rebate from the City of Austin for more than 20 years in exchange for building a $17 billion facility within its borders. As more continues to unfold concerning the proposal, Texans for Fiscal Responsibility highlights three things both taxpayers and policymakers should…
Month: January 2021
Samsung Seeking Big-Time Tax Incentives from City of Austin
A big technology company is seeking big-time tax incentives in order to make a big investment in the Texas’s capital city. On Thursday, Community Impact’s Christopher Neely reported Samsung Semiconductor is seeking a 100 percent tax rebate from the City of Austin for more than 20 years in exchange for building a $17 billion facility…
The Legislative Budget Board (LBB) Explained
The LBB explained in a way that taxpayers can understand.
TFR Statement on the Proposed Texas Budget
Following the release of budget proposals by the Texas House and Texas Senate, Texans for Fiscal Responsibility president Cary Cheshire released the following statement: “In light of the continued government shutdowns negatively affecting Texans and the Comptroller’s projection of a revenue shortfall, it’s encouraging to see lawmakers forgo tax increases and refrain from raiding the…
Eliminate the Texas Enterprise Fund, Cut Taxes Instead
Compared to most states, Texas is among the most business friendly with no tax on personal income, fewer regulatory barriers relative to many of its neighbors, and an engaged and enterprising workforce. However, the state could be even more business and taxpayer friendly if it halted its effort to be friendlier to a few, at…
How the Texas Budget Works: An Overview
The Texas state budgetary process from start to finish in a way taxpayers can understand.
Eliminate Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying
With no say in the matter whatsoever, taxpayers across the state have been forced to foot the bill for lobbyists’ advocacy efforts in the Texas Legislature. Worse yet, these tax dollars are spent advocating for policy positions that are often at direct odds with the interests of the taxpayers who fund them. Across Texas, many…
RECAP: Texas House Rules Battle
Thanks to the effort of a number of conservatives in the Texas House, a number of anti-taxpayer rule proposals were defeated. However, a majority of lawmakers unfortunately prevented many positive changes from being adopted on the floor. On Thursday Texas House lawmakers passed HR 4, a resolution establishing their rules for the 87th Texas Legislature….
House Rule Changes Would Do Disservice to Taxpayers
As the Texas House looks to continue to organize in preparation of doing the work of the 87th Texas Legislature, lawmakers are set to consider an updated rules package that would reduce transparency and limit individual lawmaker’s ability to affect legislation that comes to the floor for a vote. As noted by the Texas Scorecard‘s Brandon…
A Letter to Legislators
After lawmakers were sworn in, TFR sent the following message to every member of the Texas Legislature congratulating them on their election and informing them about the Fiscal Responsibility Index. Dear Legislator, Congratulations on your election to the Texas Legislature! Regardless of whether you are Republican or Democrat, a returning lawmaker or a newly-elected legislator,…
Texas Comptroller Estimates Revenue Shortfall
Texas lawmakers will need to find roughly $1 billion in budget cuts for the current biennium and pare down expectations for the upcoming budget after new estimates were released by the state comptroller Monday. In a livestreamed press conference, Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar released a new revenue estimate projecting the state to have a serious…
Our Mission: Serving Citizens
The mission of Texans for Fiscal Responsibility is to illuminate the actions of government, educate and equip citizens to effectively advocate for pro-taxpayer reforms, and hold lawmakers accountable for their actions. Taxpayers should demand their interests, not those of elected officials, lobbyists, or bureaucrats, must come first in the Lone Star State. It is in…
Texans for Fiscal Responsibility Declares Independence, Announces New Leadership
As the Texas Legislature prepares to convene with a major budget deficit and Texans continue to demand a more accountable government, Texans for Fiscal Responsibility is relaunching as an independent organization to better serve taxpayers and equip them for the fights ahead. Continuing to helm the initiative is Cary Cheshire, who will serve as the…