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during the 84th session?— PAGES 10-14

A NEWS MAGAZINE FOR ALL TEXANS

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SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWS DIGEST AT www.EmpowerTexans.comINSIDE PG 9 PG 11 PG 11Over-Promised Pension Returns Democratic Strategist: Boehner Should Have Used Straus Model

AROUNDT E X A S

So who would have thought Republicans in Congress would grow a spine faster than

Republicans in the Texas House? Well, they did by kicking the crony DEM-establishment leadership to the curb.

As NBC political analyst Mark Murray noted in a tweet “To recap: [Eric] Cantor loses primary race in ’14… [John] Boehner steps down as speaker… [Kevin] McCarthy takes himself out of running to replace Boehner”.

By way of background: After Speaker John Boehner announced he was quitting, the Washington establishment quickly anointed U.S. Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) as Boehner 2.0. He was going to be the speaker of the House. A new puppet for the establishment cartel of Democrats and liberal Republicans to control.

But then the Freedom Caucus in the U.S. House happened. They publicly decided not to back McCarthy.

If his first interim charges are any indication, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick might be looking for ways eliminate

crony capitalist programs in the next legislative session.

Interim charges are assigned to House and Senate committees at the discretion of the speaker of the house and lieutenant governor respectively. Practically speaking, they direct committees to study certain policy proposals or monitor recently enacted policy changes while the legislature is not in session. Those directives serve as a preview for what House and Senate leadership will push for when they come back to Austin.

Patrick recently charted the Senate Natural Resources and Economic Development Committee to evaluate the necessity of programs currently used to

support economic development in Texas, including “the reduction or elimination of ineffective programs.”

That includes such programs as the Texas Enterprise Fund, Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Program, and the Major Events Trust Fund. Those programs (amongst others) are often criticized by taxpayers for their practice of picking winners and losers in the marketplace, as well as their general ineffectiveness and lack of accountability.

Leaving room for committee members to make their own recommendations for which programs should go, such a charge serves as a signal of Patrick’s priorities to the Senate body and to citizens as a whole.

A full list of Patrick’s first interim charges can be found at Texas Scorecard.com.

House Speaker Joe Straus has yet to release his first set of charges.

Senate Seeks to End Crony Handouts

BY DUSTIN MATOCHA EMPOWERTEXANS.COM

BY MICHAEL QUINN SULLIVAN EMPOWERTEXANS.COM

Congressional GOP Grows Spine Before Texas House

MORE STORIES AT EMPOWERTEXANS.COM:

HISD Construction Corruption BY CHARLES BLAIN

GOP Aggie Raising Longhorn Money with a Democrat BY MICHAEL QUINN SULLIVAN

Ernest Angelo, Jr.: Shaping History BY LAUREN LAWSON

RSVP TODAY Empower Texans’

Third Annual Conservative Leader’s GalaDecember 5, 2015 | Grapevine, Texas

More info at EmpowerTexans.com

— PAGE 3

Ethics Commission Continues Fight Against Texas Churches

Senate Interim Charges Holding Local Government Accountable

CORECARD WWW.TEXASSCORECARD.COM2wrong way to go about advocacy.”

After trying her hand at campaigning in North Texas, she decided she wanted to be more involved in college campuses, which typically aren’t favorable towards young conservatives. This led her to move to Houston and join Turning Point USA. Binder says, “We teach these principles on campuses where they’re not being taught in the classrooms.”

Turning Point USA is a national organization that focuses on grassroots activism. They have organized efforts on over 800 college campuses in all 50 states. Binder has been with the organization for over a year and has quickly risen up the ranks.

In one semester with Turning Point, Bree personally identified over 1,800 student supporters of her efforts. She said, “We are the ones whose boots are on the ground. We are the ones advocating for ideas. We are the ones changing things.”

Binder is also an active member of Houston Young Republicans and a number of women’s groups around the Bayou City. She’s currently training for a half marathon, and when not busy in training she loves to paint and practice calligraphy.

CORECARD2

BY CHARLES BLAIN EMPOWERTEXANS.COM

BY ROSS KECSEG EMPOWERTEXANS.COM

BREE BINDERTHE CAMPUS CRUSADER

Bree Binder goes the extra mile to advocate for conservative principles. She spends her days

engaging high school and college students, encouraging them to think about the principles of free markets, fiscal responsibility, and limited government.

Born in Los Angeles, California to liberal parents, Binder came to the Lone Star state to attend the University of Texas at Arlington, where she double majored in public relations (PR) and advertising. She always had a passion for advocacy, but wanted to pursue PR. “After interning at a firm my last year and a half at college I decided that it was definitely not for me, it was totally the

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the teamPresident & CEO

Michael Quinn Sullivan

Managing EditorMorgan Williamson

Field CorrespondentGregory Harrison

Metroplex BureauRoss Kecseg

Houston BureauCharles Blain

West Texas BureauLauren Lawson

General CounselTony McDonald

CORECARDPO Box 200248,

Austin, TX 78720 or [email protected]

Texas Scorecard is a general interest news magazine produced by Empower Texans. Unless otherwise noted, the content is the property of Empower Texans and may not be reprinted without permission. Content from Texas Scorecard is available to the public online at TexasScorecard.com.

Entire contents © 2015 Empower Texans. All rights reserved.

PROFILES IN CITIZEN LEADERSHIP

Several Texas school districts allegedly have plans to violate a voter-targeting law passed during

the 84th legislative session (HB 2027), by engaging in the nefarious tactic of “rolling polling” this November.

“Rolling polling” is a voter-targeting scheme whereby local governments strategically choose convenient polling locations for their employees and local supporters, and then quickly move those locations throughout early voting to confuse the general voting public.

Members of the Frisco Tea Party, who meticulously tracked voter turnout data in November of 2014, concisely demonstrated just how effective the now illegal practice could be in influencing the election’s outcome.

During early voting where Frisco ISD employed “rolling polling,” the measure was supported with 81% of the vote, with only 19% opposed. On Election

Day, only 55% of voters supported the measure, with 45% opposed.

FISD’s targeting tactics were especially egregious, using forty-nine school campuses over the eight-day early voting period, all of which were open for only one day.

In November’s upcoming election this year, Highland Park ISD plans to target voters in support of their $361 million bond proposal by parking a mobile unit outside the stadium during two football games. According to Dallas County election resources, Grand Prairie ISD also plans to target likely supporters in potential violation of the law.

If Highland Park’s debt deal passes as proposed, their debt at today’s student enrollment will exceed $90,000 per

child, when principal and interest payments are included.

Interest expense typically amounts to a 30-40% premium over and above the price tag voters see on the ballot. In other words, although voters will only see a $361,000,000 proposition on the ballot, the cost repaid through higher property taxes is projected to equal $500 million, or more.

Part of HPISD’s all-or-nothing plan is to demolish and rebuild three schools they spent $25,000,000 dramatically renovating just eight years ago. The rest of the proposal calls for the destruction of other facilities they claim need to be moved to allow for expansion at the high school.

Regardless of the pros and cons of any single debt proposal, Texas taxpayers should demand that local governments follow the law.

In the case of Highland Park ISD, their proposed voter-targeting strategy has opened themselves up to potential lawsuits, should local taxpayers with legal standing choose to take action.

Schools Allegedly Using Illegal Voter-Targeting Scheme

CORECARDVOL. 1 - ISSUE 26 - WWW.TEXASSCORECARD.COM 3

BY TONY McDONALD EMPOWERTEXANS.COM

GOPfrom PAGE 1

IN THE LEAD

Churches in Texas could lose their right to act in accordance with their faith if the Texas

Ethics Commission is successful in federal court. The agency would force churches to register and report as political action committees before speaking on issues affecting their communities. On top of that, one Republican state lawmaker wants churches to disclose the identities and amounts of tithes received from congregants as well.

On the TEC’s agenda recently was a meeting between commissioners and their attorneys to strategize for their continued court fight against three Texas churches. The outcome will directly or indirectly affect every church in Texas.

A federal lawsuit, Joint Heirs Fellowship Church, et. al. v. Natalia Ashley, et. al. was brought in federal district court last year by several churches that feared prosecution by the Ethics Commission if they engaged in activities related to a recall election that was then occurring in San Antonio. The churches planned to work together to circulate and submit recall petitions, collect signatures, post materials to their websites, and engage in other similar activities supporting the recall of several San Antonio politicians who the churches alleged

In a move that has left the national political punditry gasping in surprise, McCarthy unexpectedly withdrew his name from the speakership race. The night before, he was measuring drapes for the speaker’s office. The next day, he was washed up.

Apparently conservatives in Congress are tired of policy table scraps and seeing their agendas thwarted by the establishment cronies.

Yet in Texas, allegedly the reddest of the red states, we have the same cartel government in our state house. Democrats and liberal Republicans run the House because alleged conservative Republicans are unwilling to oppose them.

We have too many “conservatives” running around the legislature who are more concerned with being invited to Austin cocktail parties and plush trips around the country than in pushing systemic reforms.

That’s why the Texas House killed the governor’s commonsense Ethics reform and instead voted to abolish the First Amendment rights of citizens, businesses and churches. That’s why they killed popular limits on government growth. That’s why they refused to ban sanctuary cities. That’s why they protected labor unions.

If your state representative is a “committee chairman” or “caucus leader,” he is the problem. If he is campaigning with Joe Straus, or he is endorsing Straus lieutenants, he is the problem.

But your state representative still has a choice: increase their calcium intake, fortify their spine, and start the solution by tossing out the current leadership; or, he can eventually fall in disgrace like Boehner, Cantor and McCarthy.

Cowardice stumbles. Boldness wins.

threatened their freedom of speech and of religion.

However the Texas Ethics Commission demanded that the churches register with the agency before moving forward on the recall efforts.

At the core of the case is the question of whether the three churches, Joint Heirs Fellowship Church and the First Church of God, both of Houston, and Faith Outreach Center International, of San Antonio, would be required to register as a political action committee with the state if they coordinated their activities related to recall and other measure elections.

A federal judge ordered the TEC and the churches to confer and agree on whether any of the proposed activities fell outside the scope of the commission’s regulations. The commission would not agree with the churches that any of the proposed activities were unregulated, and now the case is on appeal to the Fifth Circuit.

Due to IRS regulations, churches are typically prohibited from directly engaging in elections between candidates, but they frequently engage in activities related to elections on “measures,” such as ballot initiatives, bond elections, constitutional amendment elections, local option liquor elections, and recall efforts. Though constitutionally suspect under the Supreme Court’s rationale in Citizens United, those types of measure elections are regulated like candidate

elections in Texas.The three churches have ample

reason to fear the impact the political committee regulations would have on their freedom of worship.

During the recent legislative session, State Rep. Byron Cook (R–Corsicana) authored two bills designed to increase regulations on churches that choose to engage in measure elections, House Bill 37 and a substitute to Senate Bill 19. The two bills would have forced outspoken churches to register with the state and identify the sources of all donations.

Attorneys familiar with the legislation argued that, if the bills had passed, churches who chose to speak out or wished to preserve their rights to do so would have been prohibited from passing a collection plate. If the churches took anonymous tithes, they would face criminal penalties if they later engaged in regulated speech and were unable to report the identities of all donors and the amounts of their donations.

The version of Senate Bill 19 containing the regulations was passed out of the House by a coalition composed of Democrats and a minority of Republicans, but Senate Republicans ensured that it did not reach the Governor’s desk. Nonetheless, existing regulations and the radical interpretations applied to them by the TEC continue to present a threat to freedom of speech and of religion in Texas.


CORECARD WWW.TEXASSCORECARD.COM4

A new video presents a question for voters in Humble and Kingwood: How much

dishonor can your representative bring to his office and be reelected? Already drunk and disorderly, State Rep. Dan Huberty (R–Houston) is shown just minutes after coming off the House floor trying to attack a reporter.

In the video, released by the American Phoenix Foundation (“APF”), Huberty drunkenly curses an APF reporter, calling him a “f*****g hack,” an “a*****e” and other derogatory names. At the conclusion of the video, while shouting expletives, Huberty fights against his own staff and three DPS officers in an attempt to physically accost the reporter. His staff are forced to repeatedly admonish the representative that, “it’s not worth it” as he is dragged back to his office.

Despite knowledge that this exchange took place and that it was likely videotaped, Huberty has declared his intent to seek reelection as state representative. Huberty has yet to draw an announced challenger.

The video shows the APF reporter commenting on Huberty’s level of intoxication and noting that Huberty is slurring his speech. Huberty defends his actions, noting that he is an “adult,” and that he “can have a drink at night,” and claims the House adjourned two hours before the video was taken. The reporter responds, noting that the House actually adjourned only minutes earlier, that Huberty appered “pretty buzzed,” and that the smell of alcohol on Huberty was “pretty strong.”

Huberty’s response: “What a shame. Really?”

According to the American Phoenix Foundation, the video was taken on May 29, 2015 around 6:58pm. The House journal notes that the House adjourned at 6:27pm that day.

Just two days prior to the videotaped exchange, Huberty voted for the House committee substitute to Senate Bill 19, a bill that would have made it illegal for citizens to videotape or record conversations with legislators in the capitol without their consent.

The legislation, which was blatantly unconstitutional – as Gov. Greg Abbott

CAUGHT ON TAPE Intoxicated Legislator Restrained by DPS and Staff


BY EMILY KEBODEAUX TEXAS RIGHT TO LIFE

A Court of Appeals justice recently stated: “I believe the touchstone of the First Amendment is to

protect political speech.” I could not agree more. The genesis of the First Amendment stemmed from our founders’ desire to protect citizen speech from government coercion. Unfortunately, this basic tenet of our American creed is in danger in Texas, thanks to certain legislators and bureaucrats who feel threatened by nonprofit organizations advocating for policy changes.

In recent years, Texas Right to Life has vigorously defended our First Amendment rights to comment on legislation, to comment on the stances of elected officials and candidates, and to comment on what happens and doesn’t happen during each and every legislative

session. Pro-Life voters across Texas have

become increasingly reliant on Texas Right to Life and their focus is more determined on ousting men and women with an “R” behind their name who feign Pro-Life positions. As a result, the remaining left branch of Republicans, fearful of constituents seeing their true colors, have feverishly pursued legislation to silence us through a rogue state agency, the Texas Ethics Commission, to prevent Texas Right to Life and like-minded organizations from reaching Pro-Life voters.

Through a slew of agency “rules” concocted by eight unelected men and women have restricted the free speech of Texas Right to Life; these rules that have the force and effect of binding law on Texas citizens. Within the past eighteen months, this commission has adopted rules that limit to whom we can speak, what words we can use, how much we spend to say these words, and with what equipment or office supplies we can do so. The rules are so murky that this is no

SEE TAPE — PAGE 5

SEE COMPLIANCE — PAGE 5

THE COST OF COMPLIANCE: Regulating Nonprofits into Silence


Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s interim charge on union dues is meant to examine why unions, who largely

donate to democrats, are able to collect employee dues using government resources, before employees even see their pay.

During the 84th Legislative Session pro-union House Speaker Joe Straus and his band of liberal republicans killed SB 1968, deemed the “Paycheck Protection Bill”, which would have stopped the corrupt alliance between unions and politicians.

Despite support for the bill from a number of statewide conservative organizations and grassroots leaders, State Rep. Byron Cook (R-Corsicana), who is politically indebted to Straus, killed the bill in his State Affairs Committee claiming it was filled with procedural errors.

Thankfully, Patrick is having the senate, which did pass the paycheck protection bill last session, examine this practice and determine a course of action.

The charge specifically says, “Examine the practice of using public funds and employees for the payment processing of union dues. Make recommendation on whether Texas should end this practice.” And hopefully they do make that recommendation.

Governments shouldn’t be able to use public resources to assist any private entity or industry, especially one with a longstanding habit of donating the funds it collects to one political party.

Following the death of the bill Americans for Prosperity said, “By allowing the paycheck protection bill to die, the Legislature missed a great opportunity to continue improving the state’s business climate.”

Ultimately Speaker Straus and his coalition of liberal Republicans turned their backs on all Texans and allowed unions to gain a stronger hold on the state. This shouldn’t come as a surprise, however, since Straus was one of the only two Republican lawmakers in the top-15 beneficiaries of union donations in the state of Texas.

Patrick Wants Union Dues Examination


BY JOSEPH WADE MILLER

Let me demonstrate the Republican establishment playbook with a thought exercise:

1. Let’s suppose that the conservative movement wants to attack the Democrat addiction to corporate welfare. We want to do this because it’s a winning narrative based on facts that will resonate with more than just the base, while also demoralizing the left’s base. For all the talk by the establishment of expanding the umbrella and growing the party, this is a perfect way of doing that.

2. Conservatives create a fight on this issue, present research on why corporate welfare is bad, work with the activist community to make sure they have technically accurate talking points, and then press the attack.

3. Some Republicans are bad on this issue, so instead of sitting down with conservatives to better understand the problem and correct their position to better align with Republican principles and the platform itself, they instead point at conservatives and claim that they want perfection, that they are unreasonable purists, and that “outside groups” are paid agitators who simply want to fundraise off of the conflict and emotional anger.

4. Even though the Republican establishment’s policy stance is both technically and philosophically wrong they instead pick a fight with conservatives

on the issue. The establishment disregards the fact that the strategy was developed specifically as an opportunity for Republicans to unite and expose the soft underbelly of Democrats who are particularly vulnerable to this line of attack, which would push away their independent and moderate voters while demoralizing their base.

5. This isn’t an isolated chain of events. On literally any major policy fight conservatives want to engage on, there is a considerable number of establishment Republicans who oppose conservative policy efforts and stand with Democrats. From education, transportation, healthcare, government agencies, spending, appropriations, entitlements, welfare, the list goes on.

6. This creates a dynamic where no matter what issue conservatives want the party to engage on the establishment has the default position of attacking conservatives, and if not directly standing with Democrats, “conveniently” using the same talking points that Democrats are using.

7. When it proves politically impossible for establishment Republicans to directly disagree with the policy fight that conservatives want, they resort instead to claiming that it’s merely a disagreement of strategy, not policy. They then conveniently work in tandem with Democrats to attack conservatives, but from two different angles.

8. Even worse, when the establishment can’t deny the policy position or convincingly attack the strategy of the conservatives, they will arrange for procedural gimmicks which bring forward bills designed to fail and that have no leverage so that after these “show votes” they can mislead conservatives into thinking they have actually tried to take action. The hope is that a considerable amount of people won’t understand the complicated floor procedures and rules, which would expose their ploy. This third pillar of the establishment’s blueprint for opposing conservatives is the most dishonest and manipulative of them all.

9. This creates an establishment “strategy” whereby no matter what conservatives are trying to do, there is an reason not to and an excuse to marginalize the conservative wing of the party by working with Democrats, while keeping in place the crony status quo preferred by K-street lobbyists and the DC cartel.

10. Literally every attempt by conservatives to improve policy and expand the party, by default, becomes an opportunity for the establishment to blame conservatives instead of Democrats.

This is why the Republican Party has no major legislative accomplishment in the last year. The Republican establishment routinely looks to work with Democrats, if not directly, to coordinate a 1-2 punch against conservative efforts. This has led to a majority of Republican voters with no confidence in current party leadership.

Of course, the response that the establishment would have to this post is that I’m a paid outside agitator. This despite the fact that I can demonstrate this on policy fight after policy fight, and regardless of the fact that everyone knew that I was a Tea Party conservative before I accepted this position that would pay much less that I could get in the private sector. They would still default to the blueprint above and insist that instead of attacking Republicans (as if I wouldn’t much rather be attacking Democrats) I should be attacking Democrats, or that I’m only doing this to fundraise.

All of that is to say that the establishment sticks to this blueprint, and so long as it does, the Republican Party is weaker for it. Voters will become increasingly demoralized and elections will become harder to win, thus leading to a self fulfilling prophecy that prevents serious policy reforms necessary to preserve our liberties and a solvent limited government.

Logically then the only course of action for those who support the Republican Party, the Republican platform, and Republican principles, is to shine a light on those playing this game. Accountability measures must be used to affect the change necessary to make it possible for conservatives to unite behind conservative principles and press the attack on Democrats by forcing a debate on their failed policies and ways to reform or repeal them.

My advice: relish the charge of being called an agitator, and get out there and agitate.

noted after the Session – would have enabled legislators to sue citizens, acquire a prior restraint against circulation of the recording, and acquire a $10,000 statutory award from the citizen as a penalty for the unauthorized recording.

The APF reporter asked Huberty twice on the video whether it is appropriate for legislators to date their staff or lobbyists and Huberty agreed that it was “absolutely” inappropriate.

These questions about relationships between legislators, staff, and lobbyists come in the context of persistent but unverified rumors around the Texas Capitol that Huberty has engaged in extramarital affairs. It is unknown if the American Phoenix Foundation has captured any video that would confirm the truth of any of the rumors. However, sources in District 127 have confirmed

that Huberty has been attempting to prepare supporters and other community leaders that video may be released that shows him engaged in inappropriate activities.

In the video, Huberty bizarrely and repeatedly asks the APF reporter if he “would like to speak with [Huberty’s] wife.”

Scandals don’t always result in electoral defeat. In places like Chicago and Louisiana, there have been many politicians who have been exposed for professional and personal corruption yet they have been reelected.

Now the question is presented to the voters in House District 127: Dan Huberty has embarrassed himself and brought dishonor to his office. Will his voters now allow his dishonor to be reflected on them?

*Go to TexasScorecard.com to see the video as well as to see how your legislator voted on Senate Bill 19 and its anti-filming provision.

exaggeration.Such preposterous “reforms” only

squelch speech by increasing the compliance costs, causing people to instead simply opt not to speak at all. The burdens associated with commenting on the government become so onerous that the citizenry actually stops speaking freely.

As Texas Right to Life’s in-house counsel, I prefer to spend my time in consultation with constitutional lawyers, exploring new ways to dismantle Roe v. Wade. However, due to the TEC, I must reallocate my time to these absurd assaults on freedom of speech. Our team routinely has to decide between remaining silent or telling Pro-Life citizens about their anti-Life state representative and then dealing with the undoubtedly forthcoming legal attacks from political

operatives through a state agency. And our donors would have to pay the resulting litigation costs.

Texas Right to Life staff and donors work for and support Texas Right to Life because we seek to right the injustices upon the preborn, people with disabilities, and the elderly. Unfortunately, liberal Republicans in state government do not want Texas Right to Life telling their disabled constituents that these are the very officials who jeopardize their lives. So these liberals who face challengers in the Republican primary try to limit how we can share their voting records and their actions with voters, what words we can use, how we pay for these communiqués, and how/if we must report these activities to the very agency trying to silence us with its contrived rules.

This is Texas, not California. Who knew that we would be battling for even the right to speak about Life in Texas? Well, we are.

TAPEfrom PAGE 4

COMPLIANCEfrom PAGE 4

Opening the Establishment Playbook


LOOKING FORWARD WITH GREAT HOPES

Many look forward to the final years of home schooling with mixed emotions, including anticipation and excitement. One hopes to see a combination of the parents’ and several home school co-op teachers’ teaching pay off, as the student excels as a writer, is more than proficient in math, and on top of all of this, has acquired a strong passion for learning. More specifically, imagine your student’s passion is biochemistry. Heading to the final year, your student looks forward to walking across the stage at the graduation ceremony. Things are looking good! Your child scored well on the SAT and has applied to half a dozen universities. On the top of the list is the best public university for biochemistry in Texas.

Unfortunately, however, your high-achieving student soon receives a letter in the mail stating a denied admission to the first choice university. “How could this be?!” you ask yourself. The transcript proves straight A scores

through the high school years with an exceptional arsenal of extracurricular activities, including internships and volunteer hours. The SAT score qualifies as just as well as or better than most other students applying to the same school. What could possibly have caused the denial letter?

REALITY OF DISCRIMINATIONFor years now, many of the

admissions offices of public universities and colleges in the state of Texas have discriminated against non-traditional students such as home schoolers. In many different cases they made it increasingly more difficult for these students to gain admission, and they did this by requiring different or higher standardized test scores from these non-traditional students.

FINALLY, EQUALITY FOR HOME SCHOOL GRADUATES

In 2015, during the 84th Texas Legislature, THSC collaborated with Sen. Charles Perry and his staff to fix this problem once and for all. Together, we drafted Senate Bill 1543, also known

as the Equal College Opportunity bill, intending to prevent public colleges and universities in Texas from discriminating against home school students and other non-traditional students. By passing this bill, THSC ensured that the same opportunities were given to every home school student that were afforded to the public school student, specifically including acceptance to these higher educational institutions.

This bill does two very important things:

Prohibit higher test scores for non-traditional students

Some admissions offices of public universities and colleges blatantly required non-traditional students, such as home school graduates, to score higher than the average accredited high school graduate in order to gain admission.

Prohibit randomly assigning a default class rank to non-traditional students

Previously, many of those same colleges and universities assigned a class rank under the 50th percentile to

non-traditional students. Now, the school would have to place the non-traditional student in the same class rank in which an accredited school graduate with the same standardized test scores would be placed.

SUCCESS FOR TEXAS FAMILIESThese two changes create an equal

playing field for home schoolers and other non-traditional students in comparison to traditional public school students. THSC wants to ensure Texas families equal opportunity for their students. We want your children to succeed in pursuing their passions and not have unfair and undue obstacles in the process.

In May 2015, Senate Bill 1543 passed through the Texas House of Representatives and the Texas Senate unanimously, and Governor Abbott recently signed this bill into Texas law. THSC firmly believes that home school students are capable of accomplishing many incredible things and, regardless of whether they have graduated already, we truly believe that it is our duty and our responsibility to protect the rights of every Texas home schooler.

Are some incumbent Republicans pretending to support Ted Cruz for President

in order to appear conservative to their voters? For three Texas state representatives, that seems to be the only logical explanation for the endorsements they have made.

Cruz recently released a list of state lawmakers backing his presidential bid. Most on the list, undoubtedly, sincerely support the junior senator from Texas. But, based on their own records, others appear to be making the endorsement in order to bolster their own non-existent conservative bona fides.

Consider, for instance, state representatives Wayne Smith (R–Baytown), John Zerwas (R–Richmond), and John Raney (R–

College Station). All three are listed as officially endorsing Cruz, yet their records suggest they support policies diametrically opposed to the Cruz agenda.

Since going to Washington, Cruz has made the repeal of ObamaCare the centerpiece of his senatorial and presidential agendas. Yet Smith, Zerwas, and Raney all supported the ObamaCare Medicaid expansion in Texas. Even when other Republicans backtracked on their vote, Smith, Zerwas, and Raney stood by their votes in support of ObamaCare.

And while Raney and Zerwas are silent on the issue, Smith has the nerve to claim on his website that he opposes the implementation of ObamaCare in Texas!

Some politicians will say anything on the campaign trail in order to get elected. That is why it is so important to look to the voting records of elected officials – to see where they really stand and who they really represent.

Two Great Changes for Home School GraduatesBY STEPHEN HOWSLEY TEXAS HOME SCHOOL COALITION

Using Cruz for CoverBY TONY McDONALD EMPOWERTEXANS.COM



FIND MORE NEWS ONLINE AT www.EmpowerTexans.com

Despite having failed taxpayers throughout her legislative tenure, State Rep. Susan King (R –

Abilene) is asking voters for a promotion to the State’s upper chamber.

Recently, King formally announced her candidacy for State Senate District 24’s Republican Primary. The seat was vacated by Sen. Troy Fraser (R-Horseshoe Bay) earlier this year when he announced he would not be seeking re-election, resulting in a crowded field of at least seven candidates vying for the seat.

Many of them have never held elected office previously, giving voters in SD 24 a real opportunity (after careful vetting) to choose among them a citizen-leader to represent them in Austin.

But they can also choose to be

A state game warden will keep his job, badge and gun, despite repeated poaching violations,

which are felonies under state law. Critics of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) also allege the agency may have made a fraudulent Worker’s Comp claim on behalf of the warden.

In 2013, Game Warden Chris Fried was accidentally shot by a stray bullet while reportedly poaching on public land – an illegal act. Since then, Fried has admitted wrongdoing and expressed remorse, although internal documents revealed he committed three other poaching violations the very same year.

The TPWD only charged Fried with a Class C misdemeanor related to the 2013 incident, even though repeated poaching violations should have automatically resulted in felony charges and jail time if convicted, according to Chapter 61.002 of

“Early indications are that Chris was hunting when he was shot by another hunter and was not on duty at the time of the accident.”

A few days later, the story changed. The same game warden sent another email to two TPWD officials: “Based on what we know Chris’s incident happened while he was working so we need to start on the paperwork [for special benefits]…for being injured in the line of duty.”

The undisputed facts are, that despite Fried repeatedly breaking the law, he failed to face felony charges and risk losing his job. In doing so, the state has chosen to serve its own interests, not that of its citizens. But circumstantial evidence, internal TPWD communication, and an independent investigation also suggest the agency may have participated in insurance fraud to avoid further scrutiny surrounding the incident.

It’s shameful enough that a peace officer violated his oath of office by breaking the very laws he’s sworn to enforce. Even more troubling, is the allegation that an agency charged with serving the public may have also aided in a cover-up to “protect its own.”


BY GREG HARRISON EMPOWERTEXANS.COM

the Parks and Wildlife Code.TPWD claims Fried hasn’t received

preferential treatment, citing other illegal hunts that resulted in misdemeanor charges. Fried’s case is notably different in two regards—he is an officer of the law and a repeat offender.

The motive for authorities to inappropriately charge Fried with a misdemeanor is simple. Doing so would allow him to remain employed in law enforcement, according to an exception in Chapter 53 of the Occupations Code. The TPWD would also be enabled to file a worker’s comp claim on behalf of Fried.

Unsurprisingly, an internal investigation defended the legitimacy of the agency’s insurance claim, which is largely based off of Fried’s own statements. Notably, he admitted to being off-duty and illegally hunting, but conveniently “transitioned into law enforcement mode” after hearing nearby gunfire, and before being shot.

An external investigation conducted by the Texas Rangers tells a different story, saying Fried was “off-duty hunting” when he was shot. This distinction is significant since state law exempts workers’ comp claims if they “arose out of voluntary

participation in an off-duty recreational, social, or athletic activity that did not constitute part of the employee’s work-related duties.”

If Fried was off-duty while shot, the Workers’ Comp claim should have been denied. Furthermore, if the claim was knowingly filed inappropriately by the TPWD, then the agency made a fraudulent insurance claim.

The agency had another reason to back the warden’s version of the story. If Fried gave a “false or misleading statement” or misrepresented or concealed a “material fact” to law enforcement, he could face another state jail felony charge, according to Chapter 418 of the Labor Code.

The TPWD has since attempted to block the release of internal communication around the time of the incident, raising further suspicion of wrongdoing.

Recently, the Attorney General’s office ordered the release of more than one hundred pages of documents, including Wildlife Department emails. Among them was an email sent by a game warden major in northeast Texas the night of the 2013 shooting. It reads:

Self-Serving State Agency Fails Texans

represented by a member of the Straus-led coalition of moderates and Democrats by elevating King to the Senate.

First elected to the seat for Texas’ House District 71 in 2006, King has demonstrated a stronger connection with the Austin establishment than with actual conservatives throughout her tenure, earning a cumulative ‘F’ score on the Fiscal Responsibility Index. By comparison, Fraser, the second-longest serving Republican Senator at the time, had a career score of ‘C.’

This past session, King supported increasing her own pension, a continuation of the Texas Enterprise Fund (a corporate welfare slush fund), and unconstitutional regulations on political speech. As a state senator, she’ll have even greater power to push her anti-taxpayer agenda.

Republican Primary candidates will go to great lengths during the season to illustrate their connection with the conservative principles voters want. King has repeatedly demonstrated a disconnect from those principles, and voters would be wise not to give her a promotion.

Susan King Seeks to Continue Failing Record in Senate


After being ignored by the Board of Trustees and other school officials, Frank Hodges a 34-year

HISD employee, turned to the where he thought he could find resolution to the problem—the district’s Chief Audit Executive, Richard Patton. However, much like the other district officials, Patton did nothing.

Hodges released emails between himself and Patton where he alerted the chief auditor of the abuse he saw going on in the district, but Patton, displaying a cavalier attitude, brushed off concerns.

As recent as January 21st of 2015, Hodges reached out to Patton saying, “Can you please give me a date when we are going to meet to discuss my allegations of Waste, Mismanagement and Life Safety issues with HISD?”

Patton responded:“Please provide how you came up with

your concerns and your level of expertise to make the allegations. In your opinion, do you think anyone in the District is at harm or risk of imminent danger as a result of your concerns? Can you provide me objective evidence to support your allegations?”

“In your opinion, what is the name of the person within HISD who is most knowledgeable of the situation or is directly responsible for the remediation of the issue?”

In an email responding to Patton’s inquires, Hodges said:

“I have previously provided voluminous amounts of correspondence, reports, photos and letters documenting dozens of known construction hazards, substandard construction and badly leaking HISD Bond Project Buildings.”

“I’ve offered to [assist] for several years, to date HISD has not contacted me, or followed up on my reports. I have been directly threatened with possible discipline and termination as a result of

reporting these problems in good faith.”“There are many instances where

students and teachers are in imminent danger due to the substandard construction. Some schools have coal tar pitch dripping on to the ground and to the outdoor seating areas, CTP is a classified carcinogen.”

“…I can tell you that I have made these issues very clear to CFS Management, Bond Program Management, HISD Legal, outside Legal, HISD COO, and the Superintendent.”

In complete disregard to all claims made, Patton responds saying, “I am not sure I understand your current role within HISD or if you are responsible for these areas currently.”

Lastly saying, “If you have shared your concerns with the numerous parties mentioned in your letter, I feel confident that any concerns will be addressed in a manner to protect HISD, its personnel, and the student population.”

Hodges’ last letters express that he felt

compelled to report these issues because it’s HISD policy. The district’s policies don’t prevent employees from reporting serious concerns based on their duties nor should their “level of expertise” discredit a claim that students’ safety is at risk. All HISD employees should be expected to report any issue they find regardless of its connection to their role without the fear of repercussion. And furthermore, the internal audit office should take these claims seriously and investigate their legitimacy immediately.

When the Chief Audit Executive will ignore allegations of waste, mismanagement, and potential safety issues because of his alleged confidence in fellow HISD officials, it signals a lack of meaningful oversight and a dereliction of duty. Hodges was brave enough to speak out about the issues he knew existed. Imagine the number of employees witnessing other examples of waste and mismanagement, but are afraid to make it known because of threats similar to what Hodges faced?

Whistleblowers exposing corruption, incompetence and waste should be rewarded, not punished.

A Houston school district employee is refuting claims that school board members were unaware of

problems with the district’s bond program.

Frank Hodges, a 34-year HISD employee, recently sent an email to Board President Rhonda Skillern-Jones and Audit Committee Chair Trustee Juliet Stipeche to refute their claims of ignorance.

Mr. Hodges’ letter states:“For several years I worked on

numerous HISD Bond Construction projects, including many brand new replacement facilities. I personally observed what I believe was gross waste and mismanagement on many of the HISD Bond Projects, involving millions of dollars of defective, substandard construction that did not meet codes or specifications.”

Hodges, who worked in the Construction & Facilities Services (CFS) department, went on to address over-budgeted construction projects, substandard work, and payments for services that were never provided. This

information directly contradicts the district’s claims that inflation and costs of construction caused the $211 million shortfall of the 2012 bond program.

Once news of the shortfall broke, Superintendent Terry Grier quickly stated that he alerted the board of the financial woes nearly a year ago. At the same time, Trustees are calling for internal and external audits because they want someone to be held accountable. Meanwhile, Hodges says that he has been reporting these ongoing issues to all parties for years.

“I’ve reported this many times, all the way through the chain of command, including Superintendent Grier and the HISD Board, as recently as 2014-2015. I included photographs, engineering reports, and repair bids to fix the shoddy work. There was no response...”

“I also reported the information of waste, mismanagement, and resulting safety issues to the HISD Audit Department, directly to Richard Patton. To date I have never been interviewed, and no one has contacted me to audit or investigate the information I submitted.”

Hodges says that not only were his concerns repeatedly ignored, but his occupational duties were reduced as his efforts to address the waste went on. Just as HISD officials are doing everything to

Recently, a Houston school district employee refuted claims that the district’s board was unaware of

ongoing problems with budget and contracting practices. Now, a longtime HISD vendor, Charter Roofing, is also saying they too alerted Audit Committee Chair Trustee Juliet Stipeche about problems they found with bond project schools. And like everyone else, she ignored their concerns.

Charter Roofing presented a letter they sent to Stipeche shortly after the Rusk Elementary School’s partial roof collapse. Not only is this school in Stipeche’s district, but she was the Vice President of the Board of Trustees at the time.

Starting in 2003 and until 2010 HISD contracted Charter to provide field inspections and repair proposals for roofs at Rusk Elementary. As early as 2003 their inspections revealed failed roofing in need of full replacement.

The letter says:“We submitted several replacement

proposals to HISD to address the failed roofs at Rusk, and our bids included replacement of the deteriorated roof decking… We mention this now because recent statements by HISD that the deteriorated roof decking wasn’t previously known or ‘couldn’t have been foreseen.’ This sort of misunderstanding can come back and haunt a roofing contractor, so we want the record to be clear that we advised HISD about the need to address the failed decking years ago.”

This letter was sent the day after a Chronicle article quoting Trustee Stipeche on the school’s roofs collapse, “We can’t allow these things to go on… I want to find out who dropped the ball on this.” Just as she feigned ignorance on the shortfall with the 2012 bond funds, she did years ago with Rusk Elementary. And we now know that she was alerted in advance in both instances.

“We want to be sure that the record is clear on this matter, that Charter did indeed inform HISD with timely, accurate information regarding campuses with defective, failing or potentially dangerous roof or building conditions, similar to those at Rusk.”

“Comprehensive summaries describing a wide variety of roofing issues, including inspection reports and photos, were

HOUSTON AREA

Houston ISD Auditor Ignored WhistleblowerBY CHARLES BLAIN EMPOWERTEXANS.COM



HISD Employee Speaks Out HISD Vendor Forewarned Construction Problems

SEE HISD — PAGE 9 SEE VENDOR — PAGE 9


cover up this most recent failure, they did everything to cover up previous ones and attempted to silence those who felt it was their duty to speak out.

To date, the Trustees claim no knowledge, and have not held anyone accountable. But as Hodges’ efforts show, by ignoring claims, and allowing the administration to run roughshod, the Trustees are directly responsible.

provided directly to Leo Bobadilla, Dan Bankhead, Willie Burroughs, Joel Falcon, HISD IG, HISD Inside Legal Counsel, and Coats, Rose Law Firm, over a period from 2008-2013.”

The letter goes on to explain that because of the repeated reporting, Charter felt HISD was blacklisting them, which wouldn’t be the first time whistleblowers regarding HISD’s internal problems have been treated punitively. “Our fear is that we are being outcast and punished because we were compelled to report the roof issues up the chain of command.”

Twice now Trustee Stipeche has blatantly lied about having no knowledge of an issue that she was in a unique position to help prevent. In addition, it further illustrates HISD’s disastrous environment of opaque government where accountability is dodged and those who seek to earnestly remedy the associated problems are not only ignored, but scorned.

It’s widely known that city officials’ funny numbers understate debt costs in the Bayou City. Continuing the

dissection of the pension problem, it’s important look at how officials use inflated projected returns on investment (ROI) to understate pension debt.

When discussing Houston pension systems the number $3.1 billion gets thrown around a lot. While it is correct, in a sense, looking into how that figure is constructed unveils a larger issue.

Houston’s three pension systems have a debt of $3.1 billion. It comes as a result of postponed and reduced payments, market downturns, and unfulfilled promises from past politicians. The problem is, as more benefits were promised and payments were missed, the debt grew, but the funding plan remained the same.

Along with a funding plan that doesn’t maintain a sustainable repayment schedule, officials use a percentage for ROI on the city’s retirement plans that’s speculative at best. According to Public Plans Data, a project of The Center for Retirement Research (CRR) at Boston College, the national average percentage used for public retirement plan’s ROI is closer to 7.5%. Houston uses a projected rate of 8.5% for Firefighters and Municipal employees, and 8% on police pensions. A number that many say relies more on hope than fact.

A report issued by the Arnold Foundation adjusted Houston’s ROI percentages to that of the average, which

helps illustrate the severity of the issues the city will face when it has to come to term with market realities. The highest percentage plans, which also happened to have one of the highest percentages of any plan nationwide, are Fire and Municipal at 8.5%. At that high rate the plans are only 75% funded, and the police pension is only 72% funded. These percentages are what the city has the ability to pay.

As this graph shows, Houston has steadily been above the national average in pension funding ratio, but over recent years that number has dropped.

HOUSTON AREA



VENDORfrom PAGE 8

HISDfrom PAGE 8 Over-Promised Pension Returns

When adjusted to the 7.5% return on investment rate, the funded ratio drops to 67%, and even further to 63% when calculated at 7%. Also, to highlight the disparity in the numbers, at 7% Houston’s pensions go from the current $3.1 billion to $6.2 billion. So while their factitiously inflated numbers look bad enough, when you adjust them to accurately reflect the market, it’s worse than expected.

The Arnold Foundation said, “The city is taking on more risk than ever before and is setting itself up for a disaster in the event of an economic slowdown.” Attention is focusing in on Houston’s pension problem, but rhetoric serves no benefit when elected officials refuse to pursue actionable reforms to bring local control back to pensions.

An audit released recently by the Office of State Auditor John Keel details some major

accountability problems with the Major Events Trust Fund (METF) from its creation in 2003 to this year. Though not exactly shocking, the audit identified key weaknesses with the process by which funds are disbursed and subsequently analyzed that present serious questions about both the administration of the METF and the program’s overall merit.

The Major Events Trust Fund

(METF) is an incentive program, which provides funds taken from incremental tax receipts to the organizers of major events in order to attract them to host in the state. Notable examples include Super Bowl XLV in Arlington — which received $26 million out of the fund, or the Circuit of the Americas Racetrack, which was the beneficiary of a cool $29 million in taxpayer handouts.

Most glaringly, the audit revealed inaccuracies in calculating disbursements which —spoiler alert— caused them to err on the generous side. According to their model demonstration of the process using an actual sporting event, “auditors determined that 22 percent of the total funding that would have been approved for that major event was caused by the inclusion of tax types that were not

permissible.”In addition, the audit noted it was

impossible to even determine the economic impact of the events in question and as a result, the return on investment, stating that it is, “difficult to isolate the economic effect of a major event.”

In spite of the METF’s most passionate defenders, the audit details additional issues with accountability which reveal the METF for what it has always been: a corporate welfare slush-fund blindly allocated to big businesses under the guise of economic development. Many will recall an unconstitutional bill during this past session that would have made retroactive reimbursements to NASCAR out of the fund, prompting a heated debate between State Rep. David

Simpson (R-Longview), who called it on point of order, and State Rep. Jason Isaac (R-Dripping Springs), who defended the bill. Isaac made himself somewhat of an unconstitutional stalwart in his defense of slush-funds throughout the session, even going so far as to punitively offer an amendment against State Rep. Matt Rinaldi (R-Irving) for attempting to end the film subsidies program which would have, in effect, isolated the City of Irving from the program.

Without real oversight, incentive programs such as the METF are merely solutions in search of problems, coming directly from the school of thought that believes government somehow creates wealth — reckless thinking that is contrary to the findings of the audit, the RPT platform, and reality.

AUDIT: Major Events ‘Slush’ Fund


Is this what Texas House leadership had in mind when they tried to pass laws banning the release of

undercover videos in the Texas Capitol?The American Phoenix Foundation

has finally released one of their long-awaited undercover videos taken of legislators during the recent legislative session. The organization is headed by Hannah Giles and her husband Joe Basel. The pair worked with James O’Keefe on his video takedown of ACORN before moving to Texas to start their own organization.

The new video is even more shocking than expected, and might explain why powerful House lawmakers hijacked Governor Abbott’s ethics legislation in an attempt to prohibit the release of the tapes.

In the video, State Rep. Harold Dutton, a Democrat appointed to Chair the Juvenile Justice and Family Issues Committee by House Speaker Joe Straus, shares a story involving an Austin lobbyist, billionaire attorney Joe Jamail, a Texas sheriff, organized crime, and a solicitation to commit murder.

Dutton’s story centers around his interaction with powerful Austin lobbyist Nick Kralj. Once the owner of the swanky Quorum Club, a restaurant and nightclub near the Capitol frequented by lobbyists

and state lawmakers in the 70s and 80s, Kralj is now a consultant and lobbyist who works out of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association Building. Infamous left-wing political columnist Molly Ivins once called Kralj one of former Lt. Gov. Bob Bullock’s “reprehensible friends,” and shared a story of the two drunkenly shooting roaches with pistols in the basement of the Quorum Club.

Dutton calls Kralj his “forever friend,” and explains on the video that Kralj owns dozens of firearms and has given a number of guns to Dutton as gifts. “Nick has a fifty caliber machine gun, aimed at the Capitol, with all the bullets on it,” Dutton told his companions on the video.

Dutton recounts on the tape that when he asked billionaire attorney Joe Jamail who employed Kralj, Jamail told him he believed Kralj worked for the Joe Bonanno crime family of New York – one of the “five families” of the New York mafia. After sharing that tidbit on the video, Dutton nodded, and then said, “that makes sense.”

In his story, Dutton and Kralj traveled together by private plane to Galveston where they were picked up and personally chauffeured by long-time Galveston County Sheriff Joe Max Taylor.

According to sources in Galveston, while serving as Sheriff, Joe Max Taylor was privately employed by the Moody family before “switching sides” to work for billionaire restaurateur Tilman Fertitta.

The Moodys and Fertitta have had a very public feud in Galveston over such issues as the location of the local convention center and are rumored to be the two competing interests likely to operate a casino on the island if pro-gambling interests are ever able to pass a broad expansion of gambling through the legislature.

After dropping off Kralj at a location in Galveston, Dutton claims Taylor told him, “Riding with me you can do just about anything you want to. Let me know what you want to do.” Dutton responded, “I don’t have anything special I want to do.” And then Taylor replied, “Riding with me you can even kill somebody if you want to.”

To that, Dutton laughed in disbelief, and told his companions on the video, “I thought, I don’t want to kill anybody either. I just – I was just trying to get back to Austin. I had no idea what was going on.”

When first confronted about the video by The Daily Caller, Dutton initially claimed he had never met Joe Max Taylor. Then, after seeing the video, Dutton changed his tune, claiming he made the whole story up as a joke.

In his interview, Kralj agreed that the story must be a joke, and called Jamail’s claims he was connected to organized crime “pure bullshit.” Joe Max Taylor refused to comment.

When it was revealed in April that the American Phoenix Foundation had been filming legislators in the Capitol and in the bars and restaurants around Austin, it was alleged that the organization had collected over 800 hours of video. This video is the first of what may be many videos released showing the relationships

Lawmaker Caught on Tape: “You Can Kill Somebody If You Want”


between legislators, lobbyists, and powerful interests in Austin and around Texas.

After House lawmakers learned of the undercover video project, they proceeded to try to bully the American Phoenix Foundation into silence.

State Rep. Byron Cook (R–Corsicana), the chairman of the powerful State Affairs Committee, hijacked Governor Abbott’s comprehensive ethics legislation – Senate Bill 19 – and inserted a provision in it designed to ban citizens from filming legislators in the state capitol building.

The anti-filming provision would have given lawmakers the right to sue citizens who film or record them in the Capitol without their consent, get an injunction against release of the tapes, and secure a $10,000 statutory penalty and attorneys fees from the citizen. Even worse, the provision would have been retroactive to 1985, the year of Basel’s birth, and would have effectively made the release of videos shot by the organization illegal.

It is unclear whether Cook and other House lawmakers knew about the tape involving Dutton, Kralj, Jamail, Taylor, and the comment about getting away with murder when they passed the amended version of Senate Bill 19. The bill was destined to be struck down as unconstitutional for its blatant violations of the Texas and US constitutions, but thankfully Senate Republicans did not allow the measure to pass.

Undoubtedly more videos will be released by the American Phoenix Foundation in coming weeks and months.

*Go to TexasScorecard.com to see the video as well as to see how your legislator voted on Senate Bill 19 and its anti-filming provision.

The Dallas City Council recently voted 14-1 to increase taxes on taxpayers next year. Over the last

decade, city tax collections increased by a whopping thirty eight percent, when measured on a per-resident basis. Despite the sharp increase, city politicians claim it simply isn’t enough.

In typical grow-government-for-any-reason fashion, officials are continuing the historic trend of knee-jerk tax hikes, which have hit low and fixed income taxpayers the hardest.

Only one council-member, Lee Kleinman (District-11), voted against next

year’s tax increase. He emphasized the importance of opposing unnecessary tax hikes.

In addition to increasing property tax revenue, Kleinman noted a significant rise in sales tax revenue in recent years. He also stressed the need for Dallas to reduce its dependency on costly debt by gradually transitioning to a “pay as you go” city, an approach that would set aside excess tax revenue for large, one-time infrastructure needs.

We’ve previously exposed how politicians often increase taxes arbitrarily, rather than in response to rising costs or justifiable needs.

Common-sense observers may be shocked by Dallas’ tax-hiking history. According to city records, Dallas’ property tax collections over the last decade have grown nearly ten times faster than its population (43% vs 4%). Specifically, their

population-adjusted property tax collections grew thirty-eight percent (from $387 to $532 per resident), between 2005 and 2014.

But rising property values don’t fully account for this revenue boom. Over the same period, the city also raised the tax rate by eleven percent, hitting taxpayers with a double tax-hike. Rising land values weren’t lucrative enough for city officials, as they chose to tax the appreciating land at a higher rate.

It’s worth noting that property tax rates are really two separate rates; one for city operations (M&O), and the other for the repayment of debt (I&S). Since 2010, the city’s I&S rate has been declining. Officials decided that a falling I&S rate could offset a dramatic increase in the M&O rate.

As a result, the city’s operating budget has increased 25% over the last three years alone, while the population rose only six percent.

If city politicians were fiscally responsible, they could have done one of two things. At the very least, they could have allowed rising property values to increase their annual budget by keeping their M&O rate the same, while lowering the overall tax rate as the I&S rate fell automatically.

A more prudent alternative would have been to reduce the M&O rate along with the I&S rate. This would have still grown the operating budget, maintaining existing spending levels, all while limiting the increase in harmful tax burdens.

They did neither.Not only have Dallas residents paid

dramatically more for local government over time, a hike in their “budget tax” or M&O rate has unnecessarily accelerated the increase. As the saying goes, more money for big government never seems to be enough. Residents deserve better.

Dallas Raises Taxes Despite Record Revenues




One Democratic Strategist thinks he knows how John Boehner could have remained

Speaker of the United State House, and his answer is in Texas. Specifically, that Texas’ current House leadership is run not by the GOP majority, but by a coalition of Democrats and liberal Republicans.

As part of the Point/Counterpoint segment on Austin’s KVUE news, Democratic Strategist Jason Stanford responded to a question about US House Speaker John Boehner’s impending resignation from Congress:

“He should have taken the Texas model. We have a speaker here in Texas, Joe Straus. And I hate saying this, but maybe Washington needs to adopt the

Texas model here because he gets elected speaker with Democratic votes. John Boehner knew he couldn’t stay speaker unless he was willing to rely on Democratic votes. He just wasn’t willing to do that so he quit.”

Stanford, a radical left-wing Democrat, said earlier in the interview that undercover videos showing Planned Parenthood officials selling the body parts of aborted children “didn’t pass the laugh test.”

Texas House Speaker Joe Straus was elected in 2009 when a group of 11 liberal Republicans teamed up with 64 Democrats to oust Republican Speaker Tom Craddick (R–Midland). Straus has since maintained a coalition government with the Democrats, using his position to obstruct conservative reforms like pro-life legislation, spending limits, and legislation aimed at reining-in public employee labor unions.

In Washington, House Speaker John Boehner had enough shame to resign rather than form a coalition with liberal Democrats. Texas House Speaker Joe Straus has no such shame.

Democratic Strategist: Boehner Should Have Used Straus Model

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, in his third set of Interim Studies released recently, is asking the Senate to focus on

local governments. In particular, he’s charged the Inter-Governmental Relations Committee chaired by State Sen. Eddie Lucio, Jr. (D-Brownsville), to examine and improve upon the accountability, transparency, and effectiveness of our state’s cities and counties.

Patrick’s news release specifically states, “The Inter-Governmental Relations (IGR) Committee will review and identify concerns related to municipal annexation as well as maintaining the integrity of local ordinances. The IGR Committee will also look for ways to improve disaster readiness, regional cooperation and rebuilding efforts.”

Although ultimately unsuccessful, annexation reform efforts gained relatively strong momentum during the recent legislative session. SB 1639, authored by State Sen. Donna Campbell (R-New Braunfels), and HB 2221, authored by State Rep. Dan Huberty (R-Kingwood), made an effort to reform the annexation process by requiring cities to obtain the approval of voters it seeks to govern. Current law allows cities to force annexation on new property owners, which has been heavily scrutinized for its lack of accountability and disregard for citizens’ property and voting rights. Unfortunately, while SB 1639 passed out of the Senate chamber, HB 2221 died on a point of order on the House floor.

Patrick has also charged the Senate with strengthening another measure of local government accountability—ballot

disclosure. By requiring local governments to disclose the total cost of a specific debt measure on the ballot, voters would be able to make more informed decisions. Unfortunately, previous conservative attempts greater transparency, spurred by former State Comptroller Susan Combs, were defeated by the very entities that benefit from lower standards – local governments and their taxpayer-funded lobbyists.

With local government policy in mind, a contentious topic during the legislative session was the notion of “local control.” Some may recall the well-known HB 40, a bill preempting cities from enacting an ordinance that “bans, limits or otherwise regulates an oil and gas operation,” a power constitutionally vested in the legislature and the Texas Railroad Commission. This bill, among others, drew attention to the question of local versus state rule. During the session, the fallacious and insubstantial argument of “local control” was used by local government and tax-funded lobbyists to defend unlawful ordinances that undermine state law, property rights, and personal liberty.

HB 40 and Patrick’s interim charge is a reminder that local governments, just like citizens, are subject to the laws that govern them. For example, a city would not have the power to ignore Texas’ gun laws, by unilaterally declaring their jurisdiction a “gun-free zone.”

Patrick has asked the committee to examine processes used by home rule municipalities to adopt local ordinances, identify ways to improve transparency, and ensure consistency with state law in regards to local propositions.

Senate Interim Charges Holding Local Government Accountable

BY LAUREN LAWSON EMPOWERTEXANS.COM

By requiring local governments to disclose the total cost of a specific debt measure on the ballot, voters would be

able to make more informed decisions. Unfortunately, previous conservative attempts at greater transparency, spurred by former State Comptroller Susan Combs, were defeated by the very entities that benefit from lower standards – local governments and their taxpayer-funded lobbyists.


Former state rep. Bennett Ratliff is drawing fire from his opponent after Ratliff released an endorsement

from an LGBT and Muslim-outreach activist praising Ratliff for his “conservative values.”

In a press release issued by the Ratliff campaign, former Carrollton mayor Becky Miller is quoted as saying:

“Ratliff ’s conservative values and effective leadership meant that our community had a voice in Austin – we need to regain that voice and elect Bennett Ratliff our State Representative.”

In his one term as state representative, Bennett Ratliff had an extremely liberal record across a broad scope of issues, earning a 41 on the Fiscal Responsibility Index. He was one of the lowest rated Republicans amongst a low-performing caucus, on average. Ratliff ’s family has long been involved in both Texas politics and lobbying efforts, and is well known for its stands in favor of bigger government.

Ratliff was defeated in 2014 by Rep. Matt Rinaldi (R–Irving), who went on to score a 100 on the Index and earn accolades as a Taxpayer Champion.

Rinaldi was also rated at the most conservative member in the Texas House, according to a non-partisan study conducted by Rice University political science professor, Mark Jones.

Becky Miller has been an LGBT activist for over a decade and drew criticism when, as Mayor, she rode in Dallas’ 2006 gay pride parade.

In 2011, Miller called the tea party “too radical.” “I consider them extremist,” Miller told the Dallas Morning News.

Miller’s political career hit a tailspin in 2008 after national media ran stories over her alleged dishonesty about her past. Miller was eventually defeated by a Vietnam veteran who ran against her for mayor after she was exposed for lying about having a brother who died in Vietnam.

The national blog “Wonkette,” called Miller “the new lying Hillary Clinton.” The blog noted that Miller had claimed to have been engaged to Eagles frontman Don Henley while touring as a backup singer in the 70’s, but according to an Eagles spokesman, Henley had “never heard of her, doesn’t know her, [and] certainly was never engaged to her.”

Since being defeated in her reelection bid for mayor, Miller has been active in outreach to Muslims in North Texas.

Miller led a contingent from the First Baptist Church of Carrollton to the Headquarters Jamatkhana of the Shi’i Imami Ismaili Muslims in Dallas.

“It was a magnificent experience,” Miller told the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs. “As Christians, sometimes we think that everyone should be Christian, but frankly that’s just not going to happen, and doesn’t need to.”

According to the Washington-based publication, one of the “main objectives” of Miller’s visit to the Ismaili headquarters “was to explore the role of women in Islam and examine the misconceived notion that women are ill-treated.”

Miller criticized congressional hearings on religious extremism in the American Muslim community, calling them “unacceptable and uncalled for.” “Just because someone looks some way or believes something doesn’t necessarily mean they are dangerous,” said Miller.

Rinaldi’s campaign responded to the endorsement in a press release:

“When [Bennett] Ratliff was in the House, he made clear he was no conservative,” said Matt Rinaldi. “When he touts the support of an LGBT activist to highlight ‘conservative values,’ he makes clear he does not even know the meaning of the word.”

In a wide ranging poll of Texas voters, 96 percent of the Republican Party’s most likely voters consider

legislation banning “sanctuary cities” to be “very important” to them. They are similarly anxious to see the Texas legislature address real ethics reform, religious liberty, and the creeping power of the federal government.

The poll was commissioned by the Empower Texans PAC, of which I’m the treasurer. It was conducted in mid-September by the Wickers Group, a public opinion consulting firm. The poll was focused on voters likely to participate in the 2016 elections.

Voters are generally pleased with legislation passed by the Texas Senate and adopted in the Texas House, including property tax relief and “e-verify” for state agencies.

No issue polled higher with GOP voters than banning sanctuary cities. Of those planning to participate in the 2016 election, 77 percent overall say the issue is “very important to them. Some 63 percent of the general electorate similarly rated the issue as “very important.”

Two-thirds of Republican primary voters also want legislation that focuses the state’s ethics laws “on elected and appointed government officials rather than private citizens.” More than 60 percent of general election voters agreed.

The Texas Senate passed legislation doing just that this spring, but the measure was gutted in the Texas House and turned against citizens. Among the changes, the House would have forbidden citizens from filming or recording lawmakers in the Capitol without the lawmakers’ prior approval.

Gov. Greg Abbott referred to the House version of the bill as

“unconstitutional” after the session ended.

By wide margins, the Texas electorate also wants to see the state legislature do more to push back against the federal government. Nearly 60 percent of general election voters, and 86 percent of the strongest GOP voters, considered it “very important” for lawmakers to pass measures increasing “the rights of Texans to self-governance and reducing the power of the federal government.”

More than 60 percent of general election voters, and more than two-thirds (69 percent) of Republican primary voters, considered it very important for the next Legislature to pass “legislation that will protect the religious liberty of individuals, organizations and businesses, so they are never forced to act in any way that violates their sincerely-held religious beliefs.”



BY MICHAEL QUINN SULLIVAN EMPOWERTEXANS.COM

Bennett Ratliff Touts “Values” Endorsement of LGBT, Muslim-outreach Activist

Texans Ready For Results


Members of the Texas Senate are being charged by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick to study a series of issues

surrounding illegal immigration in preparation for the next legislative session. Specifically, he has directed the subcommittee on Border Security to study cooperation with local law enforcement and governments, the feasibility of an interstate compact, and approaches to dealing with the problem of sanctuary cities.

On the subject of cooperating with local law enforcement, the charges order the Subcommittee to “Study local government efforts to secure their border communities and identify areas where the state could invest to bolster local law enforcement infrastructure and activities. Review the challenges faced by state and local law enforcement when providing border security, including the Federal Priority Enforcement Program.”

On that note, there was a bill (HB 592 by State Rep. Matt Krause) last session that would have provided a mechanism for local law enforcement cooperation in the Federal “Secure Communities” Program—a deportation program that prioritizes the most dangerous offenders. Unfortunately, it met its death in State Affairs, where—like so many other bills addressing border security— Chairman State Rep. Byron Cook (R-Corsicana) killed it.

Regarding “Sanctuary Cities,” Patrick directs the Subcommittee to, “Study the various sanctuary cities statewide, the number and types of crimes committed by previously arrested illegal immigrants within the jurisdiction of a “sanctuary policy,” and possible solutions to discourage governmental entities from putting in place policies that conflict with immigration laws.”

Unfortunately, the greatest barrier to any meaningful reform isn’t a lack of information, but a lack of conviction.

During the 84th Session, there was a direct attempt at remedying this issue in the form of bill— HB 4117 by State Rep. Pat Fallon (R-Frisco)— that would have effectively banned cities from adopting “sanctuary” type policies. But it would also meet its end in Cook’s State Affairs Committee.

Despite obstacles in the current House leadership, it is promising that the Senate is continuing its trend of proactivity towards conservative policy solutions.

Dan Patrick Charges Senate to Study Border Security Solutions


��

Celebrating Texans!

RSVP TODAY: www.empowertexans.com

When? December 5, 2015

Where? The Gaylord TexanGrapevine, Texas

Who? Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick

...and you!

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is signaling that he will not let House leadership’s end-of-session sabotage of a major

ethics reform package stand in the way of reform efforts in 2017.

Patrick recently released an interim charge calling on the Senate Committee on State Affairs to revisit ethics disclosure for public officials in preparation for the 85th legislative session.

Specifically, Patrick charged the committee, Chaired by Sen. Joan Huffman (R–Houston), with reviewing the following issues:

Ethics: Review current ethics laws governing public officials and employees and recommend changes necessary to inspire the public’s confidence in a transparent and ethically principled government. Review public officials’ reporting requirements to the Texas Ethics Commission. Examine the categorization of ethics reporting violations and make recommendations to encourage accurate reporting and timely correction to inadvertent clerical errors.

Last session, at the urging of Gov. Greg Abbott, the Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 19, a comprehensive ethics

Patrick Continues Leadership on Ethics Reform



reform package focused on restoring public trust in Texas’ public officials. Amongst other reforms, as passed out of the Senate, the bill would have prohibited legislators from simultaneously being employed as lobbyists, would have ended the revolving door of legislators leaving office and immediately going to work as hired gun lobbyists, and would have required legislators to disclose the contracts they, their families, and their businesses have with government entities.

Unfortunately the leadership of the Texas House, led by House State Affairs Committee Chairman Byron Cook (R–Corsicana), attacked Abbott and the Senate’s proposal before gutting out all of the provisions listed above and replacing them with unconstitutional measures designed to suppress the First Amendment rights of citizens, businesses, civic groups, and churches.

After the House passed their butchered version of Senate Bill 19, they refused to come to the table to negotiate with the Senate, and the ethics reform package died.

Texas House Speaker Joe Straus has not yet released any interim charges for House committees. If Straus doubles down in support of Cook’s unconstitutional measures, it will be an open signal that he intends to obstruct Abbott and Patrick on ethics reform for legislators again next session.

Recently, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission Office of Inspector General

released a letter to Planned Parenthood Texas affiliates terminating their enrollment in the state’s Medicaid program, thereby eliminating the flow of state funds to abortion providers.

The termination comes directly in response to the gruesome videos released by the Center for Medical Progress, which revealed evidence of Medicaid program violations from within Planned Parenthood facilities. According to the letter released by the Office of Inspector General, those include:

Violations of Federal laws by, “altering the timing or method of an abortion,”

Failure to comply with mandatory ‘universal precautions,’ including the use of ‘protective barriers,’ required whenever anyone handles, ‘blood.’

Failing “to comply with the minimum standards that mandatory training requires with regard to these critical

public health and safety issues.”The letter goes on to state:“Our decision to terminate you and all

affiliates in Texas finds support in the extensive video evidence filmed at your facility and other Planned Parenthood affiliates across the country, including video footage of the Medical Director of PPFA who appears to not only condone such program violations but also endorse them. This suggests that the program violations recorded at your facility reflect PPFA national policy or accepted practice, which explains in part their widespread occurrence across the country among Planned Parenthood affiliates.”

The termination is consistent with Gov. Abbott’s LIFE initiative; a broader pro-life agenda announced by Abbott shortly after the first CMP videos were released. Among other things, Abbott’s LIFE initiative called for complete elimination of taxpayer funds for Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers.

“Gruesome — and potentially illegal — harvesting of baby body parts by Planned Parenthood cannot be allowed in Texas,” Gov. Abbott stated. “Treating unborn children as commodities to be sold is an abomination. The barbaric practice of harvesting and selling baby body parts must end.”

Abbott Administration Eliminates State Funding for Planned Parenthood


Texas Values Action is excited to release its first ever legislative scorecard based on the recently

completed 84th Texas Legislative Session. The 2015 Faith and Family Scorecard measures how state legislators performed on issues impacting faith and family values. Texas Values Action uses important legislative activity, including votes and bill authorship/coauthorship/sponsorship, on issues impacting religious freedom, marriage & family, and life.

The Faith and Family Scorecard is a critical education and accountability tool for Texas voters to see where legislators stood on the values that matter to Texans. The 84th Legislation Session saw progress made on defending religious freedom and life but also saw missed opportunities to more robustly protect Texans’ freedoms and liberties. It is an important time for Texans to hold elected officials accountable for their record and work to ensure that the values of faith, family, and freedom are more strongly upheld in the future.

Legislators who scored 90% (A) and above are recognized as Faith and Family Champions. In addition, honorable mention designation is given to select legislators for special leadership on a core issue.

BY DAVID WALLS TEXAS VALUES

BY LAUREN LAWSON EMPOWERTEXANS.COM

Texas Values Action releases 2015 Faith and Family Scorecard

Sen. Bob Hall

Sen. Van Taylor

Sen. Don Huffines

Sen. Paul Bettencourt

Sen. Charles Perry

Sen. Donna Campbell

Rep. Matt Krause

Rep. Scott Sanford

Rep. Jeff Leach

Rep. Matt Schaefer

Rep. James White

Rep. Scott Turner

Rep. Bryan Hughes

Rep. Matt Rinaldi

Rep. David Simpson

Rep. Tony Tinderholt

Rep. Molly White

Rep. Bill Zedler

Rep. Dustin Burrows

Rep. Mark Keough

Rep. Will Metcalf

Rep. Dennis Paul

Rep. Rodney Anderson

Rep. Dwayne Bohac

Rep. Pat Fallon

Rep. Allen Fletcher

Rep. Dan Flynn

Rep. Brooks Landgraf

Rep. Andrew Murr

Rep. Matt Shaheen

Rep. Stuart Spitzer

Rep. Jonathan Stickland

Rep. Stephanie Klick

Rep. Tom Craddick

Rep. John P. Cyrier

Honorable Mention:

Sen. Craig Estes (for leadership on Pastor Protection Law)

Rep. Tan Parker (for leadership on Pastor Protection Law)

Rep. Cecil Bell, Jr. (for leadership on State Sovereignty over Marriage Act)

TEXAS SENATE FAITH AND FAMILY CHAMPIONS:

TEXAS HOUSE FAITH AND FAMILY CHAMPIONS:

You can view the full 2015 Faith and Family Scorecard at txvaluesaction.org/scorecard

In October, Ector County welcomed a new county judge to the bench – Odessa native Ron Eckert. Susan

Redford held the seat since 2006. In July, Redford announced her decision to vacate the seat in order to take a position with the Texas Association of Counties as their Judicial Education Coordinator, resulting in Eckert’s appointment to the position by the Ector County Commissioner’s Court.

Since the July announcement, three candidates for Redford’s seat had emerged: Ron Eckert, Clay George, and Chet Bales. Ron Eckert, a graduate of Texas A&M University and the University of Texas, is an Odessa-native and currently runs a private practice law firm in town. Clay George serves as the Ector County Assistant District Attorney, is a

graduate of Harvard, Stanford, and Yale, and is a former Intelligence Officer for the Defense Intelligence Agency. Chet Bales is an Odessa-native and manages several different businesses in the area.

Back in September, all three candidates were given the opportunity to present their experiences as well as why they were the best selection for the judgeship at the Ector County Republican Women’s luncheon. Among questions presented to the three-person panel were “why should Ector County Commissioners select you for the position, what are the biggest issues our community currently faces, and what is your five year plan to solve those issues?” Eckert’s response emphasized his extensive legal and managerial experience, and his unique ties to the community. In regards to current county-wide issues and a plan to address them, he says that Ector County residents

need to regain pride for their community and that transformational leadership and encouraging citizens to get involved in their county government is needed to accomplish that. In addition, Eckert says that his five-year plan incorporates more cooperation, an effort to transform downtown Odessa, a new county courthouse without bankruptcy, and resolving the issues with Ector County jail.

Although all three candidates brought different values and experiences to the table, commissioners felt that Eckert was the best fit for the position and a unanimous vote was cast in his favor.

The position now held by Eckert is due to expire in 2018. Anyone interested in running for county judge can apply before December 15th and run in the 2016 election.

Ector County Welcomes New Judge to the BenchDON’T MISS IT!

RSVP TODAY

Empower Texans’

Third Annual Conservative Leader’s Gala

December 5, 2015Grapevine, Texas

More info at EmpowerTexans.com



Despite official statements to the contrary, a preliminary review conducted by Houston ISD’s own

Office of Internal Audit confirmed the obvious by determining that, “inflation itself is not the key driver in the request for additional [bond] funds.”

The audit’s findings directly contradict Superintendent Terry Grier’s earlier statement that the shortfall was a result of skyrocketing construction costs and inflation. Interestingly enough, the district limited the scope of the audit so that it was specifically, “not designed to identify fraud.”

Using two separate analyses, the audit found that the average inflation rate was about 8% for Houston-area construction from 2012 to 2015. HISD, however, had a reported inflation rate of 38.75% for that same time frame.

The audit identified other key factors

which contributed to the massive shortfall, including:

• Lack of competitive bidding at the sub-contractor level. Sub-contractor costs made up about $1 to $1.1 billion of the total originally approved bond budget.

• The audit identified nine contracts tagged with a “not to exceed” price tag where the maximum price was negotiated to exceed the pre-determined amount.

• The district, specifically Construction and Facility Services, did not perform a project-by-project evaluation when determining the $211 million needed to cover the shortfall. The audit notes that this leads to scope creep, and doesn’t provide an accurate picture of work completed versus what needs to be done to meet the originally promised project standards.

HISD management responded to the audit’s inherent criticisms by stating, “This Audit Report inaccurately creates a perception that mismanagement within the bond program has created a budget

Internal Audit Points to HISD Managementproblem requiring an additional $211 million in funds. That conclusion stems from flawed methodology, including insufficient data review, limited and biased research, and a profound lack of understanding of the Houston economic climate.”

Unfortunately, district management is once again trying to point and blame rather than accept responsibility and fix the problems within HISD. It is also noteworthy that HISD management doesn’t have faith in the district’s own internal audit department, saying their research was “limited and biased.”

Since the shortfall revelation, we have learned that some HISD officials were indeed alerted to instances of waste and mismanagement far enough in advance to correct the problem. Grier, who has since announced his resignation, is primarily responsible because he is the captain of HISD’s ship.

The administration’s response goes on to continue to blast their own audit office,

“The Office of Internal Audit was requested to review the accuracy of this calculation alone, but instead veers off into unsubstantiated and irresponsible allegations of bond mismanagement by CFS staff, administration, architects, program managers and contractors…CFS staff have been fiscally responsible in managing the bond program and are confident they can fulfill the District’s obligation to the students, faculty, and HISD voters with the prompt approval of the $211 million request.”

If the district had actually been fiscally responsible they would have factored in inflation costs in the original budget, and wouldn’t be currently clamoring to find hundreds of millions of dollars to fulfill promises made in the largest bond proposal in Texas school history. This is an obvious attempt by the district’s administration to deny any wrongdoing and point to nebulous “market conditions” — when all of the evidence suggests otherwise.

Surprising no one, one of State Rep. Byron Cook (R-Corsicana)’s key supporters managed to further

degenerate the political discourse recently— by tweeting out a picture of fresh feces carefully placed upon one of Texas Right to Life’s mailers endorsing Thomas McNutt. The petulant display prompted some outcry on social media — where the poopetrator actually defended his childish antics.

Politics can be a filthy business —visceral, knee-jerk reactions are to be expected. But that’s not what this is. Bafflingly enough, Cook’s lackey actually thought this was a good idea.

It’s not just evident in his articulated defense, either. The address was carefully redacted prior to taking the picture, and the feces itself appears to be carefully placed — not scooped, as his original post suggested. These considerations suggest at least some degree of forethought — even if wholly flawed.

But that’s just the kind of perspective one would expect from one of Byron Cook’s local lackeys, albeit a bit early. After all, Cook’s legislative career has been tainted with petulance — from bullying local businesses out of supporting his opponent — to punitively bastardizing ethics reform to target his detractors.

It’s often said that you are the company you keep. Those who believe Byron Cook will work to elevate the political dialogue are in for…well, a whole lot of this.

Cook’s Crappy CompanyBY GREG HARRISON EMPOWERTEXANS.COM

Cook’s legislative career has been tainted with petulance — from bullying local businesses out of supporting his

opponent — to punitively bastardizing ethics reform to target his detractors.



INSIDE

ON THE SCORECARD

PO Box 200248

Austin, TX 78720

CO

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BREE BINDER The Campus Crusader

PG 4

PG 6

CAUGHT ON TAPE: Intoxicated Legislator Restrained by DPS and Staff

Two Great Changes for Home School Graduates

PG 2 Schools Allegedly Using Illegal Voter-Targeting Scheme

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LAWMAKER CAUGHT ON TAPE: “You Can Kill Somebody If You Want”

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