September 2011
18 posts
Sen. Brian Birdwell – A True Patriot
Sunday was Patriot Day, the tenth anniversary of 9/11. Texas has our own patriot in Texas State Senator Brian Birdwell (R-Dist 22). As an Army lieutenant colonel working at the Pentagon that day, he said a trip to the restroom likely saved his life. But recovering has been a daily struggle in the decade since.
In an interview on Fox News, Sen. Birdwell recounted his brush with death, and how...
Killeen Citizens Hold City Council Accountable
Jonathan Okray, the Killeen citizen who led the recall effort against five city council members, is holding protests before each city council meeting in September and October urging citizens to call for a city government that is as fiscally responsible during these tough economic times.
He is doing this in response to the council’s decision earlier this year to pay City Manager Connie Green...
Austin City Council Values Basketball, Not...
Under the 2011-2012 Austin City Council budget, city residents can expect increases not only in their property taxes, but also water bills, garbage fees and electricity bills. Of course, this rise taxes and fees could be somewhat avoided if only the Austin City Council would cut unnecessary programs like two recreation centers, which will stay open at the continued expense of tax payers.
Click...
New Conservative Blog in Texas
You’ve read AFP member and avid blogger Karen Townsend’s posts at Pondering Penguin. Now you can catch up on the latest Lone Star political news via Townsend and fellow conservative bloggers at www.TheTexasConservative.com.
Click here to read her latest post: HR 2587 – Protecting Jobs from Government Interference Act
Obama Regulations Kill Texas Jobs
You may have read the Obama Administration has backed off some EPA rules. Let’s put this in perspective - EPA delayed the ozone rules until 2013, which was the normal date for their review. However, cross-state air pollution rules have been in the rewrite stage for several years.
The new rule places unfair and excessive burdens on Texas and other states, which will be forced to shoulder a...
Katy ISD is Rotten to the Core
It has recently been revealed that the same school district that laid off teachers in the middle of the school day to make a political point about cuts to the state’s public education budget at the same time gave administrators hefty raises!
This from the Texas Budget Source: “Katy ISD has dished out hefty raises to administrators the past couple of years, according to an Open Records...
Unions Block Meaningful Education Reform
The Chicken Licken child’s book depicts a fearful and ill-informed chick running around screaming hysterically, “the sky is falling, the sky is falling,” but discovers instead the sky is the limit. Similarly, teacher’s unions are attempting to create hysteria about Charter schools. Unions are ignoring key issues while blocking meaningful education reform.
Click here to read...
Hats off to Houston Chronicle editorial board for...
Cronyism and betrayal of taxpayers’ trust were dealt with in an editorial recently penned by the Houston Chronicle editorial board, calling for a serious investigation of the Houston Independent School System.
Click here to read the Houston Chronicle’s Editorial.
Congratulations, Texas Watchdog!
Texas Watchdog celebrates three years of hard-hitting investigative journalism. It’s one website we highly recommend you frequent - www.texaswatchdog.org. Happy birthday, Texas Watchdog!
Why we Texans are proud to be a Right-To-Work...
This week, Americans witnessed an outrageous spectacle: the President of the United States speaking from the same podium where, just moments before, union boss James Hoffa, Jr. called for a ‘war’ against tea party free market supporters while telling President Obama that ‘his army’ is ready to go with him and ‘take these sons-of…out.’...
Obama folds on more stringent ozone standards –...
We Texans understand energy issues. The disastrous EPA proposal for unreasonably low ozone standards would have destroyed over seven million jobs and ground industrial activity to a halt. Nearly the whole country would have been out of attainment. Fortunately, public outrage forced President Obama to back down- at least for now. Click here to read the full story.
Texas Wildfire Victims in Our Thoughts & Prayers
Our thoughts and prayers are with the many families who have been directly impacted by the devastating wildfires in Texas.
In the midst of one of the most devastating wildfire seasons in Texas history, the state has deployed resources across the state to fight fires and assist those displaced by the flames. Gov. Perry continues to urge all Texans to heed all warnings and cease all outdoor...
Hundreds of New Laws Take Effect in Texas
Texas got a little bit more conservative this week after hundreds of new laws took effect on Sept. 1. Along with a leaner budget that made cuts without raising taxes (hallelujah!), Texans can look forward to driving faster at sundown (is that a good thing?) and “noodling.” You’ll have to read this article at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram to learn what that means: Hundreds of new Texas laws go into...
AFP Among the Top Twitter Influencers
AFP Legislative Liaison Eliza Vielma (@misslizaface) was recognized this week for being a major influencer on Twitter during the 2011 Legislative Session using the hashtag #txlege. Behind her was Sybil West, member and blogger at Ramparts360.com(@Ramparts306).
Here’s the scoop: If a Twitter Handle Shouts, Does Anyone At the Capitol Hear It?
You can follow AFP Texas on Twitter @TexasAFP, and...
What Does "Free Market" Mean to You?
Adam Smith gave us his definition in “The Wealth of Nations.” Now, the Austin Tea Party and New Revolution Now want to know, “What does ‘free market’ mean to you?” They are asking for their fellow conservatives to send your short (3-7 word) video answering this question:
What does “free market” mean to you?
Example answers:
· Competition for...
AFP Responds to UT Higher Education Reform...
Click here to read statements by Americans for Prosperity Foundation State Director Peggy Venable, and America’s Next Impact Director Chris Covo in response to the recommendations given by University of Texas Chancellor Francisco Cigarroa at the UT Board of Regents meeting on August 25.
Doesn't Congress Earn Enough?
A recent article on Yahoo! News had us shaking our heads – a number of Congressmen are complaining that their $174,000 annual salary isn’t enough. Will Congress ever learn that politics was never meant to be a way to earn a living, but a service and sacrifice performed on behalf of the people they represent?
Click here to read the article, and be sure to leave a comment on what you think...
Two Red Apple Award Winners
Edinburg ISD in south Texas and San Angelo ISD in west Texas both deserve honors for dealing with reduced budgets without punishing taxpayers or students.
Edinburg ISD approved a budget $12 million less than the previous one and dealt with the cuts by eliminating administrative positions and tightening up overhead expenditures.
And San Angelo ISD actually trimmed its tax rate by 3 cents, in spite...