Mexican water? Doesn't that give you the runs?

I do not want prayer in public schools, period. If you want to have prayer in school, send your kids to a private school that fits your religious tradition. ie, Christian School (we sent ours to a Christian school for primary school and it was fantastic, Yashiva ect. Too many different religious traditions in our public schools these days.

Team Paxton https://t.co/PwmW9SXvmZ

— Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) April 15, 2025

The problem with prayers at school is there are so many different religions represented in most schools. Catholics Muslims, Baptist, Jehovas, Church of Christ, Methodist Buddhists Hindu etc etc. You can never please everyone and someone will be offended. Mathew 6:6

Redbrickbear said:

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J.R. said:

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I do not want prayer in public schools, period. If you want to have prayer in school, send your kids to a private school that fits your religious tradition. ie, Christian School (we sent ours to a Christian school for primary school and it was fantastic, Yashiva ect. Too many different religious traditions in our public schools these days.

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So the State gets to take taxes from you....but then only spend it on secular and progressive education options?

Why not allow religious classes at public school....by voluntary signing up

Or why not give Taxpayers their money back so they can pay for private religious schools if they want.

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because public schools sb about education, period. There are plenty of options out there that a religious based if it is important to you.

J.R. said:

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Redbrickbear said:

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J.R. said:

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I do not want prayer in public schools, period. If you want to have prayer in school, send your kids to a private school that fits your religious tradition. ie, Christian School (we sent ours to a Christian school for primary school and it was fantastic, Yashiva ect. Too many different religious traditions in our public schools these days.

---

So the State gets to take taxes from you....but then only spend it on secular and progressive education options?

Why not allow religious classes at public school....by voluntary signing up

Or why not give Taxpayers their money back so they can pay for private religious schools if they want.

---

because public schools sb about education, period.

---

And yet we have seen them become more and more about progressive ideology....50+ years of it actually

If you want that then you should have to privately pay for it.....Or open up the schools to ideological competition

What fair is fair

The Left does not get to claim all of public education as its own madrasa system

Any thoughts on the 336 billion dollar budget out of the Texas House. Or the 5 billion or more Energy Fund that has some companies who applied for the grants and credits to build natural gas generating plants pulling out.

I will give an opinion then. The House budget of 336 billion seems excessive to me. Plus I believe the 24 billion surplus should have all been returned to the taxpayers that earned it either through more property tax relief or other measures. The big increase in the state budget was in the previous legislative session where spending increased by 56 billion dollars. Of course this is what happens when more democrats than Republicans vote for the elected Speaker of the House, in this case Dustin Burrows. He is more beholden to them.

And as part of this budget is this energy fund authorized by the voters though a constitutional amendment which was originally funded with 10 billion dollars. I thought it was a big mistake because it was set up in response to winter storm Uri. The intent was to increase reliable, dispatchable power in the form of natural gas generators to offset the intermittent nature of wind and solar power that was increasing as an overall percentage of the grid. The problem with this solution to me is that the legislature went away from the market principles when they moved towards wind and solar power beginning in 2005 through the use of subsidies and regulations. As that move away from free market competition played out, rather than returning to the marketplace to decide the winners and losers, the legislature decided to use more subsidies, this time to increase megawatts by subsidizing the building of more natural gas generating plants. Then the legislature used the PUC to operate as a bank as they created the system to set the rules for companies to apply for low interest loans, grants and tax credits to build the natural gas plants. Evidently they were ill equipped to carry out these functions in addition to their usual responsibilities.

So many of the companies are bailing out that signed up originally. Evidently it takes about four years to build these at a cost in the billions. And investors are now thinking that after the low cost loans to build the plants they cannot make a profit due to the circumstances like if wind and solar power are given preference and thus guaranteed basically a certain market share since it must go into the grid when the power is produced. If the companies think they cannot make a profit after they are built, who will invest in them. So I think they are facing many problems making that energy fund work. Can they finally solve them? Who knows. I have my doubts.

To me this looks like a big mess where in the next few years our power supply may not be enough to meet demand at peak periods and during extreme weather events. It may work out, but I read where Texas will need three times the power we are currently producing in the next four or five years due to growth, more manufacturing, and extra power needed as we compete with China on Artificial Intelligence superiority.

I believe we need less wind and solar power and more coal, natural gas, and small modular nuclear plants that seem to offer hope for the future.

I predict the energy fund will prove to have been a huge mistake and a costly one. Turns out going against the market never works out too well in the long run.

Just my two cents.

LW

J.R. said:

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Redbrickbear said:

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J.R. said:

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I do not want prayer in public schools, period. If you want to have prayer in school, send your kids to a private school that fits your religious tradition. ie, Christian School (we sent ours to a Christian school for primary school and it was fantastic, Yashiva ect. Too many different religious traditions in our public schools these days.

---

So the State gets to take taxes from you....but then only spend it on secular and progressive education options?

Why not allow religious classes at public school....by voluntary signing up

Or why not give Taxpayers their money back so they can pay for private religious schools if they want.

---

because public schools sb about education, period. There are plenty of options out there that a religious based if it is important to you.

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Public schools are not about education. They haven't been for years.

This is why education needs to be privatized as much as possible.

School choice passes in Texas:

https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2025/04/the_right_choice_in_texas.html

Why do our politicians absolutely hate us?
Signed every Texan https://t.co/8InXlifF1L

— TexanProudUSA (@usafvet76) April 19, 2025

Redbrickbear said:

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Why do our politicians absolutely hate us?
Signed every Texan https://t.co/8InXlifF1L

— TexanProudUSA (@usafvet76) April 19, 2025

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That is incorrect. It's $500 million and it's in the form of tax rebates and so forth. For every dollar invested, history from the last bill shows that the state/businesses/citizens will realize a nearly $5 return. We have an existing thread on this where I outlined it more

You said 500 million. The real article said 500 million for every two years for the next 10 years. Thats a heeluva lot more than you said.

Limited IQ Redneck in PU said:

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You said 500 million. The real article said 500 million for every two years for the next 10 years. Thats a heeluva lot more than you said.

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You are correct, I should have broken it down for you. And the headline is misleading when it says "give the film industry". These are rebates that come back AFTER the film is complete WITH a laundry list of items like 'not used for porn, minimizing cursing, family films, 60%+ of the crew must be from Texas' etc. This is not money 'given to the industry' but returned in the form of tax rebates and so forth.

Add that it said nothing about the return is nearly $5 bucks back to Texas and Texans for every $1 spent in rebates.

With regard to the film industry, good luck with that.
But as long as TX keeps pulling its liberals back to TX from CA, as well as those who aren't from TX, I'm fine with it.
With more muscle flexing, TX is going after CA industries, but at what cost? There is a lot of braggadocio going on, but again, what will be the outcome?
Texas will become CA, just without the great weather and geographic accoutrements.
And then the conservatives who will eventually be outnumbered will be wondering what the hell happened to their state just like we have.
The movie/TV industry out here has struggled And those in the industry are taking jobs in Georgia and other places, including TX, just to have a job. Heck, they'll work on game shows and even family movies that don't push foul language. They don't care. They're doing it out here. And have been forever. It's a job.
But it doesn't mean their voting habits will change. Regardless of what project they're working on, they're still liberal.
CA used to be a state that could muster a Republican governor. In fact, most of our governors have been Republicans.
But things have changed. I pray they can change back. But I think that will hinge a lot on how DT does.
But as Texas brags about all the industry it's drawing from other states, including CA, it could eventually see similar changes that CA has. Might be slower because of the culture. Things are buried deeper in TX than they are in a lot of other places. But it could happen.
CA has always had a laid back quality, but it didn't mean that most of its residents wouldn't give a bit of a side eye to what they saw going on in the Haight, or Berkeley, or Hollywood. I wouldn't use the word provincial to describe CA, but the majority of Californians weren't as open-minded as people often thought they were.
But just like CA has been seen as the land of "fruits and nuts" for decades, TX is seen as the land of "steers and queers" by many too.
I can attest to both. I've seen a lot of steers in TX. And have met quite a large number of TX natives in various industries out here who played on the side of the fence that confirmed the second part of that adage.
I'm a gay dude. but I put my Christianity over what I perceived as the only true "nature" I had felt, for as long as I could remember. Even though I surfed, excelled in sports, dated chicks in high school and college, the whole buzz. I was the anti-stereotype. And most of the dudes I met and knew out here were too. Just because the media and Hollywood likes to focus on the stereotype doesn't mean it prevails. There is definitely a lot of dudes who are obviously gay, and get pushed out there as the "reps," but most aren't. Most fly below the radar.
And my own culture, though it was CA-raised, buried that "nature" deep though.
It wasn't unlike my ex who was from Texas. Raised in herding cattle, castrating whatever y'all castrate and attending church every Sunday. A conservative to boot. Cadet corps at A&M.
We'd often look at our conservative, Christian upbringing and wonder what the hell happened. There was nothing that should have led to it.
Just proof that "it" can happen to anyone.
Hence, remove that plank from your own eye before removing the splinter from someone else's.
Apologies for another long diatribe, but I just pray TX can hold onto some conservatism. I "ain't" happy with what has happened to CA. And you won't be either should it happen to TX. You'll be reduced to "remembering when."

TrojanMoondoggie said:

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With regard to the film industry, good luck with that.
But as long as TX keeps pulling its liberals back to TX from CA, as well as those who aren't from TX, I'm fine with it.
With more muscle flexing, TX is going after CA industries, but at what cost? There is a lot of braggadocio going on, but again, what will be the outcome?
Texas will become CA, just without the great weather and geographic accoutrements.
And then the conservatives who will eventually be outnumbered will be wondering what the hell happened to their state just like we have.
The movie/TV industry out here has struggled And those in the industry are taking jobs in Georgia and other places, including TX, just to have a job. Heck, they'll work on game shows and even family movies that don't push foul language. They don't care. They're doing it out here. And have been forever. It's a job.
But it doesn't mean their voting habits will change. Regardless of what project they're working on, they're still liberal.
CA used to be a state that could muster a Republican governor. In fact, most of our governors have been Republicans.
But things have changed. I pray they can change back. But I think that will hinge a lot on how DT does.
But as Texas brags about all the industry it's drawing from other states, including CA, it could eventually see similar changes that CA has. Might be slower because of the culture. Things are buried deeper in TX than they are in a lot of other places. But it could happen.
CA has always had a laid back quality, but it didn't mean that most of its residents wouldn't give a bit of a side eye to what they saw going on in the Haight, or Berkeley, or Hollywood. I wouldn't use the word provincial to describe CA, but the majority of Californians weren't as open-minded as people often thought they were.
But just like CA has been seen as the land of "fruits and nuts" for decades, TX is seen as the land of "steers and queers" by many too.
I can attest to both. I've seen a lot of steers in TX. And have met quite a large number of TX natives in various industries out here who played on the side of the fence that confirmed the second part of that adage.
I'm a gay dude. but I put my Christianity over what I perceived as the only true "nature" I had felt, for as long as I could remember. Even though I surfed, excelled in sports, dated chicks in high school and college, the whole buzz. I was the anti-stereotype. And most of the dudes I met and knew out here were too. Just because the media and Hollywood likes to focus on the stereotype doesn't mean it prevails. There is definitely a lot of dudes who are obviously gay, and get pushed out there as the "reps," but most aren't. Most fly below the radar.
And my own culture, though it was CA-raised, buried that "nature" deep though.
It wasn't unlike my ex who was from Texas. Raised in herding cattle, castrating whatever y'all castrate and attending church every Sunday. A conservative to boot. Cadet corps at A&M.
We'd often look at our conservative, Christian upbringing and wonder what the hell happened. There was nothing that should have led to it.
Just proof that "it" can happen to anyone.
Hence, remove that plank from your own eye before removing the splinter from someone else's.
Apologies for another long diatribe, but I just pray TX can hold onto some conservatism. I "ain't" happy with what has happened to CA. And you won't be either should it happen to TX. You'll be reduced to "remembering when."

---

We are a right to work state and our Film and TV industry has resisted Union work strongly when it comes to some of the cast and crew. Non Union folks work all the time here. Unions are what has ruined the industry in Cali. I am much more worried about tech folk coming from Cali. Most of them don't fit at all here

My first agent pushed me hard to get my SAG and AFTRA cards, I did and work dried up. My second one told me, if I'm not moving to NY or Cali, don't do it.

why? You were incorrect, said some one else was wrong, then argued as if I was the one that misunderstood. Its ok.;

I dont agree that the government should use tax money to support movies they approve of, It seems like a misuse of tax money. Why not just give it back to tax payers. Is it the governments role to use money taken from me to make movies it approves of?

Limited IQ Redneck in PU said:

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why? You were incorrect, said some one else was wrong, then argued as if I was the one that misunderstood. Its ok.;

I dont agree that the government should use tax money to support movies they approve of, It seems like a misuse of tax money. Why not just give it back to tax payers. Is it the governments role to use money taken from me to make movies it approves of?

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You keep ignorning that this is a proven investment. Nearly $5 for every $1 invested. That is historical data from back in the 90s to now at least, probably before that too

So the government is taking my tax money and using it to promote chosen movies that boost the income for actors, scene builders etc? How does that help me?

Limited IQ Redneck in PU said:

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So the government is taking my tax money and using it to promote chosen movies that boost the income for actors, scene builders etc? How does that help me?

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It's for businesses that are ancillary to the film and tv industry and helps keep them alive in the Texas economy. Trickles down to you.

Sorry, but you will have to get an agent and contact Casting if you want a role. Not my specialty.

RD2WINAGNBEAR86 said:

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Assassin said:

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I hope @KenPaxtonTX runs and unseats Cornyn.

— Insurrection Barbie (@DefiyantlyFree) April 2, 2025

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Paxton is corrupt and vindictive. It is his way or the highway. Same with Greg Abbott. We don't need any more of that. I don't think he would be an upgrade.

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I wish that Wesley Hunt would run for Senate.

Assassin said:

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Limited IQ Redneck in PU said:

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So the government is taking my tax money and using it to promote chosen movies that boost the income for actors, scene builders etc? How does that help me?

---

It's for businesses that are ancillary to the film and tv industry and helps keep them alive in the Texas economy. Trickles down to you.

Sorry, but you will have to get an agent and contact Casting if you want a role. Not my specialty.

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If movies cant keep themselves alive they should shut down. Again, why steal my taxes and give to incompetent movie businesses?

Limited IQ Redneck in PU said:

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Assassin said:

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Limited IQ Redneck in PU said:

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So the government is taking my tax money and using it to promote chosen movies that boost the income for actors, scene builders etc? How does that help me?

---

It's for businesses that are ancillary to the film and tv industry and helps keep them alive in the Texas economy. Trickles down to you.

Sorry, but you will have to get an agent and contact Casting if you want a role. Not my specialty.

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If movies cant keep themselves alive they should shut down. Again, why steal my taxes and give to incompetent movie businesses?

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Again, it's an investment in Texas that is coming back to Texans 5 fold. Now if you hate Texas, I can't help you.

State now has 'Texas-style' DOGE office with first bill signed by Greg Abbott this session
SB 14, aimed at streamlining state government policies, was a priority of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, also a Republican.
By Karen Brooks Harper
Senior Politics Writer

Apr. 23, 2025
|AUSTIN A new state agency dedicated to simplifying and streamlining Texas government statutes and business regulations was established Wednesday under legislation signed into law by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott.
Senate Bill 14, by Sen. Phil King, R-Weatherford, creates the Texas Regulatory Efficiency Office and advisory council aimed at reducing ineffective regulatory requirements and outdated rules that stand in the way of doing business in the state, Abbott said.

The new law requires the creation of an online portal where users can look up and understand the requirements, impact of regulations and protocols by state agencies. And it requires agencies to publish their rules in plain language that's easy for nonbureacrats to understand.
"We are putting in the forefront of legislation, the shaping, formation and recalibration of government in the state of Texas by making it more responsible, more responsive, less costly, and more efficient," Abbott said.

SB 14 is the first bill Abbott has signed since the Legislature convened in January. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, also a Republican, made the proposal one of the session's priorities.
The goal, Abbott said, is save taxpayer money that is being wasted on too much bureaucratic red tape, raise government transparency and accountability, and remove barriers that have turned Texas into one of the most heavily regulated states for business in the country.

Some of those changes could include reducing required training hours for employees or license holders, reducing the number of forms and amount of information required by some business owners, slashing fees, or creating waivers and exemptions for some regulations, according to the legislation.
The office is not identical to the Department of Government Efficiency, run by billionaire and entrepreneur Elon Musk that was created in January by an executive order from President Donald Trump.
State leaders worked with the business community to find ways to slash inefficient systems and regulations in agencies for years, Abbott said, but the new DOGE commission in Washington, D.C., "crystallized" the strategies states could use.
Patrick called it "DOGE, Texas-style."

The bill takes effect in September, but Abbott said he expects it to start making an impact quickly.
"There's low-hanging fruit all over the place," Abbott said. "When you look at the vast amount of regulations, there's so much slicing and dicing that needs to be done. So we will look to accelerate the process."
Abbott was joined at the bill signing in his office at the Texas Capitol by business leaders as well as other Republican leaders including King, Patrick, House Speaker Dustin Burrows and Southlake Rep. Giovanni Capriglione, who carried the legislation in the House and chairs the new House Committee on Delivery of Government Efficiency.

"This is a fantastic bill to start with," said Burrows, of Lubbock. "Texas businesses, Texas citizens, they deserve regulations that are in plain English, and you can understand what they mean. They deserve to know what they actually do, and they deserve to make sure they're consistent and as few as possible."
Abbott said the fact that he is signing legislation in April something he usually doesn't start doing until the final days of the session bodes well for other priorities. It also shows the highest level of collaboration between the House, the Senate and his own office that he's ever seen in his 10 years as governor, he added.
"Listen, not everything is going to be passed on Day One, and there is some give and take to this process," he said. "But I have no doubt that when the sun sets on this session, it's going to be one of, if not the most, successful sessions we've seen in more than a decade."

Instead of dealing with property taxes this morning… the Texas House is busy passing Resolutions honoring Jimmy Carter. pic.twitter.com/h00GugsMlp

— Brian Harrison (@brianeharrison) May 1, 2025

Assassin said:

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Instead of dealing with property taxes this morning… the Texas House is busy passing Resolutions honoring Jimmy Carter. pic.twitter.com/h00GugsMlp

— Brian Harrison (@brianeharrison) May 1, 2025

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Brian Harrison is a courageous House member from Waxahachie. He was Chief of Staff in the Health and Human Services Department in the first Trump Administration, and I believe ran for the Texas House of Representatives after Trump was defeated for re-election and won. I have written his office on several occasions and received a telephone call after one of my emails form his legislative assistant. Funny, his office responds to me while my own Representative in district 20, Terry Wilson, will not answer my questions about green energy my impeachment inquiries in Ken Paxton's situation.

As you surely know our good conservative legislation is being thwarted by recent Speakers before and up to Dade Phelan and now Dustin Burrows that are elected with more democrat votes than Republican votes. This is why democrats had so many democrat Chairs or sub-committee chairs which gave them a certain control over the House.

Harrison is making the strong case for dislodging Burrows as Speaker and he fought with Phelan also. A very strong conservative, he is.

Blessings

gtownbear said:

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Assassin said:

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Instead of dealing with property taxes this morning… the Texas House is busy passing Resolutions honoring Jimmy Carter. pic.twitter.com/h00GugsMlp

— Brian Harrison (@brianeharrison) May 1, 2025

---

Brian Harrison is a courageous House member from Waxahachie. He was Chief of Staff in the Health and Human Services Department in the first Trump Administration, and I believe ran for the Texas House of Representatives after Trump was defeated for re-election and won. I have written his office on several occasions and received a telephone call after one of my emails form his legislative assistant. Funny, his office responds to me while my own Representative in district 20, Terry Wilson, will not answer my questions about green energy my impeachment inquiries in Ken Paxton's situation.

As you surely know our good conservative legislation is being thwarted by recent Speakers before and up to Dade Phelan and now Dustin Burrows that are elected with more democrat votes than Republican votes. This is why democrats had so many democrat Chairs or sub-committee chairs which gave them a certain control over the House.

Harrison is making the strong case for dislodging Burrows as Speaker and he fought with Phelan also. A very strong conservative, he is.

Blessings

---

We fought a bit over the Film bill which would give filmmakers a refund of up to 500 million spread out over 10 years, divided into 2 year periods. He didn't understand that there were firm numbers showing a 5 to 1 return to Texans. He changed his direction on that from his reply to me. ALSO, only family-friendly films and TV shows like The Chosen. While I love Landman, I have some grave doubts they will qualify!!

Assassin said:

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gtownbear said:

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Assassin said:

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Instead of dealing with property taxes this morning… the Texas House is busy passing Resolutions honoring Jimmy Carter. pic.twitter.com/h00GugsMlp

— Brian Harrison (@brianeharrison) May 1, 2025

---

Brian Harrison is a courageous House member from Waxahachie. He was Chief of Staff in the Health and Human Services Department in the first Trump Administration, and I believe ran for the Texas House of Representatives after Trump was defeated for re-election and won. I have written his office on several occasions and received a telephone call after one of my emails form his legislative assistant. Funny, his office responds to me while my own Representative in district 20, Terry Wilson, will not answer my questions about green energy my impeachment inquiries in Ken Paxton's situation.

As you surely know our good conservative legislation is being thwarted by recent Speakers before and up to Dade Phelan and now Dustin Burrows that are elected with more democrat votes than Republican votes. This is why democrats had so many democrat Chairs or sub-committee chairs which gave them a certain control over the House.

Harrison is making the strong case for dislodging Burrows as Speaker and he fought with Phelan also. A very strong conservative, he is.

Blessings

---

We fought a bit over the Film bill which would give filmmakers a refund of up to 500 million spread out over 10 years, divided into 2 year periods. He didn't understand that there were firm numbers showing a 5 to 1 return to Texans. He changed his direction on that from his reply to me. ALSO, only family-friendly films and TV shows like The Chosen. While I love Landman, I have some grave doubts they will qualify!!

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Assassin,

That film bill is out of my league therefore I could make no statement either way about it. You could very well be in the right on that particular bill. Brian has been good on many bills I know something about, and I get his newsletter and offer him encouragement in the notes I write.