Texans for Fiscal Responsibility

Infobox Non-profit
Non-profit_name = Texans for Fiscal Responsibility
Non-profit_
founded_date = 2006
founder =
location = Austin, Texas
origins =
key_people = Michael Quinn Sullivan
area_served = Texas
focus = Taxpayer Advocacy
method =
revenue =
endowment =
num_volunteers =
owner =
Non-profit_slogan =
homepage = [http://www.empowertexans.com]
tax_exempt =
dissolved =
footnotes =

Texans for Fiscal Responsibility (TFR), a premier project of Empower Texans, is a political advocacy group based in Austin, Texas. The stated mission of TFR is to, "create and sustain a system of strong fiscal stewardship within all levels of Texas government, ensuring the greatest amounts of economic and personal liberty, and promoting public policies that provide individuals with the freedom to use their strengths and talents in pursuit of greater opportunities." [http://www.empowertexans.com/about] TFR is a non profit organization and files as a 501c(4).

Mission

TFR contends that, “If government and taxes are allowed to grow without restraint, the economy will contract, thereby limiting opportunities for all Texans.” [http://www.empowertexans.com/about]

This contention led The State Policy Network (SPN) [http://www.spn.org/directory/orgid.295/org_detail.asp] to state that, “TFR will promote a series of budget and tax reforms, including: reducing the impact of the new business tax; reforming the spending cap; protecting “dedicated” revenues for their designed purposes; requiring lawmakers to provide greater budget detail; enacting reforms to the current appraisal system; and, promoting transparency in spending.

Publications and Projects

* Weekly Publications
** TFR releases weekly email newsletters chiefly outlining government policy that has economic implications at the state level. [http://www.empowertexans.com/commentaries] .
** In addition, TFR is frequently quoted in print media sources in major Texas markets such as the [Houston Chronicle] , [Dallas Morning News] and the [Austin American Statesman] . See reference section for print articles.
* 80th Legislative session
** TFR engaged in direct mailing efforts [http://www.marshallnewsmessenger.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/capitolpressreleases/entries/2007/01/22/texans_for_fiscal_responsibili.html] calling on Legislators to return a tax surplus that was in excess of $13 billion.
** TFR worked to uphold reforms to the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) [http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/4614948.html]
* Scorecard
** After the conclusion of the Texas’ 80th Legislative session TFR released a voting scorecard for both the upper and lower chambers
** TFR looked at bills authorship, co-authorship, sponsors and each Legislator's vote to compile the scorecards. Bills that increased or reduced taxes, bills that created taxing entities, and those that created greater or less transparency were analyzed. A complete description of the methodology used to compile these scorecards can be found on TFR’s website.
* Multimedia Events
** Tele town hall meetings were also hosted by TFR with guests Carl Isett R-Lubbock and Gov. Rick Perry
** Michael Sullivan conducted several radio interviews on a wide range of topics
** Governor Rick Perry and Michael Quinn Sullivan hosted a joint press conference presenting constituent mail to Legislators
* In November 2007 TFR spoke out against several ballot initiatives, including the creation of a Cancer Research Fund

TFR staff

Michael Quinn Sullivan, President

Marc Levin, General Counsel

Daniel Greer, Director of Operations

Board of Directors

Tim Dunn, Executive Director 2006-2007

Michael Sullivan

References

*Houston Chronicle Position Article [http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/4614948.html]
*Posting of Tan Parker endorsement [http://capitolannex.com/2007/03/16/right-wing-group-to-honor-only-lawmaker-to-vote-against-tearing-down-permanant-wall-keeping-kids-off-chip/] [http://lonestartimes.com/2007/03/08/bucking-the-trend/]
*Published mission statement [http://www.spn.org/directory/orgid.295/org_detail.asp]
*Marshal Newspaper Article 1/22/07 [http://www.marshallnewsmessenger.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/capitolpressreleases/entries/2007/01/22/texans_for_fiscal_responsibili.html]
*Carl Isett telephone town hall meeting [http://www.rickperry.org/audio/TFR-Isett-ConfCall.mp3]
*Budget Reform Piece [http://www.mysanantonio.com/opinion/letters/stories/MYSA042907.05H.sullivan.24919cb.html]

External links

* YouTube video: Joint press conference with Gov. Rick Perry [http://youtube.com/watch?v=kD_X9T1NcaY]
* Empower Texans web site [http://www.empowertexans.com]