Judge says he was forced to dismiss challenge to Texas sonogram law
By Chuck Lindell
U.S. District Judge Sam Sparks dismissed a lawsuit challenging Texas’ pre-abortion sonogram requirement, saying Monday that he had no choice despite his continued belief that the law violates the U.S. Constitution.

Texas Group Decries “Avalanche” of EPA Rules
By Kate Galbraith
The conservative Texas Public Policy Foundation on Monday renewed its criticism of the Environmental Protection Agency, as it released a report citing an “avalanche” of forthcoming rules on air pollution.

Gambling Against Texas
By Michael Quinn Sullivan
Much has been made by the Texas House speaker and others about the alleged need for “new revenues” in state government. So some big-spenders just happen to have a ready-made solution, a magic money-making elixir: expanded gambling. And some conservatives are foolishly lapping it up.

Choosing A Grand Experience
By Nathan Ofe
One school district in Texas is giving more power to parents and teachers, emphasizing student needs and classroom education at a time when others are focusing on soccer fields and scoreboards. The Grand Prairie school district is turning itself into a model of public school choice.

West Coast Waste
By WasteWatch
It was evident from the mass transit projects and plastic bag ban that the Austin City Council wants to make Austin look (and spend) like a West Coast utopia. Now they want to go one step further, imitating the City of Portland by paying city employees to take “alternate forms” of transportation to work.

There’s No App For That
By WasteWatch
Even at a time when a record number of school districts are challenging Texas’ school finance system, school districts are still finding ways to waste taxpayer money. New Braunfels ISD’s push to spend tax dollars on new iPads for students is just the latest example.

The Far Left is scared to death – of a place called Texas!
Ken Mercer, Texas State Board of Education

My friends, I open every speech to TEA Party Groups and Republican Clubs with:

“The Far Left is scared to death – of a place called Texas!”

It is not unusual to hear thunderous applause and people standing up and cheering loudly. Why? Conservatives understand what the Far Left and their political handmaidens on the Editorial boards of Texas refuse to print. In Texas, the decades old ideological failure of the Far Left is finally dead!

I remind my friends that the Far Left’s true agenda for public schools is one of indoctrination. The conservative agenda is one of education.

The attacks by the print media and the education establishment are without shame. They have publicly put out calls to recruit Far Left opponents for every State Board of Education seat held by a conservative.

Here is the irony: It is the Far Left who are crying foul and criticizing the conservatives on the SBOE for promoting a “different” agenda and ideology.

In 1979, then President Jimmy Carter “paid back” the education establishment by creating a new federal agency, the Department of Education. Suddenly phonics, grammar, correct spelling, and basic handwriting were out; and the successful daily practice and memorization of basic math facts were replaced with an “exposure to math tables.”

What are the results of this failed ideology of the Far Left? Fifty percent of new students enrolling in college are told they will need to first complete one year of remedial reading, writing, and mathematics.

During the next few weeks, I will be sharing the “game-changing” victories that you and the conservative members of the SBOE courageously championed during the last five years!

Meanwhile, please proudly proclaim to your friends:

“The Far Left is scared to death – of a place called Texas!”
Ken Mercer
Conservative Republican
Texas State Board of Education

Perry’s Still Leading Texas
By Michael Quinn Sullivan
With Rick Perry bowing out of the presidential race this week, his detractors and the liberal pundits have predictably started writing his political obituary. That’s mostly wishful thinking on their part. After all, Rick Perry has the opportunity to use the last-half of this term as governor to promote an agenda that puts Texas even further ahead of the rest of the nation.

SCOTUS Tosses Out Activist Maps
By Michael Quinn Sullivan
In a well-deserved defeat for liberals trying to steal Texas’ elections, the US Supreme Court today tossed out the legislative and congressional district maps drawn by a panel of San Antonio judges.

Conservative Leaders Project – Replacing Lackeys with Leaders
By Andrew Kerr
After electing a super-majority of Republicans to the Texas Legislature in 2010, conservatives across the state expected them to enact bold reforms. Sadly, the results of the legislative session left far too many conservative reforms not only undone, but un-attempted.

Cheap energy comes when market rules
Josiah Neely
Two recent news articles offer a perfect illustration of why the best vehicle for harnessing abundant and reliable energy is the free market, rather than government planning.

Longtime senator faces rare primary challenge
By Mike Ward
Uncertainty hangs over some potentially contentious political campaigns in Texas, thanks to pending court challenges over where the boundary lines will be drawn. But for state Sen. Jeff Wentworth, whose district lines aren’t changing much, this year’s election landscape is starkly clear.

Field of Waste
By Dustin Matocha
Who needs an education when you can have a professional soccer field? That seems to the mentality of the San Antonio ISD board of trustees, given they just voted to spend $3 million more to build a professional-size field at Alamo Stadium despite participating in a lawsuit claiming the state underfunds public schools.

Commuter Rail is a California-Sized Mistake
By Dustin Matocha
When the State of California says it’s too expensive, it should grab your attention. A recent study conducted by a group of experts determined that California taxpayers can’t afford a new high-speed rail system – but that news is unlikely to stop the calls for high-speed trains between Texas’ metropolitan centers.

Fix The Gimmicks
By Michael Quinn Sullivan
While the legislature balanced the Lone Star State’s ledger-book last year, they did so in part by taking a well-worn, if unsavory, path to get there. A top priority for the next legislature must be to correct the creative accounting and get rid of the gimmicks so that the state can have an honest budget. And an honest budget debate.

Ken Mercer Asks for Your Help
In 2012 because of redistricting, all seats on the Texas State Board of Education will be on the ballot. Even though many of us just ran in 2010, we will be required to run again in 2012 if we intend to retain our seats.

Slimy James has proved he’s ready to be a senator
By Mac Engel
Craig James is a Texan who believes America can be great again. I agree. He sees things happening around our country that I don’t want happening in the state of Texas.

Exonerated of Murder, Morton Seeks Prosecutor Inquiry
By Brandi Grissom and John Schwartz
A Texas man wrongfully convicted in 1987 of murdering his wife is scheduled to be officially exonerated on Monday.

Challengers nip at Dewhurst’s heels in Senate race
By Gary Scharrer
Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst enters the U.S. Senate campaign with considerable cash and name recognition, but a couple of Republican challengers are nipping at his heels, certain they can pull off an upset.

Texas Primary Likely Delayed as Supreme Court Halts New Texas Electoral Maps
Associated Press
Texas’ March primary will likely be delayed after the Supreme Court on Friday blocked the use of state legislative and congressional district maps that were drawn by federal judges.

Mayor: Freedom of speech is over – In pitched battle with churches, orders critic to leave city meeting
By Bob Unruh
El Paso, Texas, mayor John Cook, who has been in a pitched battle with local churches and the faith-oriented members in his community in recent months and could end up facing a recall election, apparently doesn’t have much empathy for those who support the religious element in his community.

When an Increase is a Cut
By Michael Quinn Sullivan
For more than thirty years, official education policy has been “more money means better education.” And taxpayers have dutifully increased spending by a whopping percentage; per pupil spending on public education has doubled just over the last decade.

Pastors charged after telling ‘gays’ about sin – Now facing bench trial in court run by lesbian
By Bob Unruh
Two veteran street preachers in Houston are facing a bench trial for spreading the biblical message about homosexuality – and other sins – on one of their favorite corners for preaching in Houston.

Judicial Gerrymandering
By Michael Quinn Sullivan
It’s not over it yet. When a three-judge panel issued their version of Texas’ legislative maps, many – myself included – assumed it was a done deal; get used to the horrible lines. But fortunately for the state’s voters, Attorney General Greg Abbott and legislators aren’t taking this exercise in federal overreach without a fight.

Mayor threatens pastors with felony charges over recall – City official claims churches that circulate petitions violate election law
By Drew Zahn
A group of churches and pastors in El Paso, Texas, are in a legal battle with the city’s mayor, who has cited a state election law he says would make their distribution of recall petitions against him a third degree felony.

A Test for the Tea Party in Texas Senate Race
By Kate Zernike
The National Review cover proclaimed him “the great conservative hope.” George Will declared him “as good as it gets.” Influential conservatives endorsed him and gave him speaking slots alongside presidential candidates at national gatherings, where the crowds rewarded him with standing ovations.

When Dewhurst says he’s shrunk budget by 11%, he uses 2 tricks
By Robert T. Garrett
I’ve been in a back-and-forth argument all week with Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst’s staff, ever since on Monday I wrote an “ad watch” box, as we call them, about his U.S. Senate bid’s first TV commercial. The subject: Growth in state spending. Dewhurst wants you to believe there’s been none on his watch as the Texas Senate’s presiding officer since 2003.

Is Tom Leppert running in the right primary?
By Matt S. Bowling
Each day the answer to that question gets a little more foggy. Nevertheless, that hasn’t stopped Tom Leppert from campaigning full steam ahead to win the Republican primary for the US Senate. He has recently purchased a large TV ad buy to tout his conservative record and to cover up his liberal past.

Ted Cruz picks up conservative Christian endorsement
By Sarah Grady
U.S Senate candidate Ted Cruz has picked up the endorsement of Focus on the Family founder Dr. James Dobson. Focus on the Family is an evangelical Christian organization based in Colorado.

Objectivity Lost: Journalist Covering Shale Gas Sues Same Industry
Posted by Ben Howe
I don’t read the New York Times or the Chicago Tribune. For that matter, I don’t read the closest newspaper to my home, the Charlotte Observer. I don’t read these rags for a simple reason: I find the that the objectivity that is claimed within their pages is a sham. There are plenty of polls and countless bits of anecdotal evidence and investigations that have shown a liberal bias that overwhelmingly represents the modern newspaper.

Join the Cruz Crew!
By Team Cruz
The Republican Primary is just four months away. Today we’re launching a new grassroots action center, the Cruz Crew.

Texas Right to Life PAC proudly endorses Dr. Donna Campbell for State Senate District 25
Texas Right to Life PAC has issued an early endorsement for Dr. Donna Campbell in State Senate District 25. Dr. Campbell is challenging an incumbent Republican who champions abortion rights and tramples the rights of the unborn.

Straus Pits GOP Against Taxpayers
By Michael Quinn Sullivan
Texas House Speaker Joe Straus is doubling down on his resolve to oppose further right-sizing of government, instead seeking new revenues (read: taxes) to fill government coffers in 2013. His policy pronouncements in El Paso, and reiterated in Fort Worth, dangerously pits the Republican caucus against Texas taxpayers going into the 2012 election season.

Thinking Economically: Texas Supreme Court Leading the Way in Property Rights Protections
By Bill Peacock
Texas has traditionally been a strong property rights state. Most Texas cities and counties have far less restrictive land-use controls than are found on the West Coast and the Pacific Northwest. And it has had few of the infamous urban redevelopment projects that have been typical of the Northeast and Midwest.

Another $1 Million Quarter – Tremendous Forward Momentum
By Ted Cruz
We raised over $1 million this quarter! That’s more than we’ve raised in any other quarter, which shows huge forward momentum. We’re building an insurgent grassroots conservative campaign–but with over $2.8 million total to date, we’ve also raised more money than any other Senate candidate, including the sitting Lieutenant Governor.