Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar today said state sales tax revenue totaled $3.92 billion in June 2023, which is 6.8% more than in June 2022. Total sales tax revenue for the three months ending in June 2023 was up 5.9% compared with the same period a year ago. Sales tax is the largest source of state funding for the Texas State Budget, accounting for 56% of all tax collections.
The state governments of Arkansas, Indiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, North Dakota & West Virginia have all cut state income tax rates. Even Connecticut – whose Democrat Gov. Ned Lamont had to deal with a Democrat legislature – succeeded with Republican support in cutting all income tax rates except for the top rate paid by the highest-income people. All of this matters for three reasons.
Plans were approved, funding was secured from the legislature, and then-Lt. Gov. Bob Bullock was the guest of honor at the groundbreaking of the Bullock Texas State History Museum shortly before his death in 1999. Opened in 2001, this weekend's Bullock Museum Birthday Bash will take place at the museum on Sunday, July 9th, activities are available from 10 am to 2 pm, and admission is free from 10 am to 5 pm.
Millions of Americans might shrug and say, "If Joe Biden, President of the United States, and his criminally minded son can get away with avoiding millions of dollars in taxes, why shouldn't I at least have the right to avoid hundreds of dollars in taxes?" The Bidens, along with Attorney General Merrick Garland, are imperiling a hallowed American tradition – self-reported income tax computation and voluntary compliance.
President Biden's Secretary of State Anthony Blinken stated last week that the "United States does not support Taiwan independence." I recently traveled to Taiwan with a Select Delegation of Congress to demonstrate my support for the Taiwanese people. In doing so, I was sanctioned by the Chinese Communist Party – which I see as a badge of honor. Mr. Biden should exhibit the same stance.
"Triple-digit heat in the region – and all across our state – continues to increase fire-prone conditions," said Gov. Greg Abbott. "The Wildland Fire Preparedness Level remains at Preparedness Level 2 due to fuel and weather conditions, current and expected wildfire activity, regional preparedness levels, and fire-suppression resource availability in the state," Abbott said.
President Biden and his radical administration are working around the clock to destroy American-made reliable energy sources. My "Real Emergencies Act" will prevent the White House from distracting our country from real emergencies – like skyrocketing inflation & record-high energy costs – by declaring climate change a national emergency. It ensures he doesn't abuse his office to pursue an anti-American agenda.
Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham, M.D. announced that the General Land Office's (GLO) Adopt-A-Beach (AAB) program limited-edition, graphic T-shirts are now on sale. Proceeds will help AAB purchase supplies for cleanup site volunteers and create educational outreach materials to teach the public about the harmful effects of marine debris to both people and sea life.
Contrary to what most Americans assume, affirmative action has never helped poor kids. In fact Harvard favors wealthy kids – only 3% of the Student Body there comes from low-income families. A staggering 67% come from families in the top fifth of the nation's earners. Nearly 75% of Harvard's Black & Hispanic Students come from high-earning families. The real opportunity gap is between rich and poor.
"This is a great day for all Americans. The Supreme Court has ended our country’s long & failed experiment with racial quotas and government-sanctioned racial discrimination – and ruled that Harvard and the University of North Carolina’s explicit & egregious policies of racially discriminating against Asian-Americans and other students are unconstitutional,” said Sen. Ted Cruz.
We have no time to waste. The Fentanyl Crisis is costing American lives and ruining families throughout Texas and our great country. In fact, two pounds has the potential to kill 500,000 people. The tragic reality of the Biden White House's chaotic border management is the increasing number of Americans dying from the deadly drug.
"The key here is that SJR 1 must now pass the Texas House by early August in time to get the Constitutional Propositions on to ballot this November. Without that, none of the benefits of an increased Homestead Exemption nor the Supplemental Teacher Pay will reach any of these nearly 6 million Texans in 2023," said Sen. Paul Bettencourt, the primary author of the record $18 billion dollar Senate Property Tax Relief Plan, SB 1.
This historic investment, announced recently by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), will finance critical infrastructure projects across the state to increase access to reliable, high-speed internet and help close the availability gap in Texas. Texas’ share was the largest of any state.
"I hold out enduring hope that this country will live up to its principles so clearly enunciated in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States: that all men are created equal, are equal citizens, and must be treated equally before the law," said Justice Clarence Thomas. The last trace of genuine, government-legitimized "systemic racism" in America is no more. Good riddance.
$150 million in the Unified Transportation Program is to support construction of the International Bridge Trade Corridor (IBTC) project in the Rio Grande Valley. The IBTC is a proposed non-tolled, four-lane divided roadway that would provide direct interstate access for several international ports of entry and expedite the movement of goods and freight through the border region.
Senate Commerce Committee Ranking Member Ted Cruz today led a bi-cameral, bi-partisan coalition of lawmakers representing Texas border communities in sending a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken urging him to resolve delays in providing permits for key cross-border bridge projects between the United States and Mexico in Brownsville, Laredo, and Eagle Pass, Texas.
"I have been clear that I will not leave Austin without property tax relief targeted at homeowners through an increased Homestead Exemption to provide them as much relief as possible. Homeowners need property tax relief right now," said Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick following the passage of Senate Bill 1 and Senate Joint Resolution 1, the Texas State Senate's Property Tax Relief efforts both introduced by Sen. Paul Bettencourt.
