Eminent Domain reform moved forward for the first time since 2005. HJR 14 will stop local governments from using blight designations to condemn blocks of perfectly good homes and businesses for economic development projects. That is good news—El Paso and other cities may be out of the downtown redevelopment business when it comes to using…
Category: Texas Politics
TX Legislature in Review: Windstorm Insurance
The windstorm insurance bill fixed the symptoms without solving the underlying problems with TWIA. General revenue is no longer at risk, but coastal policy holders are still stuck with the most expensive windstorm insurance possible and taxpayers and policyholders statewide will still have to pick up the bill That will especially be true if we…
TX Legislature in Review: Homeowners’ Insurance
Texas Department of Insurance sunset legislation would have made modest improvements to the status quo, but the failure of the TDI sunset bill means consumers will still be subject to the regulatory confusion they’ve suffered thought over the last decade or so. Unless, of course, the entire Texas Department of Insurance goes away. Something similar happened…
Property Rights Still at Risk
Four years have passed since the U.S. Supreme Court’s infamous Kelo decision, which essentially changed private property ownership from a fundamental civil right to a privilege granted by the state at its sole discretion. Texas has failed to adequately respond to this decision. The first attempt in 2005 missed the mark. In 2007, the Legislature…
Texas New Energy Taxes
A recent study estimated that proposed federal legislation aimed at decreasing greenhouse gas emissions would increase Texans electricity bills by a minimum of $10 billion. Meanwhile, the Obama administration announced new fuel standards that could cost American car buyers $19 billion a year when fully implemented. Not content with these new energy taxes on Texas…
Welcome to Texas
Dear Mr. Limbaugh: I noted your evident frustration recently with the high tax policies of New York that subject you to a punitive income tax rate anytime you step foot in the state to perform your show. I was delighted that you expressed an interest in making Texas the home of your alternate studio whenever…