Last month, we tried to shed some light on Texas Senate Bill 2 and the efforts underway in the state legislature to reform property taxing power by local municipalities. That post did not take a side on the wisdom of the bill. It only sought to highlight how, regardless of the outcome, local government entities will likely need to be more committed to finding creative means to achieve goals.
The apparent 'Catch 22' in the TX property tax rollback debate
Recall elections: A legal course requiring due process
Someone once said, "All politics is local." And nothing hits so close to home as municipal level politics. The normal cycle of things has elections, initiatives and referendums occurring on a regular schedule in compliance with applicable laws.
Political apparel at polls: Will Supreme Court ruling affect Texas law?
On June 14, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a Minnesota law prohibiting voters from wearing political badges, buttons or other apparel in polling places. In Minnesota Voters Alliance v. Mansky, the Court held by a 7-2 majority that the apparel ban violated the Free Speech Clause of the First Amendment. The case stems from the November 2010 election, in which voters were prevented from wearing such things as a button with the text "Please I.D. Me" and a T-shirt with a Tea Party Patriots logo and the language "Don't Tread on Me."
