All this talk about Fauci “Pleading the Fifth” more than 100 times is sickening. At 85 years old, he’ll likely avoid prosecution and jail time. But none of us can avoid the damage his fame-seeking did to our country. And, not one of us is immune from the damage.
I believe children in school at that time will bear the damages the longest. Those who passed away lost the most and their relatives grieve the most. Workers fired for non-masking may never financially recover. Businesses lost will never be back, hurting owners, employees and customers.
We’ve read about all these consequences as a result of the publication of his ego-maniacal diary entries. We’ve read articles about the impacts. But so far, not one of them that I’ve read has talked about the massive amount of FRAUD.
WASHINGTON — Today, in coordination with the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced that it has referred 562,000 suspected fraudulent loans to the U.S. Department of Treasury (Treasury) for collection, marking the SBA’s largest referral package on record. The borrowers are tied to $22.2 billion in delinquent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and COVID Economic Injury Disaster (EIDL) loans that were previously flagged for suspected fraud during the Biden Administration but never sent to Treasury for collection nor referred to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) for investigation.
You know whose money they loan out, don’t you? That would be our tax payments: your money and mine.
Tony Fauci should have to return his government salary paid during Covid, all those awards he sought and won including the costs of government time and assets for getting them, any funding he authorized for illegal gain-of-function research anywhere in the world, any sponsorship money, any money he was paid for appearances whether “in-kind” or monetary, and any other ill-gotten gains. He should have his pension reduced to pre-Covid levels. After all, many Americans have lower pensions due to being out of work during that time. Why should Tony be any different?
Not only was Covid a fraud perpetrated on the US and the world, but it was the foundation for billions in actual monetary fraud plus the subsequent costs of prosecuting and jailing those who committed that fraud.
Anthony Fauci, if he never goes to jail, should be hurt financially like the rest of us. Sadly, whatever he does pay, would only be the drop in a $22-billion dollar bucket.
There are several problems with tax abatements. First, many elected officials aren’t really saavy about taxation impacts. Second, flat rate abatements put more money in the pockets of businesses no matter how successful they are. Third, it only takes a little logic to realize that if government doesn’t lower spending commensurate with the money they aren’t collecting, someone (read all other taxpayers) picks up the tab.
Taxation Impacts
I’ve written before about elected officials strutting around telling citizens how much revenue some development will generate. I’ve complained that these same elected officials never provide an estimate of the government services costs associated with that same development. Do we taxpayers ever get to see an income to expense report? Ask for one and you’ll get your answer.
I did one in Denville Township when I was in office. It wasn’t hard to calculate the cost of municipal services per capita. That included municipal expenditures and school expenses (Denville has 2 school systems: K-8 and a regional high school system). Using census data, it wasn’t hard to figure these numbers. It also wasn’t hard to find the total annual tax revenue. It was a line item in our budget, as was the annual collection rate (not everyone pays their taxes on time).
We also used a term which I’ve never heard in Texas: ratable. A “ratable” was a development that generated more in taxes than it cost in services. Isn’t that what they should be seeking? If they have no idea what a development will cost (police, fire, public works, administration, etc), how can they begin to think that just because it generates revenue, it’s a good thing for the government (taxpayers) bottom line?
Most of us balance budgets ourselves comparing income to expenses. It’s time governments be required to do so for every new development of a certain size. Without that, they can’t justify one dollar in abatement.
Data centers are basically racks and racks of computers. Is the EdgeConneX a carrier neutral data center (meaning multiple customers use the data center)? Or will it be a single customer data center (for example, serving only one business)?
In either case, why a 75% property tax abatement if the data center is, for example, 50% full? That makes no sense.
What does make sense is an abatement based on occupancy as a proxy for income. If a carrier neutral data center is only 20% full year one, then a 75% abatement makes sense that year. If that carrier neutral data center is 50% full in year two, then a 50% abatement makes sense that year. And, on and on. Consider this possibility:
0 to 20% rack occupancy: 75% abatement 21% to 40% rack occupancy: 60% abatement 41% to 60% rack occupancy: 40% abatement 60% to 80% rack occupancy: 20% abatement Over 80% rack occupancy: no abatement
This makes far more sense than a flat 75% for 10 years. If only one customer is leasing data center rack space, the abatement could be 75%, 50%, 25%, 0%, dependent on functional rack space.
Lower Government Spending
A data center will require enhanced and potentially specialized public services like police and fire. Specialized equipment, chemicals, lighting, electrical connections, specialized fire fighting apparatus and more will be required.
Who will pay? Texas doesn’t have an off-site improvement law requiring developers to pay for off-site improvements needed as a result of their development. There is no law requiring impact fees. Impact fees cover things like additional schools or classrooms required as a result of housing developments.
Even if it did, because counties have no land use regulatory authority, it is likely that developments in unincorporated areas wouldn’t garner the benefits of either of these.
Again, who will pay? Logic says it should be the developer by paying the full freight of their property tax levy. But a 10-year abatement changes all that. Some improvements, like power infrastructure, water and sewer lines, need to be built within that 10-year abatement, which means other taxpayers (residential, commercial & industrial) will pay higher bills to cover those costs. A good example is the million dollar right turn lane paid by City of Bastrop taxpayers instead of the developer who caused it to be needed in the first place.
Solution
I submit that our elected officials stop giving away flat rate abatements. Personally, I’d like to see them stop all abatements. But, if they must because that’s the only way they can put some controls on a development as the county commissioners claim, they should tie an abatement to business success.
If a business makes more money, the tax abatement is reduced accordingly. Data centers fit this model perfectly and our county commissioners should start using common sense. Stop saddling current property taxpayers with a bill the business should be paying.
Tuesday – June 9, 2026: The LP Committee members voted on what each thought should be the top 15 LPs put to the delegates when delegates vote. There were percentages associated with each, however the video did not show the results and the percentages were not announced so those watching knew what they were. Nor could YouTube watchers see the list of those items not included in the top 15.
Secure Texas Elections
Stop Islamification of Texas
Abolish Property Taxes
Ban Taxpayer Funded Lobbying
End Governmental Overreach
Border Enforcement
Medical Freedom
Protect Life
Secure the Electric Grid
Water Natural Resources
Protect Texas Kids
No Democrat Chairs
Eminent Domain
Gambling
2A, Second Amendment
After public comment this afternoon, there will be additional discussion about the details in each of these topics. Concerns mentioned by multiple members that were not included in the top 15: AI, Education Reform, Texas is not for Sale, State Budget and a couple of others.
I hope they consider the wording we put forth regarding “No Dem Chairs”. That was accomplished last session, so it needs to be broader than just chairs. Our verbiage was “No Democrats in Leadership Roles”.
Bastrop County Republicans held their convention in March, 2026. I was honored to have been selected to chair the “Legislative Priorities” committee. This is the first time Senate District (SD) and County Conventions have voted on Legislative Priorities (LPs).
Bastrop County LPs are sent up to the State Convention LP committee. They will review submissions from all SD & County Conventions and create a list for delegates to the State Convention to vote on. Convention starts June 8 with committee meetings. The full convention starts at 9AM on June 11. By Saturday evening, we’ll know which chair & vice chair candidates will lead us to victory in November. And, we’ll know the list of state-wide legislative priorities.
Here are the LPs from Bastrop County. These were unanimously approved after discussion with the entire delegation. The list, by title only, of priorities in order is below. To read the details on each item, please see the full report (PDF) sent to Texas GOP (also below).
Border Enforcement
Prevent the Use of Taxpayer Funds and Public Office to Advance any Religious, Ideological, or Foreign Systems of Law
Tax abatements shift the tax burden from the business getting the abatement to all other taxpayers. How does that happen?
It’s a simple concept. Governments budget income and expenses, just like you do. Local government income is primarily tax revenue. Expenses? I don’t think I need to explain those…. government spending.
Let’s talk about taxes (income). There are property taxes, sales taxes, hotel occupancy taxes, personal property taxes on businesses and some others. But that will do for my example.
Let’s say Local Government A gets revenue as follows:
Residential property taxes: $1,000,000 Commercial property taxes: $2,000,000 Hotel & Occupancy taxes: $ 500,000 Personal Property taxes: $ 750,000 TOTAL INCOME: $4,250,000 BUDGETED EXPENSES: $4,250,000
BUT, local elected officials decide that Business A should get a “tax abatement” and not pay any (or reduced) commercial property taxes or personal property taxes for the next 5 years.
In our example, we’ll say that Business A is estimated to pay $50,000 in commercial property taxes and $25,000 in personal property taxes each year. Also, the county has agreed to handle all administrative tasks (expense), do road repairs (expense), waive inspection fees (expenses incurred but not reimbursed by fees). Let’s estimate that to be $75,000 in expenses and lost income.
So now, with abatements, TOTAL INCOME above becomes $4,175,000 ($4,250,000 minus $75,000). Then there are those incurred expenses not paid by Business A, but paid by the local government. So, BUDGETED EXPENSES is now $4,325,000 ($4,250,000 + $75,000).
A net zero budget is now $150,000 in the hole and someone, some taxpayer, has to make up that deficit.
Every time there is an abatement without a matching reduction in spending, some other taxpayer picks up the tab.
Abatements give businesses tax breaks. There’s no such thing for residential property owners. We residential property taxpayers just pick up that deficit created by the abatements because there’s never a reduction in spending.
In fact, development increases government costs to provide services. Industrial/commercial less than residential, but all development increases costs. And, the “Order” on Tuesday’s agenda specifically states such as follows:
The County recognizes that participation in the Texas Enterprise Zone Program may require ongoing administrative coordination, reporting, record retention, compliance monitoring, and financial review by County staff, including the County Auditor’s Office and other County departments. The Commissioners Court reserves the right to establish administrative procedures, cost recovery mechanisms, or related agreements, as authorized by law, to support the administration of enterprise projects.
I’ve never seen a study in Bastrop County about the per capita cost of services. I’ve never seen a study here proving the income generated by a business exceeds the increased cost of government services. All we ever hear is how much revenue a development will generate. It sounds good, but my experience in local government elected office says it rarely works that way. And, even when it does, shouldn’t someone give taxpayers a true financial analysis?
The Bastrop County Commissioners, all Republicans, have Order 2026-09 on their agenda the day after Memorial Day at 9 a.m. Great timing with schools out and a preceding holiday weekend. Even poorer timing considering it’s election day.
Any patriot working the election will be unable to attend the meeting either in person or online to express their opinion about this issue. To me, someone who has worked elections for years, this is a real slap. (Full disclosure, I’m not working this election due to a prior out-of-state commitment.)
The order seeks to “ordain” the County’s participation in the Texas Enterprise Zone Program. According to the Governor’s website, “The Texas Enterprise Zone Program (EZP) is a state sales and use tax refund program designed to encourage private investment and job creation in economically distressed areas of the state.” (emphasis added)
I stress “economically distressed areas” in the above description. There’s a map on the Governor’s site. Space X is not in an “economically distressed” area. Nor is Bastrop County designated as a “distressed county”. The County admits so in its “Order“.
Every application of the Texas Enterprise Zone Program to a business that is not in an economically distressed area denies those benefits to a business or county that is in such an area. Eligibility is limited according to the Governor’s website.
“…communities with a population of less than 250,000 have 6 designations available. The state may award a maximum of 105 designations statewide per biennium, and may award up to 12 designations per quarterly round.”
Then there’s the fact that this is an all-Republican Commissioner’s Court. We didn’t elect these people to give tax breaks to businesses while residential property taxpayers get slammed. The GOP Platform gives guidance on this.
No Corporate Welfare: We encourage government to divest its ownership of all businesses that should be run in the private sector. We oppose all bailouts of and subsidies to domestic and foreign government entities, states, and for all businesses, public and private. We agree with the Texas Constitution’s requirement for fair and uniform taxation andoppose special treatment or tax breaks for favored industries or companies. We call for repeal or sunset of existing subsidy or special-interest tax exemptions, including the Special Events Trust Fund program, the Texas Enterprise Fund, Moving Image Industry Incentive Program, and lab-grown meat incentives, and now request repeal of Chapter 403.601 of the Texas Tax Code. […] (Plank 78, 2024 Texas GOP Platform, highlighting added)
So, why are they doing this? Star-struck perhaps? Because it’s Elon Musk? Perhaps it’s pressure from higher levels of government. Frankly, that would be my guess.
In conclusion, I don’t care what business owner is getting a tax break. I don’t believe in them. Redirecting the tax burden from one entity to another is socialist thinking.
I’m actually an Elon Musk fan. I don’t blame him for trying to get every break he can for his businesses. But our elected officials were put there by US, by the voters. Elon Musk, Governor Abbott, Donald Trump did not put them at the dais. We did. And they need to remember that, remember who they are supposed to represent, when voting to give another business a tax abatement.
Probably like you, I feel bombarded by “stuff” happening at all levels of government. Perhaps I feel it more because of my involvement or because I’m a talk radio junkie. But, this has really grabbed my attention: The Islamization of Texas.
I speak often about letting people get their foot in the door (or even just their toe) so they can, without us expecting it, push their whole body (or political agenda) in our faces. How many “movements” can you think of that started with “oh, it’s just a little of this” and the next thing you know, they’re everywhere. The threat then seems overwhelming to tackle.
That’s pretty much where we are with Islam in Texas. Have you seen the videos of “sermons” in mosques? A quick search on YouTube will turn up quite a few. There are laws in Texas against sedition, and calling for the overthrow of our government is just that. But, hey, it’s just one sermon or two… not so much to worry about, right? Those people calling for “Death to America”? Well, they’re overseas not next door, so why worry. Really?
Take an hour to listen to John Guandolo. He’ll open your eyes. Then sign up for the LPRW Cinco de Mayo event where you’ll learn more from some experts. It’s time to step up to the plate and stop this in its tracks.
I’ve been asked quite a few times who I recommend on the ballot. I’ve written a lengthy endorsement for the Attorney General’s race. Since tomorrow is election day, I’m going to share a few other recommendations.
US SENATE Ken Paxton. Paxton has been a bulldog for Texans and Texas Values in his role as Attorney General. His opponents have not. Texas desperately needs a strong voice representing conservative Texans in the US Senate.
US HOUSE – CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 27 Michael Cloud. Michael Cloud is a strong Texas conservative and votes accordingly. He has earned positions on the Appropriations Committee and the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. He deserves to be returned to Congress.
GOVERNOR “Doc” Pete Chambers. Governor Abbott has, overall, done a good job for Texas. However, his endorsement of legislators based on one vote (School Choice) was inappropriate. I loved his bussing of illegals throughout the country as it brought that issue front and center for places that weren’t feeling our pain. I didn’t like his Covid decisions. Keeping big box stores open and forcing small businesses to close was unacceptable. Forcing bars to close because more than 50% of their revenue was alcohol while allowing restaurants to open and serve lacked consistency. Too many appointments and decisions seem to be made due to campaign financial support and I oppose that. Doc has said he will not appoint people to positions if they donate large amounts of money to his campaign. Refreshing.
LT GOVERNOR Perla Hopkins. When Dan Patrick pushed for half a billion dollars for the movie industry every 2 years, he lost my vote. Texas Scorecard explained “The Texas Moving Image Industry Incentive Fund would receive $500 million every two years over the next decade, amounting to $2.5 billion by the 2034-2035 biennium.” If I wanted to support that industry, I’d go to the movies. I’m frankly sick of dolling out tax money to the favorite industry of the day…. especially one that has no impact on my quality of life.
ATTORNEY GENERAL Aaron Reitz. I’m strongly endorsing Aaron Reitz for Attorney General. Not only is he Ken Paxton’s choice for the next AG, but he has the tenacity, core values, and strength of character to protect Texas and to manage over 4,000 employees. Read my entire endorsement.
COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS, PLACE 3 Lesli Fitzpatrick. Lesli is the most qualified candidate. She has a broad range of legal experience including significant criminal courtroom experience. She had her own legal practice, has worked for the State of Texas in a position that provided extensive knowledge of the Texas prison system. This race is for a seat on the highest criminal court in Texas, the one that reviews every death penalty case. Lesli is a solid conservative Republican. With her criminal courtroom experience, Lesli is the best choice.
TEXAS HOUSE DISTRICT 17 Tom Glass. If you’ve been to your mailbox lately, you’ll understand this endorsement. More than 125 Political Action Committees have donated to Tom’s opponent. Texans for Lawsuit Reform has donated well over a quarter of a million dollars to Tom’s opponent. If you want a legislator that answers to the big money donors, vote for the other guy. But if you want a legislator who fights for conservative Texans in his district, vote for Tom Glass.
BASTROP COUNTY JUDGE Don Loucks. I was shocked when, at a candidate forum, our current County Judge had to ask the emcee what an NGO is. What?? He’s reviewing, voting for, and presiding over a multi-million dollar budget that includes tax dollar payments to NGOs and he doesn’t know what one is. He struggles to run a meeting as seen by those who were at the last County Commissioner’s meeting: taking testimony after an item had already been tabled. That violates Robert’s Rules.
Don’s opponent has shown that he does not have the skill set to make decisions for a county whose population is exploding. The County Judge literally has the lives of over 100,000 Bastrop County residents in his hands. We need a leader trained in emergency management, who understands budgets and taxes, who is conversant with the public safety needs of a growing Texas county. We need a strong, conservative leader and that’s Don Loucks.
