Spending
Episode 15: The Session Comes to a Close With Not Much to Show for It
Episode Description π° In our fifteenth and final episode of π§ππ πͺπππ πππππ, we discuss the end of the 88th Legislative Session and lack of successes for things on Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s “emergency agenda” and items important to Texas…
TFR Statement on Conference Committee Report for HB 1 – General Appropriations Act
With only a few days left of the ongoing 88th Legislative Session, state lawmakers have presented a Conference Committee Report for House Bill 1 that represents perhaps the largest increase in spending in Texas history; it is certainly the biggest…
Episode 19: Will They Get to Property Tax Relief in Time?
Episode Description π° In this episode of π§ππ«π£ππ¬ππ₯ π§ππππ¦, we discuss what still has the potential to get done before imminent key deadlines in the near-ended Texas 88th Legislative Session. Will Texas taxpayers get tangible property tax relief? Will we…
Episode 14: Legislative Session Ending Soon, What is Still Moving?
Episode Description π° In our fourteenth episode of π§ππ πͺπππ πππππ, we discuss the impending deadlines in both legislative chambers as we enter the final full week of the ongoing 88th Legislative Session and what they mean for things like…
Episode 17: Texas House Fails to Deliver on Impactful Border Security Legislation
Episode Description π° In this episode of π§ππ«π£ππ¬ππ₯ π§ππππ¦, we discuss the recent failure by Texas House lawmakers to pass a meaningful border security legislative priority, the childish dialogue between elected leadership in both legislative chambers on potential property tax…
A Budget Spending Spree Like No Other
Texas is often thought of as a conservative state. Teachers, for instance, complain about inadequate spending on public education and low salaries. Democrat State Rep. James Talarico (Austin) has argued that the low salaries are βpushing teachers out of the…
Episode 16: As Session Begins to Wind Down, What Have They Been Up To?
Episode Description π° In this episode of π§ππ«π£ππ¬ππ₯ π§ππππ¦, we discuss Texas House lawmakers and the confusing saga around whether they voted in favor of increasing their own pensions, at the further expense of Texas taxpayers. We also discuss the…
Episode 12: Are Texas Taxpayers About to Get Left Out in the Cold on Property Tax Relief?
Episode Description π° In our twelfth episode of π§ππ πͺπππ πππππ, we discuss what is left to be done ahead of key deadlines in the Texas House, a recent misleading post by former President Donald Trump in relation to the…
Episode 15: House Lawmakers Vote to Increase Their Own Pensions at Expense of Texas Taxpayers
Episode Description π° In this episode of π§ππ«π£ππ¬ππ₯ π§ππππ¦, we discuss Texas House lawmakers voting in favor of increasing their own pensions, at the further expense of Texas taxpayers. We also discuss the corporate welfare revival effort moving in the…
Episode 11: Spending Out of Control, What HasΒ the Texas LegislatureΒ Done With the Budget Surplus?
Episode Description π° In our eleventh episode of π§ππ πͺπππ πππππ, we discuss what the Texas Legislature is proposing to do with the budget surplus (over-collected taxpayer money), the budget proposal nearing the final stages of its consideration and the…
What Happened to the Texas Budget Surplus?
Executive Summary A lot of people know about Texasβ $32.7 billion budget surplus. What most donβt know is that the Texas Legislature has $78.4 billion more in state funds to spend this year than it spent in 2021 and that…
Senate Considers State Budget Proposal
On Monday, the Texas Senate considered House Bill 1, or the General Appropriations Act (GAA) for the next biennium (fiscal years 2024 and 2025). The legislation represents the proposed state budget, the only item that lawmakers are constitutionally bound to…
Episode 10: Growing Government & Less Property Tax Relief
Episode Description π° In our tenth episode of π§ππ πͺπππ πππππ, we discuss the state budget proposal now making its way through the Texas Senate and the prospects for property tax relief as deadlines are on the horizon. We are…
Episode 13: Priorities are Moving in the Texas Legislative Process, Do They Benefit Taxpayers?
Episode Description π° In this episode of π§ππ«π£ππ¬ππ₯ π§ππππ¦, we discuss what legislative priorities are moving, as they apply to what legislative leadership wants, and what they mean to Texas taxpayers. Show Notes/References Texans for Fiscal Responsibility relies on the…
House Considers State Budget Proposal
On Thursday of last week, the Texas House of Representatives considered House Bill 1, or the General Appropriations Act (GAA) for the next biennium, fiscal years 2024 and 2025. The legislation represents the proposed state budget, the only item that…