Thank you so much for the ping....I am actually not a Texan and, unfortunately, was born and (unfortunately) reside in The Most Corrupt State (Washington) but I have been 'keeping an eye' on Texas particularly closely over the past few years because it seems that whenever Texas in mentioned in FR, it's always about something good happening there. Everyone that I've ever met in person as well as online who is from Texas has been VERY nice and polite, VERY gracioius and VERY hospitable. It seems that most folks from Texas are quite sane and well-balanced (Unlike those here in Washington - Freepers excepted of course) and I have decided that I simply MUST visit Texas one day...it seems to be quite a delightful place filled with wonderful people.
Getting an unsolicited "Texas Ping" from you is like icing on the cake....it makes me feel almost like an 'honorary Texan' :-)
Thank you so much and best wishes to you and yours :-)
When I left Texas, most state offices were Democrat; sales tax was about 3% and the governor suggested lowering it because of the surplus.
As I'm returning, most state offices are Repbulican; sales tax is about 8% and the governor seems to want to introduce a crypto-income tax and property taxes are much higher than Democrat-controlled New Mexico.
The GOP is still the party of Big Government and High Taxes.