Good morning, 

I’m excited in today’s Texas Minute to re-introduce Texans for Fiscal Responsibility as it makes a new launch as an independent organization with new leadership!

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

Monday, January 11, 2021
Modify your email preferences.

• In late 2006, we launched Texans for Fiscal Responsibility. Over the course of the intervening 14 years, the brand has become one of the most well-recognized in the Lone Star State. The name says it all. 
     
• At the same time the Texas Scorecard brand was launched as its own organization, independent of the old Empower Texans, so too was Texans for Fiscal Responsibility.
     
• The newly reconstituted Texans for Fiscal Responsibility will continue to be focused on helping taxpayers understand how Texas lawmakers are spending the people’s money – and how to hold them accountable for their actions.
     
• TFR’s new website can be found at TexasTaxpayers.com.

• Steering the new TFR is a board of directors that includes former State Reps. Jonathan Stickland, Matt Rinaldi, and Stuart Spitzer – all of whom earned “Taxpayer Champion” ratings from TFR throughout their time in the Legislature.
     
• Day to day operations will be overseen by TFR President Cary Cheshire. After starting as a Capitol reporter with Texas Scorecard in 2014, Cheshire most previously served as Empower Texans’ vice president overseeing the TFR activities and the Fiscal Responsibility Index. Cheshire grew up in Southeast Texas and attended Texas A&M. He has also previously worked on several political campaigns.
      
• Working alongside Cheshire will be Tim Hardin, who serves as TFR’s executive director. Tim Hardin is a small businessman, pastor, and former chief of staff to State Rep. Jonathan Stickland. He resides in Fort Worth with his wife and their five children.

• TFR is most known for the Fiscal Responsibility Index, an objective measurement of how lawmakers perform on issues related to the size and role of government. In compiling the Index, Texans for Fiscal Responsibility uses exemplar votes on core budget and free enterprise issues to demonstrate legislators’ governing philosophy.
      
• Votes that will be used on the Index are announced early – before the votes are taken. There are no surprises when the ratings come out after the legislative session concludes.

• You can learn more about TFR’s 2021 Fiscal Responsibility Index, sign up for alerts, and get involved with their work  by visiting their website at TexasTaxpayers.com.

• Please join me in wishing Cary, Tim, and their board members all the best as they help our fellow citizens unravel the legislative process, understand the fiscal impact of legislation on all Texans, and track lawmakers’ performance on these key issues!