Could Texas Follow DC's DOGE Plan?

You've heard of Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy's new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in DC. But what about Texas? State reps like David Lowe and Brian Harrison are talking about creating their own DOGE. They think the Texas Film Commission is a great place to start cutting waste. But can they really do it? Texas has been spending big bucks. The 2023 legislature allocated $219 billion! That's a 32% jump from 2021. And guess what? More spending is on the way for 2025. Gov. Greg Abbott wants $5 billion more for natural gas. And school districts are hoping for more funds. But who pays? You guessed it, Texas taxpayers.

It's not just spending that's up. Regulations are too. The Public Utility Commission and Texas Medical Board are both flexing their muscles. And the Texas Ethics Commission isn't making it easy for citizens to chime in. Last session, the legislature tried to cut property taxes by $18 billion. But it didn't work out as planned. Property taxes are still rising. Why? Because spending is up. And when spending goes up, taxes follow. This is the challenge for those who want to cut spending in Texas. Politicians love spending our money. And until that changes, our taxes will keep going up. But is change possible? Absolutely. We might see spending cuts in DC soon. And maybe, just maybe, Texas will catch on too.

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