Commentary
The Constitutional Loophole Fueling Texas’s Budget Bloat
Texas lawmakers often tout their commitment to limited government, but their excessive budget behavior tells another story. In the current legislative session (ending June 2), they were handed a golden opportunity: a massive $24 billion surplus. They could have used…
Why Republicans Should Vote Against the Texas Budget – Reason #8: The 2026-27 Texas Budget is a Democrat-Friendly Budget
Spending in the proposed 2026-27 Texas budget is very Democrat friendly. Fifty-seven of the 62 Democrats in the Texas House voted for the budget; all 11 Democrats in the Texas Senate voted for it. And why shouldn’t they? In the…
Why Republicans Should Vote Against the Texas Budget – Reason #7: The Texas Budget Supports $42+ Billion in Handouts for Special Interests
Despite its conservative image, Texas is a haven for crony capitalism. Texans provide billions of dollars for big and small business and special interests groups through multiple channels, including property tax abatements for manufacturers and subsidies in the Texas budget. …
It’s Time to End the Texas Lottery
Texas should end the Texas Lottery and Lottery Commission, and stop exploiting struggling families to fund the government through gambling. The Texas Lottery Commission should not be continued this session—it should be abolished. There are several opportunities to accomplish this…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Why Republicans Should Vote Against the Texas Budget – Reason #2: The Texas Budget Belongs in California, Not Texas
Once hailed as a national model for fiscal responsibility and economic freedom, Texas now appears to be drifting dangerously close to California’s big-government playbook. The recently proposed 2026–27 Texas state budget sends a clear signal: the Lone Star State is…
Why Republicans Should Vote Against the Texas Budget – Reason #1: Texas Property Taxes are Out of Control
Since 2019, including what is proposed this session, the Texas Legislature has increased spending on public schools by about $23 billion in the name of property tax relief. It has done little to help Texans; during that period, Figure 1…
Texas Is Still Growing — But Austin Keeps Getting in the Way
Texas continues to lead in many ways. There were 192,100 new jobs added over the past year — the most of any state in raw numbers. In March alone, Texas added 26,500 nonfarm jobs, bringing the total number of jobs…
Ten Reasons Why Republicans Should Vote Against the Texas Budget
On April 11, 26 Texas House members voted against the budget bill, Senate Bill 1 (SB 1). That was the most no votes against a Texas budget since 29 members voted against the budget in 2013. Nineteen of the no…
Is Las Vegas Sands Spending Big in an Effort to Buy the Irving City Council?
Texans have long valued fiscal integrity and transparency in government. Yet today, it appears a deep-pocketed casino giant is trying to hijack one local election and buy political power right here in the Lone Star State. Situated in the southwest…
It is Time to End Hollywood Handouts
Testimony on HB 4568 The 79th Texas Legislature established the Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program (TMIIIP), also known as the Film Incentive Program, in 2005. Since then, star-struck legislators have thrown well over $100 million of Texas taxpayer money…
Empowering Families, Funding Results: A Conservative Case for Fixing Texas’ Public Charter School Funding
Introduction We’re proud Texans. We believe in family, freedom, and personal responsibility. We trust that parents, not bureaucrats, know what’s best for their children. And we understand that good stewardship of tax dollars means investing in what works, not simply…