Why Republicans Should Vote Against the Texas Budget – Reason #6: There is No DOGE in the Texas Budget
While Washington under Trump sought to “drain the swamp,” Texas lawmakers are filling it back up. The state’s latest budget is a glaring indictment of government excess, and it’s missing a critical weapon against waste: DOGE, the Delivery of Government Efficiency...
Vote Notice 5.13.2025
Texans for Fiscal Responsibility has issued the following vote notice for May 13th, 2025 Texas House of Representatives Subject: House Bill 2545 (HB 2545) – New State-run grant program Author: State Rep. Stan Gerdes (R-Smithville) Caption: Relating to the...
Why Republicans Should Vote Against the Texas Budget – Reason #5: State-Controlled 2026-27 Spending Likely to Top $600 Billion
The Texas budget is put together using smoke and mirrors. Everything about the appropriations process is designed to hide the total cost and true size of the state government from Texas taxpayers. For instance, the Legislative Budget Board shows that total Texas state...
Vote Notice 5.12.2025
Texans for Fiscal Responsibility has issued the following vote notice for May 12th, 2025 Texas House of Representatives Subject: House Joint Resolution 35 (HJR 35) – Grant Program from ESF Author: State Rep. Tom Craddick (R-Midland) Caption: Proposing a constitutional...
Vote Notice 5.10.2025
Texans for Fiscal Responsibility has issued the following vote notice for May 10th, 2025 Texas House of Representatives Subject: House Joint Resolution 218 (HJR 218) – Energy Fund Expansion Author: State Rep. Yvonne Davis (D-Dallas) Caption: Proposing a constitutional...
Why Republicans Should Vote Against the Texas Budget – Reason #4: The Texas Legislature is Using Sleight of Hand to Exceed the Tax Spending Limit by $7.6 Billion
Introduction The Texas Constitution contains two limits on state government spending. One of them is a balanced budget amendment, known as the Pay-As-You-Go Limit. Because of this, Texas cannot use deficit spending to support most state expenditures. While this is...
Vote Notice 5.9.2025
Texans for Fiscal Responsibility has issued the following vote notice for May 9th, 2025 Texas House of Representatives Subject: House Joint Resolution 175 (HJR 175) – Money Freedom Author: State Rep. Stan Gerdes (R-Smithville) Caption: Proposing a constitutional...
Why Republicans Should Vote Against the Texas Budget – Reason #3: The Texas Budget Has More Than $50 Billion of New Spending
When the Texas House and Texas Senate vote on whether to approve the final versions of House Bill 500 and Senate Bill 1, Figure 1 shows that they will be voting on whether to approve more than $53 billion in new spending of state funds. Figure 1: New State Funds...
Vote Notice 5.8.2025
Texans for Fiscal Responsibility has issued the following vote notice for May 8th, 2025 Texas House of Representatives Subject: Senate Bill 17 (SB 17) – Hostile Foreign Property Ownership Author: State Sen. Lois Kolkhorst (R-Brenham) Caption: Relating to the purchase...