Empower Texans
Empower Texans is a nonprofit organization focused on promoting free market principles in Texas. It is affiliated with Texans for Fiscal Responsibility and the Empower Texans Foundation.[1] Empower Texans is based in Austin with operations in Dallas, Houston and Midland.[2] Michael Quinn Sullivan serves as the organization's CEO and Ross Kecseg serves as the organization's president.[1] Empower Texans focuses on fiscal conservatism by supporting lower taxes and spending restraint.[3]
| Type | 501(c)(4) nonprofit |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To promote free-market principles in Texas |
| Headquarters | Austin, Texas |
President | Ross Kecseg |
CEO | Michael Quinn Sullivan |
| Affiliations | Texans for Fiscal Responsibility, Empower Texans Foundation |
| Website | www |
Texans for Fiscal Responsibility
Texans for Fiscal Responsibility (TFR), which is a project of Empower Texans, is a conservative political advocacy group based in Austin, Texas.[4] Founded by Michael Quinn Sullivan, 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."[5] TFR is a nonprofit organization and files as a 501c(4).[6]
TFR advocates for limited government via reduced taxation and greater public accountability.[7] The group has been described as trying to "purge the GOP establishment."[8] Texas Monthly called TFR "one of the most influential advocacy groups in Austin".[9]
Through TFR, Empower Texans publishes an annual Fiscal Responsibility Index, which is a scorecard the group uses to grade legislators according to how well they protect the interests of taxpayers; and a Taxpayer Pledge, which is signed by lawmakers who promise not to raise taxes.[10][11] The group hands out "Taxpayer Champion Awards" to legislators who score well on TFR's Fiscal Responsibility Index.[12]
Texas Scorecard
In January 2015, Empower Texans launched a project called Texas Scorecard. Texas Scorecard is a print and online publication of the organization's expanded news section. The publication's managing editor is Brandon Waltens. The print version features content from Empower Texans' website as well as other conservative, Texas-based organizations.[13]
2016 elections
The group, which opposed Republican Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives Joe Straus, made $1.4 million in donations and in-kind contributions to anti-Straus candidates in the 2016 primary election.[14]
Empower Texans made the following endorsements for the November 2016 general election:[15]
2018 elections
In the 2018 Texas Republican primary elections, which were held on March 6, 2018, Empower Texans endorsed 34 candidates. A total of 13 endorsed candidates won, while 17 lost and four advanced to runoff primary elections in May 2018. Two of the group's notable victories were the defeat of state representatives Jason Villalba and Wayne Faircloth.[16]
References
- "Tribpedia: Michael Quinn Sullivan". Texas Tribune. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
- Schleifer, Theodore (September 15, 2014). "Updated: Empower Texans looks to make a Houston home". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
- Batheja, Aman (May 10, 2014). "A Big Spender Aims to Push State Politics Further Right". New York Times. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
- Reynolds, John (March 28, 2014). "Suit Over Spoof PAC Ends With Apology". Texas Tribune. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
- "About Us". Empower Texans. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
- Flahive, Paul (March 31, 2014). "The Source: Tracking The "Unlobbyists"". Texas Public Radio. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
- Batheja, Aman (May 10, 2014). "A Big Spender Aims to Push State Politics Further Right". New York Times. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
- "Texan of the Year finalist: Michael Quinn Sullivan". Dallas Morning News. December 23, 2014. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
- Blakeslee, Nate (January 2013). "Primary Targets". Texas Monthly. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
- Garrett, Robert (January 4, 2013). "Gadfly warns: Vote for Straus, get demerits on group's scorecard for bills his lieutenants smother". Dallas Morning News. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
- "Fiscal Responsibility Index". Empower Texans. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
- "Landtroop receives endorsement". Plainview Herald. December 8, 2011.
- "About". Texas Scorecard. Empower Texans. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
- Martin, Brittney; McSwane, J. David (February 28, 2016). "Analysis: One group, and one donor, give large share of money in push to move Texas House to the right". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved 2 October 2017.
- "Endorsements". Empower Texans. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
- Zelinski, Andrea (March 9, 2018). "Key conservative group Empower Texans loses 17 races in primary election". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 5 April 2018.