Big Government recently noted that the Texas legislature voted to ram through a California-style tax-hiking “Amazon Tax” bill. Gov. Rick Perry subsequently vetoed that bill, but Big Government has learned that Texas legislators have renewed their push for policy that
by Capitol Confidential10 Jun 2011, 2:56 PM PST0
House Republicans have spent the last few months trying to put an end to a sneaky union move that might mean American workers lose their say in whether their shop forms a union. House Republicans have managed to head off
by Capitol Confidential9 Jun 2011, 2:43 PM PST0
Lead by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI), Republicans have set high marks trying to steer the country back down the road of fiscal responsibility. This next week will test the Republican Leadership’s resolve. That’s because lobbyist for big banks and financial
by Capitol Confidential9 Jun 2011, 12:27 PM PST0
California’s proposal to institute an “Amazon Tax” took another major step forward last week. The last of three bills aimed at getting the Seattle giant and other out-of-state online retailers to pay sales tax passed the Assembly on Wednesday afternoon.
by Capitol Confidential8 Jun 2011, 5:31 AM PST0
Giving handouts to Wall Street and big banks has become a reflexive action for members of Congress. One would think that billions in bailout money would be enough to satisfy the appetite of those in Washington who want to placate
by Capitol Confidential7 Jun 2011, 10:06 AM PST0
The White House has a new report out touting the “resurgence” of the automotive industry, primarily aimed at depicting President Obama’s auto bailout as an unqualified success. One thing that springs out of the report are claims it makes as
by Capitol Confidential3 Jun 2011, 12:41 PM PST0
Donald J. Trump and Ross Perot are both billionaires- but that’s where the similarity ends. Perot is erratic, cranky and conspiratorial while Trump is outspoken, blunt and charismatic. Ross Perot actually became a legal candidate for President, withdrew and became
by Capitol Confidential2 Jun 2011, 11:29 AM PST0
Cap-and-trade legislation may have failed in Congress in 2010, but that doesn’t mean that this is the last we will hear from this economically-harmful policy. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) through the Clean Air Act has been busily proposing and
by Capitol Confidential2 Jun 2011, 10:31 AM PST0
Donald Trump may not be finished in the 2012 Presidential race after all. Trump has been telling freinds that he would not rule out launching an Independent big for President as late as June of next year if the economy
by Capitol Confidential1 Jun 2011, 5:35 AM PST0
On June 28th and 29th in Silver Spring, Maryland, cancer patients and their families will gather in protest of the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) effort to ration the late-stage breast cancer drug Avastin. These patients credit the drug for
by Capitol Confidential29 May 2011, 1:01 PM PST0
Texas took yet another step this week that is certain to tighten its grip on the designation as the nation’s leading state for business. Governors in other states looking to improve their jobs situation should give serious consideration to mirroring
by Capitol Confidential26 May 2011, 4:01 PM PST0
Senator Rand Paul (R-Kentucky) has filed a simple amendment to the Patriot Act protecting the rights of Americans to lawfully carry a firearm. His Amendment would stop federal agencies from collecting gun records under the Patriot Act. The amendment preserves
by Capitol Confidential26 May 2011, 1:23 PM PST0
Big Government has previously discussed the Texas legislature’s surprising move of passing legislation aimed at forcing out-of-state, online only retailers to collect and remit to the state sales/use tax. Such legislation is constitutionally dubious, and sources say, may well be
by Capitol Confidential26 May 2011, 8:03 AM PST0
California Democrats are about to initiate a big effort to ram through bills that would force out-of-state, online-only retailers with no physical presence in the state to collect and remit to California sales/use taxes. Starting with a press conference today,
by Capitol Confidential25 May 2011, 1:01 PM PST0
Trump is drowning in e-mails, letters and phone calls from disappointed supporters who wanted him to make the 2012 Race. Trump spent $100K on lawyers and accountants who would prepared the disclosure forms to show Trump is worth $7.5 B
by Capitol Confidential25 May 2011, 10:03 AM PST0
One day last week Phil Christofanelli, the student whistleblower behind the UMKC/UMSL union video story, was sent a certified letter from UMSL. Is the university attempting to intimidate Christofanelli? Also, why will UMSL not release the full videos of the
by Capitol Confidential23 May 2011, 5:33 AM PST0
The expression ‘Everything is Bigger in Texas’ used to apply to ambulance chasing attorneys, frivolous litigation, and mega-payouts to plaintiffs. The Lone Star state was known for attracting a robust tort bar and a less-than-thriving medical community, as physicians gave
by Capitol Confidential19 May 2011, 12:51 PM PST0
It’s not often that the outcome of a protest could be a life or death decision, but that is the position that thousands of women with breast cancer find themselves thanks to a proposal by the Food and Drug Administration
by Capitol Confidential18 May 2011, 2:12 PM PST0
From The Hill: The Senate will hold a test vote Tuesday evening on a Democratic plan to repeal several tax breaks for the big five oil companies. The plan would repeal an estimated $21 billion worth of incentives over a
by Capitol Confidential17 May 2011, 10:03 AM PST0
Texas is generally regarded as a conservative state, but you would not guess that based on some of its legislators’ pursuit of a California-style effort to hike taxes by targeting out-of-state, online-only retailers with no physical presence in the state.
by Capitol Confidential16 May 2011, 1:13 PM PST0
Big Government has previously covered efforts led by California liberals, including Assemblywoman Nancy Skinner, to force out-of-state, online-only retailers with no physical presence in California to collect and remit California sales tax where they sell into the state, based purely
by Capitol Confidential13 May 2011, 9:27 AM PST0
Conservatives looking to balance the federal budget know the importance of reining in the cost of Medicare. But how you reduce the cost of the program is almost as important as whether you reduce the cost. The implications are enormous
by Capitol Confidential11 May 2011, 3:45 PM PST0
The objective of having community colleges is to provide low-cost education to those who, for whatever reason, find four-year universities inaccessible. The idea behind supporting and subsidizing non-profit community colleges seems to be to give opportunity specifically to low-income students,
by Capitol Confidential10 May 2011, 9:29 AM PST0
On Friday, we all woke up to the happy news that gas prices might go down a teensy little bit after Memorial Day. Even though that “teensy bit” might just mean “down to $3.50, that news was welcome in a
by Capitol Confidential9 May 2011, 3:01 PM PST0
Thursday, The Hill’s “Floor Action” blog reported that the Obama administration was “floating” a plan to tax drivers according to the number of miles they drive. Administration officials, including White House spokeswoman Jennifer Psaki, were quick to push back on
by Capitol Confidential6 May 2011, 3:43 AM PST0