Issues

Our friend, economist, former head of Club for Growth and current president of the Free Enterprise Fund, Steve Moore has some great new ideas to jump-start the Social Security reform effort.

Why did the recent State Republican Executive Committee reject (led by Chair Tina Benkiser) the Shirley Spellerberg resolution regarding the abysmal HB3 tax bill which violates the state platform in so many ways?

In our recent, almost month long tour of Southeast Asia from Hong Kong, through Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Singapore, TCR got an opportunity to see how we are viewed from another part of the world.

President Bush has had a week for the ages – first his inspiring Inaugural Address with its philosophy of freedom and democracy for the world, followed by the Iraqi election (where turnout despite death threats was over 60%) and ending with the State of the Union address which outlined his legislative goals – including important reform in Social Security.

In a word, maybe. There are many challenges ahead – nationally we need to get the war in Iraq right and that will be tough.

Last legislative session efforts by Sen. Kyle Janek, Representatives Dwayne Bohac and Martha Wong came up short in limiting the increases in property taxes when the twenty-one-vote rule in the Senate stopped consideration.

All in all, a great day for Texas Republicans. It sure helps to have a popular President leading the ticket. There should be no doubt that President George W. Bush had strong coattails in Texas.

As we move toward Election Day, it will be a relief to get it behind us. Conservatives have worked hard for the President and other key candidates.

Clearly Cheney was his old reliable self – in his debate, Edwards came across as a little light on policy issues and Cheney made many points about Kerry-Edwards past votes.

The first debate is behind us and the pundits and polls say Kerry won. It is not a revelation that a life long debater would be better than one that was not. If you take the time to read what was said, President Bush was substantive and Kerry was stylish.