Random Musings by Kraft

  • prayers of the state: jan 11, 2005

    I want to make it a running feature of my site to display the prayers said in the Texas House and Senate during the 140-day session this year. I am a couple of days behind but both houses are taking a break until January 24th to allow a group to head to see President Bush…

  • school finance: taxes are never that easy

    Jorge left a comment on my last entry about the 1.50/100 rate tax cap and how we aren’t being capped at that. The cap isn’t as clear as everyone, including me, make it out to be. Currently school district property tax rates are capped at 1.50/100 for maintenance and operations. They are, however, allowed to…

  • texas school finance

    The Austin American-Statesman reports that the Texas Senators have agreed to levy a $1/$100 statewide property tax, as well as expand the franchise tax, in order to help save public education in the state. Currently, since the so-called Robin Hood plan was struck down, schools are financed by a locally-administered property tax that is capped…

  • that was a break

    My first post of the year is tweleve days late. In that time, I’ve been a little bit of everywhere- Wichita Falls, Dallas, Austin, Houston and Wichita, KS. Wichita Falls: I was in Wichita Falls for the bulk of the break for the usual family and friends’ meetings. The main thing I learned: three weeks…

  • archdiocese of galveston-houston

    The Vatican Information Service released today that the Holy Father made some changes involving the various dioceses of Texas. All the dioceses of Texas were “suffragan dioceses” to the Archdiocese of San Antonio. For the most part, that doesn’t mean too much to the average Catholic. More is explained below. The ecclesiastical province of San…

  • writing at peace

    One of the definite downside to being in Wichita Falls for the break is the detachment from my life, as I now know it. While this is a “vacation” from school, I am not on an actual vacation. So, in the week that I’ve been in Wichita Falls, I have caught up on bills, had…