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Vol. 1 - Issue 5

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PG 5 PG 7 PG 7Crony Capitalism Instead Of Tax Cuts Faith and Family Day In Texas No Excuse for Inaction On Conservative Reform

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BY CARY CHESHIRE EMPOWERTEXANS.COM

BY CARY CHESHIRE EMPOWERTEXANS.COM

SEE SCHOOLS — PAGE 3SEE PAY RAISE — PAGE 4

EDUCATION

The Texas Ethics Commission is poised to give Texas lawmakers a raise they never even asked for. To

add insult to injury, the proposal would also further allow lobbyists and special interests to wine and dine legislators without reporting the expenses.

While the Texas Constitution leaves voters to decide whether legislators’ salaries should be increased, their per diem is set directly by the Texas Ethics Commission without voter input or approval.

Intended as a daily stipend, the per diem exists as an addition to legislators’ $7,200 per year salary. It compensates lawmakers for the cost of living in Austin during the 140-day session and when legislators visit the capital city during the

interim. For several years the rate has been set at $150 per day, but commissioners are seeking to adopt a higher rate at their February meeting.

The TEC’s proposal would increase the number to $190, a $40 per day increase that amounts to a $5,600 pay raise for legislators over the course of the session. To legislators’ credit and the commissioners’ chagrin, lawmakers haven’t publicly asked for anything extra.

At a TEC hearing in October, then-Vice-Chairman Paul Hobby said, “There has not been a single request from a legislator or legislative leadership that the per diem be increased.”

Hobby voiced opposition to the increase proposal, even remarking how unprecedented it was. “To force feed state

National School Choice Week came to the Lone Star State. Capping off what has actually

been closer to a month of activism on the issue, throngs of Texans rallied in Austin Friday morning as part of the Texas Rally for School Choice. Following a marching band, around 2,500 parents and their children rallied on the South steps of the Capitol to demand a change from Texas lawmakers.

School choice, labeled as “the civil rights issue of the 21st Century” by former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, enjoys widespread support across the nation and the state. The idea, which would allow educational resources to follow the child, has been an objective for conservatives in the legislature for years, but efforts to reform the issue have been stopped short time and time again. However, this session the movement has friends in high places.

Students and Parents Demand School Choice

LEGISLATURE WATCH

“FORCE FED”PAY RAISE

HIGHER EDUCATION

Scandal, Mismanagement mark history of recent UT Regent nominees — PAGE 3

REACTION TO THE BUDGET PROPOSED BY THE SENATE

AND THE INCLUSION OF $4 BILLION IN TAX RELIEF.

FROM THE RIGHT

“It is a proven fact that if we lower or get rid of the business franchise tax, that is the best way to create new jobs in the state of Texas. So I will reject any budget that is sent to my desk that does not include lower taxes for business here in Texas.” – GOV. GREG ABBOTT

“That is what the people want us to do. We have the capability to do it and we need to do it. People need tax relief.” – LT. GOV. DAN PATRICK

“We are pleased that the Texas Senate’s budget recommendations hold the total budget to a very modest growth rate.” – TALMADGE HEFLIN, TEXAS PUBLIC POLICY FOUNDATION

FROM THE LEFT

“The political gimmickry you’re gonna hear is, ‘let me give it back.’” – STATE REP. LYLE LARSON

First Amendment Tuesdays

Join us during the 84th Session!

The ins-and-outs of the legislative processHow to effectively communicate with elected officialsHow to testify in a committee hearingWhat bills are (and are not) up for consideration

What can you learn?

Get fully equipped to participate in the legislative process!

CORECARD

the teamWWW.TEXASSCORECARD.COM2

President & CEOMichael Quinn Sullivan

Managing EditorMorgan Williamson

Capitol CorrespondentCary Cheshire

Field CorrespondentGregory Harrison

Metroplex BureauRoss Kecseg

Houston BureauCharles Blain

Budget and Policy Correspondent

Owen Stroud

General CounselTony McDonald

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BY CHARLES BLAIN EMPOWERTEXANS.COM

BY GREG HARRISON EMPOWERTEXANS.COM

PROFILES IN CITIZEN LEADERSHIP

RYAN ELKINS Dedicated to Change

Ryan Elkins may be young, but he has experience that will rival that of many activists in the Houston

area. The 20 year old, two-year Patriot Academy alumnus has been involved in fighting the issues burdening his community for the past six years.

Elkins moved to The Woodlands Township 11 years ago with his family. Although his parents are politically informed and do vote, he wasn’t raised in an activist family. However, in 2009, his freshman year of high school, the federal government’s involvement in bailouts and overzealous spending of taxpayer dollars spurred his activism. Elkins recalls sitting back and thinking that too many Americans complain, but very few take action, and from then on he knew he needed to be involved.

Being a young conservative, Elkins says he offers a different perspective on

issues facing his generation, and has the ability to engage younger voters in a way most elected officials cannot.

“I think it is important that conservatives begin making an effort in getting the youth involved, and getting younger conservatives elected into public office,” said Elkins.

From his initial involvement onward, Elkins hasn’t found a cause not worth fighting for. He is an active member of the Montgomery County Tea Party, and serves as the public relations director for Montgomery County Citizens Against Illegal Immigration. Elkins was also the campaign scheduler for a tea party congressional candidate in Montgomery County.

While Elkins spends a fair share of his time focusing on political causes, he is also a devoted philanthropist, always looking for ways to better his community. Elkins initiated and executed a community service project aimed at giving back to all nine of the Woodlands Fire Department’s firehouses.

To ease the burden on firefighters, Elkins recruited 30 volunteers to take care of any housekeeping needs they had. He also organized a fundraiser for a Woodlands resident who had a rare heart condition and raised more than double his intended goal.

Elkins feels that it is his responsibility to help fellow Americans through any channel necessary, and says being politically active is his passion. Caring so deeply about his community, state, and country, he vows to stay politically active for as long as he can.

The office of Governor Greg Abbott has detailed his proposal to eliminate the Emerging

Technology Fund (ETF).Abbott’s plan would use half of the

ETF’s unexpended balances to establish the Governor’s University Research Initiative (GURI).  The other half would go to the Texas Enterprise Fund.

According to Abbott, the purpose of the new program is to provide matching funds to state universities in order to help them recruit more researchers and faculty.

Abbott Proposal Eliminates Emerging Technology Fund

SEE TECH — PAGE 3

TECHNOLOGY & EDUCATION

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Many grassroots activists and lawmakers attended the rally that was keynoted by State Sen. Donna Campbell. “We need to focus on the school child, not the school building,” she said.

THE LEAD STORY

SCHOOLS from PAGE 1

TECH from PAGE 2

BY TONY MCDONALD EMPOWERTEXANS.COM

All children need access to effective education

options regardless of zip code, regardless of resources.

Bolstered by the Texas Public Policy Foundation, Campbell has taken up the banner in the Senate by introducing SB 267, the Taxpayer Savings Grant. If signed into law, the state would provide eligible parents with a grant in an amount up to 60% of what the state spends per-student on annual maintenance and operation on public schools, $5,100 currently. Parents could then use the funds to place their child in a private, parochial, or other school.

“All children need access to effective education options regardless of zip code, regardless of resources,” said Campbell in support of her legislation.

Another ally of the initiative is Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick. Though not in attendance Friday morning, supporters of the issue applauded Patrick, noting that he has stood with them “every step of the way.”

Patrick has been an advocate for years as the Chairman of the Senate Education Committee. Last year he made School Choice a priority in his campaign for office, and since his election labeled the issue a “top priority.”

The movement isn’t without its enemies.

Presumptive House Education Chair Jimmie Don Aycock has already bashed the issue, likening it to food stamps and other entitlement programs. A number of teachers unions and other educational groups—including Raise Your Hand Texas, which had Aycock’s daughter on retainer as a lobbyist until she recently stepped down—have maligned School Choice as well. Notably absent are any groups in the interest of taxpaying parents and students.

Parents have a good reason to demand better options for their children. Many public schools are driving communities deeper and deeper in debt with little to show for it.

— State Sen. Donna Campbell

Abbott has voiced his displeasure with corporate welfare schemes like the ETF before.  Initially created in 2005 for the purpose of stimulating economic development and job creation by assisting startups, the ETF has shown a poor record in that regard, with firms receiving subsidies reporting fewer jobs year to year

despite the state’s booming economic growth.  

In addition to outright losses attributable to “bad debts,” and an exorbitant cost of taxpayer dollars per job actually created, the ETF’s track record has made several compelling cases for its own elimination.

Initially, under Abbott’s proposal, the ETF’s portfolio would be transferred to

the Texas Treasury Safekeeping Trust Company, which is chaired by Comptroller Hegar.  The ETF’s unexpended balance would be split; 50% would be allocated to the Higher Education Coordinating Board in order to fund the GURI, and the remaining 50% allocated to the Texas Enterprise Fund.

The plan must go to the legislature for approval.

Not much time has passed since Governor Greg Abbott announced his first series of appointments to

the University of Texas Board of Regents and more and more information is coming to light on his two new additions, Sara Martinez Tucker and David Beck. The information thus far suggests that Abbott’s advisors have failed to properly vet his higher education nominees and that both Tucker and Beck are unqualified to serve on the Board of Regents.

SARA MARTINEZ TUCKERTucker, who once served as U.S. Under

Secretary of Education under President George W. Bush, is currently the CEO of the National Math and Science Initiative, a nonprofit group that assists in distributing open-source materials for the Common Core program in grades 3–12. Because the materials are provided for free, they can be used in states like Texas, which explicitly banned Common Core from being purchased as part of school curricula during the 83rd legislative session. In a 2014 U.S. News article titled “It’s Time to Change the Common Core Debate,” Tucker praised Common Core, stating, “the discussion should be about how the standards will be implemented, not if they will be.”

Regrettably, Tucker’s bad ideas about federalizing education are not limited to K–12. During her time in the Department of Education, Tucker was appointed to the Commission on the Future of Higher Education. The Commission praised the efforts of No Child Left Behind and suggested implementing the “effective principles” of the standardized testing program in higher education. This would have included the creation of a national database of college students in order to track progress in their learning.

Tucker is not just a promoter of bad policies. She was also a party to a scandal

involving student loan providers when she served in the Department of Education. One of Tucker’s first moves as Under Secretary of Education was to forgive Nelnet, a student-loan company, for overcharging the government. Auditors found that company overcharged the government approximately $278 million. However, Tucker allowed Nelnet to keep the $278 million and left taxpayers footing the bill. Tucker also had a long history of interactions with loan companies before joining the bureaucracy. She solicited over $2 million in donations from banks like the government-run student loan program Sallie Mae during her time as head of the Hispanic Scholarship Fund. Nelnet even donated $50,000 to the fund at one point in time.

Records indicate that Sara Martinez Tucker only recently moved to Texas, registering to vote in February 2014. She has spent most of her adult life in San Francisco, California, and Washington, D.C. Given her track record, there is no reason that Texans should be comfortable with her as a trustee of our state’s flagship university.

DAVID BECKDavid Beck has an even worse record of

mismanagement. Beck served as the President of the UT Law School Foundation during the era in which a scandal erupted involving off-the-books payments from the Foundation to UT President Bill Powers, Law School Dean Larry Sager, and certain selected faculty. The scandal resulted in Sager’s abrupt resignation in 2011, and investigators — including current members of the Board of Regents — have been attempting to piece together what happened since.

Eventually, the Office of the Attorney General investigated the scandal. On December 31, 2014, the AG released a report which named David Beck as the person who designed and proposed the “deferred compensation plan,” in which funds were transferred from the

Foundation to UT President Bill Powers. Beck also was in charge of the Foundation when they developed a “forgivable loan” program that ended up being abused under Beck’s watch by Dean Sager.

Broken from the start, the loan program was developed in conjunction with the Jenkins & Gilchrist law firm, which was under investigation at the time by the IRS for setting up illegal tax shelters for its clients. The AG’s report acknowledges that Foundation officers were advised to set up the loan program in a particular manner to circumvent the law. Established as agreements directly from the Foundation to employees of the law school, Beck and the Foundation avoided involving the University directly in the agreements because they were advised that such an arrangement would have violated University policy and state law.

While David Beck typically gives to local and state judges and has donated to Governor Greg Abbott and other Republicans, he has a long history of supporting liberal candidates. Beck gave thousands of dollars to Mayor Bill White during his run for Governor in 2010. He has also given to liberal Senators Rodney Ellis and Judith Zaffirini, who herself has been associated with the UT scandals.

David Beck failed to properly oversee the operation of the UT Law Foundation and devised secretive payola schemes that resulted in a scandal that has tarnished the Law School. Entrusting him with the responsibilities of a regent following a record of gross mismanagement would be a foolish decision.

Before they can serve as regents, both Beck and Tucker must be confirmed by the Texas Senate. We hope senators will ask tough questions of the nominees and of Governor Abbott – in particular how his advisors could have missed such glaring mismanagement in these nominees’ pasts. If Beck and Tucker’s appointments to the Board of Regents are confirmed, their histories foreshadow a dark future for the University of Texas.

Nominees to UT System Unqualified to Serve

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PAY RAISE from PAGE 1

Every hand you shake,Every cent you take,Every vow you break,

Every vote you make...

Watch Now: EmpowerTexans.com/features/watching-video

money to people who haven’t asked for it is something I haven’t seen before,” Hobby said, before going on to describe then-Chairman Jim Clancy as “Santa Claus.”

One commissioner joined Hobby, making the point that pay increases should be left to members to propose in the form of a constitutional amendment; leading Commissioner Delco—a former legislator—to object to the idea, remarking “that’s political suicide.”

“That’s why I think it’s here. That’s why I think we have the power… because of that very problem.” said then-Chairman Jim Clancy.

Such a statement haughtily presumes the superiority of a panel of unelected bureaucrats and smacks of contempt and disdain for the voters of Texas. It reveals a dangerous arrogance: that their assumed role is to shield legislators from those very same voters.

Why is the Ethics Commission working so hard to give legislators money they haven’t asked for? The answer may lie in a hot mic comment made by Democratic Party appointee, and now-Chairman Paul Hobby. As the commissioners voted to give the pay

increase to legislators, Hobby remarked skeptically, “Maybe bribery works!”

The commission has run-up significant legal bills due to its efforts to suppress speech. In order to continue those efforts, the commissioners appear to be betting that an increase in the per diem will result in an increase in their appropriation from the legislature. Rather than being a white hat in the discussion, Hobby appeared skeptical that the plan would work.

The proposal isn’t just a naked pay-off of taxpayer dollars to legislators by the cash-strapped TEC. It also increases the amount that lobbyists can spend on gifts to legislators – food, drinks, and entertainment – each day without reporting the name of the legislator or legislative staff who is on the receiving end.

Due to an insidious linkage in state law between the per diem and the lobbyist allowance – the limit on unreported gifts

is three-fifths of the amount of the per diem – the proposal would increase the amount of unreported food, beverage, and entertainment that legislators can take from any single lobbyist by $24 per day. It begs the question, why are any significant lobbyist expenditures non-disclosed?

Under the proposed new rate, a lobbyist could spend up to $114 per day wining and dining a legislator and his

constituents would have no means of finding out. To make matters more troubling, the limit is only per lobbyist per legislator. If more than one lawmaker or lobbyist is present, the cost can be split, allowing the purchase of pricier gifts and entertainment. As one TEC Commissioner remarked, “If you get enough people in the same room, you can have quite a party.”

One member of the House, State Rep. Charlie Geren has filed legislation that

would do a lot to fix the problem. His bill, HB 972, would repeal the linkage in the per diem and tighten the cap on the lobbyist limit. If passed into law, Geren’s measure would be a definite positive reform for the legislature.

The ability of lobbyists to cover the price of a meal makes sense. A person wishing to speak with a representative or senator should be able to do so over coffee, lunch, or perhaps even a beer. However, the current limit certainly leaves plenty of opportunity for extravagance and abuse.

According to the Texas Tribune: “A lawmaker or staffer who really wanted to take advantage of the rules (and the favors of lobbyists) could ride pretty high for the 20 weeks of the legislative session.”

Both issues speak of a need for reform in the compensation mechanics of members of the Texas Legislature. It’s not unreasonable to compensate lawmakers for the cost of being in Austin, and it’s not unreasonable that lobbyists should be allowed to spend some money on them in exchange for their willingness to listen. It is however, unacceptable to play a game of quid pro quo with taxpayer money while keeping Texans out of the decision making process.

Why is the Ethics Commission working so hard to give legislators money they haven’t asked for? The answer may

lie in a hot mic comment made by Democratic Party appointee, and now-Chairman Paul Hobby: [...] ‘Maybe bribery works!’

After being embarrassed in the November elections that saw Wendy Davis and fellow

Democrats across the state go down in flames, the agents behind Battleground Texas are seeking to “repair” their reputation. To do so, they’re packing up and leaving the Lone Star State and heading to Israel to unseat Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Recent reports by Breitbart Texas revealed that Jeremy Bird —the Senior Adviser to Battleground Texas and National Field Director for the 2012 campaign to re-elect President Barack Obama—is leading a few other former members of the Obama campaign team on a new field assignment. Perhaps because they haven’t been successful in Texas, the Democratic hit squad known for violating election law and making fun of disabilities is taking its talents to the Holy Land.

According to Jerusalem Post columnist Caroline Glick, the liberal AstroTurf hit squad is assembling its forces in a bid to defeat the conservative Israeli Prime Minister.

”Obama won’t meet Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington when he addresses the Joint Houses of Congress in March because of Netanyahu’s visit’s proximity to the Israeli elections. And Obama, of course believes in protocol and propriety which is why he won’t get involved,” said Glick.

“No, he’s not getting involved at all. He’s just sending his 2012 field campaign manager to Israel to run a campaign to defeat Netanyahu. That’s all. No interference whatsoever.”

Such actions only reveal the desperation of the leaders behind Battleground Texas. Frustrated that their efforts to “Turn Texas Blue” aren’t exactly working, the liberal politicos are seeking to attack conservatives on a different field.

The liberal stratagem of invoking class warfare and using phony promises was resoundingly rejected in Texas, where its vacuity was quickly recognized. If Israeli voters are anything like Texas voters, they’ll see through the false rhetoric and personal attacks that characterize their campaigns and the results will be very similar.

BATTLEGROUND …Israel?BY CARY CHESHIRE EMPOWERTEXANS.COM

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It should surprise no one that Chambers of Commerce are not always supporters of limited government. However, the

Dallas Regional Chamber and Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce are coming together to explicitly endorse big government. To support their efforts, the chambers are implementing what they call the “Pro Growth Legislative Accountability Index.”

Perhaps more accurately named the “Crony Capitalism Companion,” the index calls for “appropriate adequate funding” for the maligned Texas Enterprise Fund and the equally bad Texas Emerging Technology Fund (which Governor Abbott has already introduced a plan to get rid of). Doubling down on the failure of the two statewide initiatives, the index also “strongly supports” “additional economic development programs which will provide Texas and its communities with additional competitive advantages.”

Notably absent are any calls for economic reforms that would actually benefit job creators and hard-working Texans, such as property tax cuts, repealing the onerous franchise tax, implementing the STaR plan, or other measures being discussed by pro-market reformers this

Crony Capitalism Instead of Tax Cutssession. Also missing are any recommendations on reducing regulations that cripple business and increase costs for consumers. Instead of a capitalist agenda that lessens the burden of government for everyone, the Chambers seek only to ensure that their special-interest bailout spree continues unimpeded.

In other words, the chambers are defending job-crippling taxation in order to ensure the preservation of slush funds that benefit the well connected.

On the issue of health care, the index is operating on a thinly veiled premise to deceive. Believing voters and legislators can be tricked into supporting Washington, D.C. policies by slapping “Texas” on the label, the index calls for the implementation of the “Texas Way Program.” The name attempts to conceal what the program actually is—bringing Obamacare to Texas. Despite claims that it is “different” and “free-market based,” it’s clear that the “Texas Way” plan (endorsed by the Texas Hospital Association) is just code for Medicaid Expansion, an idea rightly condemned by the Texas Public Policy Foundation and other conservative voices.

The re-labeling effort is reminiscent of the “Texas Solution,” an illegal immigration plan rightly rejected by conservatives at the

State Republican Convention. They recognized it for what it was, a  rebranding of amnesty, and soundly rejected it on the floor.

For Higher Education, the index prioritizes the exponential growth of unnecessary bureaucracy. It also supports “maximum funding for the TEXAS Grant program.” TEXAS grants are almost carbon copies of Federal Pell grants with one exception—they don’t require U.S. citizenship, and are thus  available to illegal aliens. Consistent with their redistributionist tendencies, it is hardly surprising that the chambers would advocate taking tax dollars from law abiding Texans only to pass them off to illegal aliens.

The index continues its hypocrisy by pushing for “a capital building program including Tuition Revenue Bonds,” which mainly fund the construction of new offices for administrators rather than classrooms for students, all while seeking “cost effective educational innovations.” The educational innovations mentioned should refer to online classrooms and other modern innovations, but instead advocate for the continuation of  brick and mortar building sprees that have already made construction cranes a nearly permanent fixture on university skylines.

Assured of the belief that throwing money at issues will solve problems, the index offered by the chambers also encourages further bloat and waste on transportation. Calling for the redirection of the motor vehicle sales tax to the state highway fund and ending gas tax diversions are good ideas that enjoy widespread support, but the index still ignores the 25% diversion from the gas tax for education—which conservatives agree needs to go.

Lacking are any plans to reform a highway department infamous for its wasteful projects such as jetpacks that divert much needed resources from road construction. Also included is a request to “authorize TxDOT to enter into a comprehensive agreement for the LBJ East corridor,” which includes funding for toll roads.

The Chamber’s agenda favors indiscriminate increases in government spending directed toward the politically connected as opposed to fair, across the board tax relief. But growing government will only necessitate increasing burdens on everyone, including most of their own members, and perpetuate the culture that encourages business to seek special favors and exemptions from those in power.

As Milton Friedman famously said, being “pro-business” and “pro-free market” aren’t the same governing ideology. The chamber continues to make clear it is not a friend to the free market or to taxpayers.

In a time when we should encourage charitable giving, Houston’s Feeding Ordinance does exactly the opposite.

In classic liberal-doublespeak fashion, the adversely named ordinance increases the level of government dependency and actively punishes those trying to help their fellow citizens.

The ordinance prohibits feeding five or more homeless Houstonians on private property without the owner’s consent, and on public property without an approved application from the city. The latter struck a chord with many upon its passage, and has bred conflict between residents and officials. Several city council members are now questioning both its purpose and effect on the community.

After filling out a comprehensive

BY CHARLES BLAIN EMPOWERTEXANS.COM

BY CARY CHESHIRE EMPOWERTEXANS.COM

Houston Feeding Ordinanceapplication, a person intending to give out food on public property must print out a map of the park they wish to distribute the food in, mark the desired feeding location, and send in the map with the rest of the completed package. Once the application is submitted, the city parks director has the authority to decide what public space can be used to feed the homeless, and issues permits accordingly.

City administration said the ordinance aims to curb trespassing and littering, both of which were already prohibited in the municipal code prior to the passing of the ordinance.

Instead of strengthening and enforcing laws already on the books, Mayor Parker’s administration has chosen instead to expand government by making charity a licensed, regulated activity

Council Member Kubosh, who two

years ago organized a petition drive to repeal the ordinance (which ultimately failed), is a major vocal opponent of hindering charitable giving. Echoing the sentiment of most Houstonians to a Houston paper, Kubosh asked, “Why criminalize the giver?” That is effectively what the ordinance does: criminalize churches, charitable groups, and any individual(s) looking to give without submitting, in advance, an exhaustive application package to the city.

Without the aid of individuals and organizations, Houston’s near 7,000-member homeless population would be forced to rely solely on city services for food assistance through the food banks and shelters throughout the area. Even though some of these facilities are difficult to get to without transportation, they are regularly filled to

capacity.Although it was passed in 2012, the

ordinance is resurfacing as a hot-button issue after Houston’s Charter Review Committee mentioned it as a possible reform item.

At a recent meeting, Former City Attorney David Feldman told the committee that the item couldn’t be placed on the ballot for charter amendment, but council members could try to call a vote for it to be repealed.

Currently, only the mayor can decide what is placed on the agenda, and what items can be placed on the ballot. Since Mayor Parker touts this ordinance as a success under her administration, it doesn’t seem likely that she’ll leave it up to voters to decide.

Houston’s ordinance should serve as a glaring reminder to Texans that the utopian notion of “public” property doesn’t actually mean public ownership—it’s property owned and operated by the government and subject to the rules, regulations, and decrees of its politicians and bureaucrats.

GOVERNMENT FUNDING

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The Conservative Roundtable of Texas held a Policy Summit in the Capitol, at which select legislators

discussed their respective outlooks on budget, education, and transportation issues for the session.

The Conservative Roundtable, which has historically distributed fiscal responsibility endorsements like participation awards to unworthy legislators, featured Republican legislators hardly known for fiscal conservatism.

The first segment of the panel featured State Reps. Drew Darby, John Otto, Tan Parker, and John Zerwas discussing the 2016-17 budget process.

State Rep. Darby noted the difficulty of discerning whether to cut taxes and fees by $1 billion or to increase spending from General Revenue dedicated accounts. Darby emphasized maintaining border security and infrastructure in a fiscally responsible manner, as well as weighing the fairness of the franchise tax. He also insisted that the 25% diversion of motor fuel taxes to education is “not gonna

change [sic],” citing the 1946 constitutional mandate that requires it.

State Rep. Otto expressed a desire to preserve the balances of dedicated funds by only using $3 billion out of the $5.4 billion appropriated. “Dedicating money is fine if it is a core function of government and if it is of high priority,” said Otto, adding that the House should abide by the debt limit set by the LBB and that he doesn’t “have any problem” with how the limit is calculated.

State Rep. Zerwas described the rapid increase in Medicaid enrollment as a challenge to securing adequate resources for education. During this session, he said, the Legislature must keep up with the growth in Medicaid by determining additional needs and incorporating a system of incentives into the program. “I don’t see any urgent things happening out there right now that would cause us to want to tap into the ESF,” said Zerwas. Regarding the franchise tax, Zerwas advocated raising the current exemption level in order to attract businesses to Texas.

The transportation policy panel, which featured State Reps. Larry Phillips, Joe

Pickett, and Kenneth Sheets, concerned funding mechanisms. State Rep. Pickett mentioned the challenges he has faced in convincing his constituents and fellow legislators that the gas tax needs to be increased. “We keep adding to the debt because we don’t have the revenue source to pay for it,” said Pickett. He argued that the state should stop borrowing money and instead seek additional revenue to pay for transportation and debt service.

Also stressed at the summit was the importance of community colleges, the development and retention of medical professionals in Texas, and financial counseling for college freshmen.

Gov. Greg Abbott has repeatedly stated his support for ending all diversions from the State Highway Fund. He has refused to expand Medicaid in Texas, and he has labeled the franchise tax as “fundamentally flawed” because it fails to bring long-term property relief as promised. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has expressed similar concerns, calling for an end to fuel tax diversions, as well as a budget that implements significant tax relief for businesses and property owners.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released the Regional and State Employment and Unemployment

Summary for December 2014. The figures below provide illustrations of the Texas model’s success story.

The first figure shows data indicating that December marked the 96th consecutive month that the Lone Star State’s unemployment rate has been at or below the national average. Texas’ rate has also been well below the other three states with the largest economies and populations. In fact, Texas has had a lower rate than California since August 2006—that’s 101 consecutive months.

The second figure notes that this unemployment rate feat is even more impressive when you consider how many people have stopped looking for work. While the nation’s reported 5.6 percent unemployment rate is near what some consider “full employment,” it doesn’t tell the whole story as noted by the drop in the

Policy Summit Highlights Moderates’ PrioritiesBY OWEN STROUND EMPOWERTEXANS.COM

BY VANCE GINN TEXASPOLICY.COM

Latest State-Level Jobs Report: Texas Remains #1labor force participation rate. If you include the unemployed, underemployed, and discouraged workers, the U-6 rate is closer to 11 percent. This more realistic rate is why many still consider the labor market depressed.

The third figure presents data showing that Texas’ share of the population employed has rebounded since the 2008-09 recession and is substantially higher than the national average and other states. These data also provide a better picture of the true state of labor markets instead of the false signal of a lower unemployment rate from people stopping their job search, which relative to these other entities has not been the case in Texas.

The fourth figure shows that annual job creation in Texas has been robust relative to these other rates. Instead of people dropping out of the labor force or leaving the state, like in California, people are flocking to Texas. By creating net nonfarm jobs at a record-breaking clip of 457,900 in 2014, Texas has continued to add jobs faster than those entering the labor force.

This job growth translates into a 4 percent annual pace statewide and an even faster rate of 4.4 percent for the productive private sector.

Despite a 55 percent drop in oil prices since last June, even the mining and logging sector added 4,900 net jobs in December for a net gain of 2,600 over the last two months. Texas is a much more diversified economy than it was in the 1980s. The mining industry, which is dominated by oil and gas activity, was 21 percent of the state’s private economy in the early 1980s; today it is about 15 percent. The mining industry is less than 3 percent of labor force today compared with 5 percent then. Though the state is more resilient to oil price fluctuations, this is an area to watch in upcoming months if oil prices remain subdued for a prolonged period.

Similar to a fireworks show, I save the last two figures for the grand finale. These figures show that Texas has been the nation’s primary job creator since the last national recession started in December

2007. Also notice that total employment didn’t decline during the 2008-09 recession when oil prices dropped substantially more than they have in the last seven months—another indication that the current oil price drop may not cause severe consequences. Even the nonfarm job losses were merely a blip compared with the rest of the nation.

At the end of the day, lower oil prices help Texans pay less at the pump. The statewide price of regular gas at $1.84 is half what it was last summer. This leaves more money in Texans’ pockets to spend as they see fit, helping boost the economy, job growth, and sales tax revenue. To build on the Texas model’s success, extra funds available to the 84th Texas Legislature should go to provide tax relief. Along with potential tax relief, today’s employment report should help keep the working poor and all Texans upbeat about their future.

(See for images: http://www.texaspolicy.com/center/fiscal-policy/blog/latest-state-level-jobs-report-texas-remains-1)

OUTLOOK ON GROWTH

ECONOMY

BIGANNOUNCEMENT

We will be giving out two grants related to First Amendment Tuesdays.

The first grant will be $500 and an engraved cavalry sword to the individual who attends the most Tuesday trainings.

The second grant will be $500 for the organization with the most member check-ins at the La Quinta for training over the course of the legislative session.

So come for the training, and return for the prizes! But stay involved to ensure that liberty flourishes in the Lone Star State!

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The Texas legislature is back in Austin this year and a number grassroots activists are making sure

that the rights of Texans are protected rather than ignored. One group, Texas Values, is preparing to host the 2015 Texas Faith and Family Day at the Texas Capitol on Tuesday, February 24.

A recent press release states:“We want to personally invite you to

the 2015 Make plans to join us for an impactful day where you will equip yourself with issue briefs on the most important family values issues, rally with state leaders and other like-minded Texans from across the state, and have an opportunity to meet with your legislators.”

The free event will feature an information session by Texas Values and Texas Values Action. Other groups such as Concerned Women of America- Texas, Texas Eagle Forum, Women Wellness Coalition of Texas, Texas Pastor Council, and Texas Right to Life are planning to attend as well.

A rally will be held on the South steps of the Capitol Building to further arm and equip activists to go into the halls of the Capitol, knock on their legislator’s door, and have their voice heard.

Find out more at TXValues.org.

Recently, a couple of our team members expressed negative concerns about the political

newsletter I publish each Saturday. THSC publishes regular newsletters that can be subscribed to on the THSC website so readers can stay informed with a simple email. During the week I post a number of links to news articles that I find interesting on my personal Twitter and Facebook accounts. Those are collected by a staff member and rolled into one newsletter that goes out on the weekends.

The complaints essentially stemmed from questioning why the political articles have anything to do with home schooling and, therefore, THSC? These kinds of complaints arise from time to time when a subscriber asks the same questions or makes the same observations. In fact, the usual complaint is “Why all the focus on politics? Let’s just focus on home schooling!”

Yes, that is the question, and it is a foundational one. Almost 30 years ago I came to the realization that my freedom to make the parenting decisions for my children was limited because those who

When the Texas Constitution was adopted, the intention was to safeguard the people from

government—to encourage legislatures led by citizens rather than career politicians. In an effort to achieve that end, sessions of the state legislature were limited to 140 days every two years.

Lawmakers often use the limitation as an excuse for inaction on conservative legislation.

Conservative bills die at the end of every session. It was only last session that “time ran out” and killed a noteworthy commonsense transparency measure with bi-partisan support after House leadership slow-rolled it through the committee process for months. Almost perennially, conservatives are told that many of the reforms they fought for simply “ran out of

BY CARY CHESHIRE EMPOWERTEXANS.COM

BY CARY CHESHIRE EMPOWERTEXANS.COM

BY TIM LAMBERT WWW.THSC.ORG

Faith and Family Day in Texas WHY ALL THE POLITICS? were making public policy for the state of Texas believed that the government was better qualified than my wife and I.

At that time, the Texas Attorney General said he didn’t believe parents were qualified to raise their children, much less home school them. It became crystal clear to the home school community that if we wanted to home school, we had to be involved in the process by which public policy is made. That is, we had to become involved in the process by which Texas chooses its elected officials, or what we often refer to as “politics.”

January 6 a special election was held for the State House District 17 and THSC endorsed Brent Goleman, a long-time home school dad and business man whom I’ve known for many years. He will be in a runoff for that seat sometime in the near future. I was told that the counties where his support was strongest had very few polling places open, while the counties in which his opponent was strongest had all regular polling places open. (That sounds a little strange to me but that is not the point.)

A home school mom told Brent she drove 26 miles to a polling place to vote for him and only did that because he

was endorsed by THSC. He is in a runoff now because of the commitment of home schoolers to elect those who support the fundamental constitutional right of parents to direct the care, control, and upbringing of their children.

I know that many home schoolers believe they are too busy to pay attention to political issues. I would suggest to everyone that we can no longer afford to ignore the political issues of our day. Our parental rights depend on our participation. So what can you do?

If you are on Twitter or Facebook connect to THSC in that way.

If you want to follow me on Twitter and Facebook you may do that too.

You can sign up on the THSC website for legislative updates. You can get our political newsletter once a week and scroll through stories to get your political news in one day.

Join us at Capitol Days and involve your children in Keeping Texas Families Free.

Whatever approach you take, get connected. Don’t wake up one day and realize you lost a key freedom because you were too busy.

Visit THSC.org for more information.

No Excuses for Inaction on Conservative Reformtime.” Sadly, many good bills see a similar fate near the end of each legislative session.

Such an excuse implies that the days lawmakers are convened in Austin are defined by a flurry of productive activity; that the legislature just can’t get to everything in the short time window they have. The reality is far different. If legislation is even given the light of day in a committee hearing, lawmakers will often pass it along to the Calendars Committee to stall it—passing it out right before the constitutional deadline and leaving it rife for defeat at the hands of Democrats through chubbing, procedural time wasting, or points of order.

Republicans in leadership then give an oafish “Aww, shucks!” response as if they simply were outfoxed instead of willfully complicit.

This session seems to be following standard procrastinating procedure. With the exception of a fight in which

conservatives successfully defeated an attempt by House leadership to ram through new rules for the body at the last minute to expand the speaker’s power, legislators in the House haven’t really done very much since the session began. Since gaveling in on January 13th, they have congratulated an elementary school, a couple on their anniversary, and a Dallas college opening. One would be rather hard-pressed to label such measures as priorities.

While they can’t pass bills that aren’t declared emergency items by the governor until 60 days into session (with limited exceptions), they can certainly work more diligently to appoint committee members so they may begin work hearing and analyzing bills sooner to lessen the

anticipated bottleneck near the end of session.

An example of this can be found in the other chamber. The Senate got right to work in assigning committees and referring legislation. As a result Senate Finance Chairman Jane Nelson is already having hearings on the budget and Lt. Gov Dan Patrick has called for campus carry “to be scheduled for public hearing as soon as possible.”

Still, the House is moving at its usual pace. In 2013, committees were assigned in the House on the 24th legislative day.

Judgment on whether or not time has been “wasted” should be reserved until the end of the session. The House could also come out of the gate strongly and pass the conservative reforms that the people of Texas have demanded. If, however, such attempts fall short and the same excuses are offered again, Texans can point back and remind them that “running out of time” is simply inexcusable.

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Austin, TX 78720

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Profiles in Citizen Leadership

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