The economics of school choice in Texas

"Take firm hold of instruction, do not let go;
Keep her, for she is your life."
Proverbs 4:13

We warn you that this video contains a LOT of numbers, but it's really good background if you're not familiar with the issue:



Highlights:

• Texas spends nearly $13k per student right now.

• Texas spends appox. $60 billion on K-12 education over the two year budget cycle.

• Each class of 20 kids = $250k
• "How many teachers do you know making a quarter million dollars per year?!?"

• Non-teaching staff growing 3x faster than students.
• Over $7 billion in additional expenses per year 

• Is the purpose of the education system to train the next generation or to provide jobs for bureaucrats?!?

• Over the past 25(ish) years, the number of students has grown by about 30% while the number of bureaucrats has grown by OVER 450%.

• If you simply held the number of bureaucrats in line with the number of students, you could give every teacher a $22k raise (or you could cut property taxes).
• You could also eliminate the margins tax.

• School district debt undermines Texas economy and will lead to higher taxes down the line.

• Under the current system, school districts are building $60 million football stadiums.

• Local debt growing 2.5x faster than population.

• Vote no on just about every bond.

• "As long as schools are run by political entities, they are a source of political power."
  Milton Friedman

• "No entity deserves a protected monopoly on educating our kids."

• "Politically administered adult jobs program."

How to fix bond elections in Texas

"The rich rules over the poor,
And the borrower is servant to the lender."
Proverbs 22:7

Amen; from TPPF via Watchdog:

Informing voters at the ballot box. Beyond the current minimal disclosure requirements, all bond propositions would disclose:

• The estimated impact on the average homeowner.
• The total cost to repay the bond in full and on time.

Separate ballot propositions. Quintero says it is common practice to embed large-scale, single-item projects into larger bond proposals (as McKinney ISD did with its football stadium).

“The Legislature would do well to reform this practice so that major capital improvements above a certain cost threshold are put before the voters in a separate fashion. This will allow voters to better decide which items are in the community’s best interest instead of being forced to accept a ‘take it or leave it’ approach,” Quintero said.

End rolling polling. Schools and local governments strategically locate polling places during the early voting period to maximize prospects for passage, not necessarily to boost voter turnout.

Read the whole thing here.

Bottom Line: As watchdog points out "Nine transparency bills were introduced in the 2015 Legislature, but none passed"...gee, we wonder why?!?

Travis County GOP announces AMAZING fundraiser guest!!!

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;"
Proverbs 3:5

And James Dickey hits the ground running:

Travis County GOP Fall 2016 Fundraiser

“13 Hours” movie screening and Q&A

-PLUS-

An Evening with Benghazi Hero
& "13 Hours" Co-author Kris “Tanto” Paronto

Sunday, October 16, 2016

*** THESE EVENTS WILL SELL OUT -- GET YOUR TICKETS ASAP! ***

TWO EVENTS:

1) Private “13 Hours” screening (Alamo Drafthouse Slaughter Lane)
-VIP reception w/ photo & signed book (1:30-2pm) $500/per person
-Screening & Q&A ticket, w/ reserved seat (2-5pm) $75/per person

2) An Evening with Kris “Tanto” Paronto (Red’s Porch, 3508 S. Lamar Blvd)
-VIP reception w/ photo, signed book, & food/drink (5:30-6pm) $500/per person
-General attendance w/ cash bar and full menu available (6-7pm) $35/per person

SPECIAL DEAL: All-day VIP pass for a couple to all events, photo, and signed book, $1,500 per couple



About Kris “Tanto” Paronto:

Kris Paronto - “Tanto” as he is affectionately known - is a former Army Ranger from 2nd Battalion 75th Ranger Regiment and private security contractor who has deployed throughout South America, Central America, the Middle East and North Africa.

He also worked with the US Government’s Global Response Staff conducting low profile security in high threat environments throughout the world.

Mr. Paronto was part of the CIA annex security team that responded to the terrorist attack on the US Special Mission in Benghazi, Libya, September 11th, 2012, helping to save over 20 lives while fighting off terrorists from the CIA Annex for over 13 hours. Mr. Paronto’s story is told in the book “13 Hours” written by Mitchell Zuckoff and his five surviving annex security team members.

Mr. Paronto was born in Alamosa, Colorado and obtained his Associate Degree from Dixie College (now Dixie State University) in St. George, Utah, Bachelor’s Degree from Mesa State College in Grand Junction, Colorado and Masters Degree from The University of Nebraska at Omaha.

He served 4 years in the US Army and an additional 4 years in the US Army National Guard reaching the rank of Sergeant then becoming a commissioned officer in 2003. He started contracting for Blackwater Security Consulting in 2003 and continued to deploy on various security contracts, to include the Global Response Staff until 2013.

Mr. Paronto has been involved in security operations in hostile environments for over 10 years. His team’s involvement with the September 11th, 2012 attack on the US special mission in Benghazi, Libya was paramount in the saving of US lives and assets. He is a proven leader, teammate and friend to those who have deployed with him, and a devout father to three children.

This will be at the Alamo Draft House on Slaughter Lane two Sundays from now; learn more about the event here.

TPPF assists Judicial SMACKDown of protectionist TABC...

"A ruler who lacks understanding is a great oppressor,
But he who hates covetousness will prolong his days."
Proverbs 28:16

Couldn't happen to a nicer state agency....

Texas Public Policy Foundation Files Amicus Brief on TABC Overreach Case Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission’s interpretation of law wrongly denies Texans the right to pursue an honest living.

AUSTIN –The Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF) filed an amicus curiae brief inCadena Commercial USA Corp. v. Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, opposing the overreaching interpretation of the state’s tied house laws, which wrongly denies the plaintiff their right to participate in economic activity.             “The state’s power to regulate is not unlimited,” said Kathleen Hunker, senior policy analyst and attorney with the Center for Economic Freedom at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. “From as far back as Aquinas, it has been understood that, a government action must advance a public good in order to be considered lawful. The so-called ‘One Share Rule,’ however, fails that basic standard. The history, impact, and selective enforcement all attest that the purpose behind TABC’s interpretation is to protect influential businesses from competition—not the health and safety of Texans. The One Share Rule therefore does not possess the qualities that grant it force under the Texas Constitution. It does not, simply put, deserve to be recognized as valid law.”             “Even with Texas’ overall commitment to economic liberty, there remain too many examples where Texas law sacrifices the rights of many to benefit the pocketbooks of a few,” said Bill Peacock, vice president for research and director of the Center for Economic Freedom at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. “The legitimate interests of the state of Texas do not include shielding politically-connected businesses from competition in order to enhance their profits.”

 Read the full brief here.

Dirty Little Secret of Dukes' Delayed "Retirement"....

"So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain;
It takes away the life of its owners."
Proverbs 1:19

Yesterday, Dawnna Dukes announced her intention to retire from the legislature...in four months; what gives?!?

Consider this number: $3220.

That's the increase in annual pension Dukes will receive, for life, by retiring with 22 years of 'service time' instead of 21.

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One perk Texas Legislators receive (that they don't like to talk about) is access to the state's "judicial retirement" system.  It's a form of kabuki theater that allows legislators to vote to increase their own pension without telling voters that's what they're doing.  That's why, every session, there's always some hack who pushes bills and budget amendments to increase pensions "for our hardworking judges."

As toughnickel explains:

The short sessions that take place every other year should be remembered when considering that state legislators have linked their pensions to the salaries of state district judges who work every year for a lot more than a 140 days in most cases. By linking their pensions to the state judge’s salaries, legislators receive a raise in their pension benefits every time judges receive a salary increase (Odessa American).

And yes, it's completely legal.

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Consider the following from the state retirement system:

As it relates to legislators, they get 2.3% of a state district judges' salary (currently $140k) for every year of 'service time' they accrue in the legislature.  They vest at year 8, which translates to 18.4% and goes up from there.  Not coincidentally, this is why so many legislators have a strange habit of running for something else after their fourth session in the legislature (lookin' at you Allen Fletcher).

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In Dukes' specific case, here's the math:

Retire with 21 years:

• 2.3% x 21 = 48.3%

• .483 x 140k = 67,620

• Therefore, Dukes would receive $67,620 (*) for life.

Retire with 22 years:

• 2.3% x 22 = 50.6%

• .506 x 140k = 70,840

• $70,840 (*) for life.

* -- Assuming, for the sake of discussion, that a future legislature doesn't increase the payout (which, of course, they will the second they think they can get away with it).

Don'cha love politicians?!?

[Sidenote: While we're on the subject, we'll make also predict cycically that Dukes will cash in with the lobby about ten seconds after she officially 'retires.']

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That being said, the good news is that Dukes has an opponent in November.  We've known Gabriel Nila for years and have been impressed by his diligence in the district for awhile (though, we confess, we didn't think he had a snowball's chance prior to yesterday's announcement).  Learn more about Gabriel here, donate here.

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Based on what we're hearing, it sounds like former Austin City Council member Sheryl Cole would be the prohibitive favorite if there's a special election early next year; that she was a member of the old, pre 10-1, council speaks for itself.

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Bottom Line: Whatever your thoughts on the long-term future of the district, the only way to stop Dawnna Dukes from acquiring another $3220 (+) of taxpayer money every year for life is to elect Gabriel Nila in November.

Adler gives Orwell run for his money....

"But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness."
2 Timothy 2:16

Having created barriers to entry for market participants, he actually called Austin's current ridesharing ecosystem "open and competitive."

In a buzzword and cliche filled appearance at last Saturday's Texas Tribune festival, Mayor Adler made a convoluted attempt to argue that mandates and regulation have increased competition; according to Adler, "if we continue on this path, we're going to end up in a good place."

With all due respect to the mayor, Austin's current ridesharing situation falls somewhere between "substandard" and "dysfunctional"; as Matt Mackowiak explained after the first UT Football game:

Austin’s special rules received their first real stress test when Notre Dame came to town for a nationally televised game and we can finally see that the emperor has no clothes. It was undeniably an unmitigated disaster.

My wife and I tried to get a ride from the Mueller area to campus four hours before the game, and three new startup apps, RideAustin, Fasten, and Wingz, not only had no available drivers, but their apps could not handle demand and failed. And that was at 2pm. After an hour of waiting and hoping, we texted a friend, a former Uber/Lyft driver, who came and picked us up and drove us in for $20.

By the time the game began, more than 102,000 people filed in to Darrell K. Royal Memorial Stadium. By game’s end, many thousands of attendees were stranded when the final whistle blew. I’m sure we have all heard the same thing. It was total chaos when the game ended at 10:30pm when thousands of people tried to find a ride home.

According to Adler, that's "open and competitive."  It's also "about liberty," "innovative," "creative," and "next century" (which is odd, considering that another century won't start for 84 years).  We're surprised he didn't trot out "transformative."

In reality, the ridesharing companies currently operating in Austin are all more expensive and less reliable than Uber and Lyft...which is exactly what people said would happen if council's restrictions went into effect.

Snark notwithstanding, scaling to meet the needs of a large city was always going to be a gigantic logistical challenge.  It isn't easy to coordinate thousands of drivers with tens of thousands of riders in a cost-effective and timely manner.  Returning to Mackowiak:

I really appreciate Andy Tryba, of RideAustin, for his honesty and transparency about their challenges relating to scale. This weekend they did over 17,000 rides, a new record, but they were simultaneously unable to service over 2,500 rides because demand was outpacing the drivers on the road. It would be valuable to know when those rides were being requested, because midnight is a lot different than 2pm. Think about 2,500 people walking around looking for a safe ride!

Here’s what really struck me. Andy said that “the more friction you put on driver signup (whether that be government instituted or company driven), the longer it takes drivers to (get) on board and many drop out of the funnel.”

I think this is where the rubber meets the road. RideAustin, with all of their deep relationships at city hall and their pursuit of ‘saving rideshare in Austin’, is waving the warning flag. Getting drivers signed up and driving is a big concern.

We've never met Tyrba, but other industry sources have privately used the word "nightmare" about attempting to comply with the City of Austin's regulations.

In another act of chutzpah, Adler attempted to create a narrative for the next predictable disaster this coming weekend when he said "it wouldn't surprise me at all if we have kinks" during ACL.

He actually called stranded Austinites and tourists "kinks."

Bottom Line: Google defines newspeak as "ambiguous euphemistic language used chiefly in political propaganda."

Revelation 13:1-10 -- The BEAST from the Sea

The Beast from the Sea
"Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name. Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority. And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast. So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?”

And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months. Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

If anyone has an ear, let him hear. He who leads into captivity shall go into captivity; he who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints."
Revelation 13:1-10

Pastor Danny Forshee.  Great Hills Baptist Church.  March 22, 2015:

The Beast from the Sea - Dr. Danny Forshee - March 22, 2015 from Great Hills Baptist Church on Vimeo.

Outline:

2 Thessalonians 2:8
Daniel 8:25

1. The Ancestry of the beast (vv. 1-3)
   2 Thessalonians 2:4
   Daniel 7:7
   
2. The Adoration of the beast (vv. 3-4)
   
3. The Activities of the beast (vv. 5-8)
   Daniel 7:21,25
   
4. The Admonition of God (vv. 9-10)

Highlights:

• "The Devil is still God's devil."
  - Martin Luther

• Who is the Lamb?!?

• "This is a sermon I'll be glad I've preached...after I've preached it."

• "No he has not come and no he is not our current president."
• At one time, people thought JFK was the antichrist; which should give us perspective when leveling that charge against any particular American politician.

• I don't fear evil, but I do respect it.

• Just like the Holy Trinity, there's an unholy 'trinity.'
• Whatever God means for good, satan tries to create a counterfeit for evil.

• People hate Jesus because He's the real one.

• "If you don't know Jesus, you're gonna worship the beast and you're gonna go to hell."

• Remember the Lamb, because there's a victory coming.

• It's going to get worse before it gets a whole lot better.