Dayhoff Soundtrack: Michael Barone - Low-tax Texas beats big-government California

Monday, March 08, 2010

Michael Barone - Low-tax Texas beats big-government California

Texas is a different story. Texas has low taxes -- and no state income taxes -- and a much smaller government. Its legislature meets for only 90 days every two years, compared with California's year-round legislature. Its fiscal condition is sound. Public employee unions are weak or nonexistent.

But Texas seems to be delivering superior services. Its teachers are paid less than California's. But its test scores -- and with a demographically similar school population -- are higher. California's once fabled freeways are crumbling and crowded. Texas has built gleaming new highways in metro Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth.

In the meantime, Texas' economy has been booming. Unemployment rates have been below the national average for more than a decade, as companies small and large generate new jobs.

Chris Stirewalt - Iraqis may prove war was a mistake worth making

Our forefathers had to wait 12 years after the Declaration of Independence to have their first direct congressional elections. The Iraqis have now completed their second legislative elections in just seven years.

It would not have been possible without the unstinting sacrifices of the American military and the support of the citizens of the United States. But neither would it have been possible without the sheer cussedness of the Iraqis.

David Freddoso - Bankers don't need another senator, Obama said. Except in Illinois.

Bankers don't need another vote in the United States Senate," President Obama said as he urged Massachusetts voters to support Attorney General Martha Coakley over Republican Scott Brown. He also railed against "the same fat-cats who are getting rewarded for their failure."

But in Illinois, Democrats have nominated a banker for Obama's old Senate seat

Susan Ferrechio -Democrats try to manage stream of scandals

Democrats have suffered from a string of scandals reminiscent of the corruption that plagued the GOP before the party lost the majority in Congress four years ago. While Democrats appear to have taken some important lessons from 2006, when they rode to victory on the "culture of corruption" attacks against Republicans, their response may not be enough to spare them the same fate as the GOP. "They need tougher ethics rules now, no ifs ands or buts," said Democratic strategist Doug Schoen.