Video & Transcript : 'taxpayers' :
Page 43 of 448
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- You're strengthening Alabama homes, which is your grant program, as taxpayer funded?
- taxpayer, taxpayer money through a constitutional amendment that you are absolutely 100% running a grant
- This is taxpayer money that was ratified by the people of Texas for a specific purpose.
- So has anybody given any logic to why we put taxpayer dollars there?
- I think it'd be expected of us because the taxpayers, we are the fiduciaries for the taxpayer dollars
Committee:
Senate Business & Commerce
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on Environment, Climate and Legacy - 03/05/26
Environment, Climate, and Legacy
Transcript Highlights:
- This is taxpayer dollars.
- This isn't our This is taxpayer dollars.
- This is taxpayer dollars. There money. This is taxpayer dollars.
- But one correction is that it's not taxpayer dollar proceeds. Thank you.
- </c> taxpayer dollar proceed. taxpayer dollar proceed. >> Thank<01:04:48.720><c> you.
Committee:
Senate Environment, Climate, and Legacy
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- Minnesota needs our rle school taxpayers Minnesota needs our rle school districts<00:10:08.600><c> to
- It's practical, it's forward-thinking solution, and it benefits our schools, our taxpayers alike.
- It's practical, it's forward-thinking solution, and it benefits our schools, our taxpayers alike.
- It's practical, it's forward-thinking solution, and it benefits our schools, our taxpayers alike.
- It's practical, it's forward-thinking solution, and it benefits our schools, our taxpayers alike.
Committee:
House Education Finance
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy Committee 4/9/26
Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- </c><00:19:11.440><c> of</c> the state and not on the taxpayers of the state and not on the taxpayers
- </c> and confidence that the scarce taxpayer and confidence that the scarce taxpayer dollars<00:52:26.319
- And if we found taxpayer is made whole.
- We are all taxpayers and we don't tolerate uh any fraud.
- We are all get because I'm a taxpayer.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy Committee 5/5/26
Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> of taxpayer money. of taxpayer money.
- money, that he has failed to taxpayer money, that he has failed to hold<00:52:43.040><c> his</c><00:
- I mean, the dysfunction that continues to this day that allows billions of our taxpayers' dollars to
- dollars to be billions of our taxpayers dollars to be stolen<01:09:54.400><c> and</c><01:09:54.640><
- </c> center and has made taxpayers the mark. center and has made taxpayers the mark.
WI
Wisconsin 2026 1st Special Session
Wisconsin State Senate Floor Session May 13th, 2026
Wisconsin Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Our seniors and our taxpayers deserve better.
- this, not because I don't want to fund our schools, and not because I don't want to help out our taxpayers
- This is tax money that we've taken in excess from our taxpayers that are sitting in a checking account
- At least to me as a taxpayer, it surely is. Thank you, Madam President. Really, really important.
- At least to me, as a taxpayer, it surely is. Thank you, Madam President. Senator from the 9th.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Rules and Administration - Subcommittee on Ethical Conduct - Part 2 - 05/05/25
Rules and Administration - Subcommittee on Ethical Conduct
Transcript Highlights:
- And I think there's been a confusion between policy changes to specific taxpayer funding towards one
- we're getting at when there is a specific— this case is all about a specific funding request of taxpayer
- all about a specific funding<00:07:49.680><c> request</c><00:07:50.160><c> of</c><00:07:50.400><c> taxpayer
- </c><00:07:51.160><c> dollars</c> funding request of taxpayer dollars funding request of taxpayer dollars
- and recommendation to a member of either party if there was a bill that was directly appropriating taxpayer
ND
North Dakota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Finance and Taxation Apr 9th, 2025 at 10:00 am
Finance and Taxation
Transcript Highlights:
- incur more debt because they've paid off their debt with this, and it's to the detriment of the taxpayer
- and to the detriment of the taxpayer and to the detriment project, give them that flexibility so that
- incur more debt because they've paid off their debt with this, and it's to the detriment of the taxpayer
- and to the detriment of the taxpayer and to the detriment Paid off their debt with this, and it's to
- the detriment of the taxpayer and to the detriment of the non-oil-producing counties and cities as well
Committee:
House Finance and Taxation
Summary:
The Finance and Tax Committee met and first took up Senate Bill 2093, described as providing a small amount of income tax relief for widowed law enforcement peace officers. The committee briefly discussed the limited scope of the relief, then recommended a due pass by roll call vote, with all members present voting yes. Representative Hagert was assigned to carry the bill to the floor.
The committee then spent most of its time on Senate Bill 2023, which concerned the Prairie Dog/energy impact grant funding formula and support for debt incurred by oil-impacted cities. Members debated whether the bill unfairly shifted money from the remaining 1% pool that also serves non-oil-producing cities and counties. Supporters argued that Williston, Dickinson, and Minot took on substantial debt to accommodate Bakken growth and that the state has already benefited from that development; opponents said the formula has been repeatedly eroded and that the bill would further disadvantage other political subdivisions.
An amendment was offered to narrow the bill’s duration from six bienniums to two, increase the grant amount to $25 million per year, correct distribution percentages, and require reporting to legislative management. A legislative staffer explained the added guardrails: the money could only be used for debt incurred within a specified date range and only for debt service, not new projects or operations. The amendment passed on a roll call vote, and the committee then recommended the amended bill due pass and re-refer to Appropriations by a 7-6 vote, with one member absent. Representative Steiner was designated to carry the bill. The committee then adjourned.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
AI use prohibited during health insurance prior authorization request review 2/19/26
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Covering that treatment came at a real cost to taxpayers. My name is Dr. Krishnan Subramanian.
- Covering that treatment came at a real cost to taxpayers.
- Covering that treatment came at a real cost to taxpayers.
- When taxpayer dollars are funding care and complex clinical decisions are being reviewed, that sacred
- Covering that treatment came at a real cost to taxpayers.
OK
Transcript Highlights:
- I think I'm reading it that what we're trying to do here is to protect the taxpayer, but if somebody,
- So when that liability shifts from the taxpayer through their elected officials to the developer, him
- So when that liability shifts from the taxpayer through their elected officials to the developer, him
- My understanding is under this language, it would shield the taxpayer, the city or the county, from that
- With this language, is a public entity that's funded by taxpayer dollars now going into debt without—I
Committee:
Senate Revenue and Taxation
Summary:
The Revenue and Taxation Committee met and considered several bills. Senate Bill 1776, by Senator Pugh, would create a $10,000 refundable tax credit for teachers with seven consecutive years of service, as part of a teacher retention strategy; after questions about the seven-year threshold, it passed 8-3. Senate Bill 1858, by Senator Frix, would create a new TIF district financing option allowing developers, rather than cities or counties, to borrow against projected TIF revenues; the committee adopted an amendment changing a filing provision from “may” to “shall,” and the bill passed 7-4. Senate Bill 1985, by Senator Guthrie, would let state retirement systems consider limited investments in regulated digital assets, capped at 5% and narrowed to large-market-cap assets; the committee added an amendment inserting “in” to clarify the language, and the bill passed 9-2.
The committee then rejected Senate Bill 1302, by Senator Kirt, which would repeal the “path to zero” trigger tied to future income tax cuts; it failed 2-9 after debate over fiscal stability and tax relief. Senate Bill 1809, by Senator Hamilton, would raise the homestead exemption from $1,000 to $5,000; members debated its impact on local governments and school funding, but it passed 9-2. Senate Bill 1401, by Senator Rader, was amended to adjust the insurance premium tax rate from 1.96% to 2.16% and eliminate the home office premium tax credit; the bill was laid over after concerns about its fiscal impact.
Finally, Senate Bill 2053, also by Senator Rader, would allow cities and counties to impose up to a 10% excise tax on medical marijuana dispensaries by local vote, with OTC handling collections and enforcement; supporters framed it as local control and a way to offset public safety costs, while opponents argued it unfairly targeted dispensaries and consumers. The bill passed 7-3. The committee then adjourned and announced it would meet again the following Monday after floor activity.
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
Appropriations Apr 22nd, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- They're not taxpayer dollars that are spent on like the care portal.
- I don't care if you spent my taxpayer dollars on Bible studies, the Old Testament, the New Testament.
- with an executive officer, even a city government or a county government, for example, too, to use taxpayer
- Certainly, you know, at the end of the day, the consumer or the taxpayer kind of pace for everything.
- deserve and inadvertently raise costs on taxpayers. >> Senator Senator Trumbell, thank you so much chair
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- the taxpayers.
- the taxpayers.
- the taxpayers.
- the taxpayers.
- the taxpayers.
Committee:
House Housing
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Ways and Means Jun 21st, 2026 at 12:00 pm
Joint Committee on Ways and Means
Transcript Highlights:
- President of Mass Taxpayers Foundation. Hello, Doug. Chair Roder, Mr.
- Members of the committee, my name is Doug Hallgate, President of the Mass Taxpayers Foundation.
- President of Mass Taxpayers Foundation. Hello, Doug. Chair Roder, Mr.
- Members of the committee, my name is Doug Hallgate, President of the Mass Taxpayers Foundation.
- Which is a lot of federal information and some assumptions based on taxpayer decisions.
Committee:
Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means
Summary:
The Senate and House Ways and Means chairs opened the FY 2027 consensus revenue hearing by emphasizing the need for a balanced, fiscally responsible budget amid federal funding cuts, health care cost pressures, and uncertainty around the federal tax law changes referred to as OB3. They also noted the state’s current revenue performance is slightly above benchmark and paid tribute to the late Representative Anne Margaret Ferranti. Secretary of Administration and Finance Matthew Gorkowitz echoed the call for caution, saying Massachusetts has protected core services while building reserves and that the FY27 budget process begins with a careful revenue estimate.
Department of Revenue Commissioner Jeff Snyder, along with DOR staff, presented FY26 and FY27 tax forecasts and identified major drivers and risks: OB3’s negative impact on state revenue, surtax collections, labor market conditions, capital gains, and corporate/business excise taxes. DOR estimated OB3 would reduce FY26 revenue by about $664 million and FY27 by about $282 million, while surtax and capital gains were expected to remain strong in FY26 but soften in FY27. Members questioned the outlook for surtax, capital gains, and the potential fiscal effect of a ballot question reducing the income tax rate from 5% to 4%; DOR said that proposal could cost roughly $4.2 billion to $4.8 billion annually, with a smaller but still significant impact in FY27 because of phase-in timing.
Treasurer Deb Goldberg testified next on the stabilization fund, lottery, PRIM, unclaimed property, and the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission. She reported the rainy day fund at about $8.1 billion, said the lottery was on track for $1.5 billion in FY26 net profit and projected $1.25 billion in FY27, and highlighted that iLottery is expected to launch in summer 2026 with revenue beginning in FY27 and dedicated to child care initiatives. She also described strong PRIM performance and record unclaimed property returns, while members asked about the child care use of iLottery revenue, multilingual outreach, and the economic impact of expanded liquor licensing.
Mass Taxpayers Foundation President Doug Howgate and Tufts’ Evan Horowitz then offered differing revenue outlooks and policy warnings. Howgate projected modest growth, cautioned against overusing reserves for ongoing obligations, and urged caution on federal tax conformity changes and health care spending pressures. Horowitz projected higher FY26 and FY27 revenues than other witnesses, warned that the surtax and capital gains make the tax system more volatile, and said a 4% income tax ballot question could reduce FY27 revenues by roughly $800 million to $1 billion. He also flagged the rent control ballot question as a potential risk to municipal finance and suggested the state consider giving a permanent home to the independent revenue model used by Alan Clayton-Matthews.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- It's about restoring the trust for taxpayers who expects uh public programs to go to the services it's
- restoring<00:04:56.080><c> the</c><00:04:56.320><c> trust</c><00:04:57.199><c> for</c><00:04:57.440><c> taxpayers
- </c><00:04:58.720><c> who</c> restoring the trust for taxpayers who restoring the trust for taxpayers
- He said medical assistance fraud steals from hardworking taxpayers across Minnesota and also steals money
- </c> hardworking taxpayers across Minnesota. hardworking taxpayers across Minnesota.
Committee:
House Ways and Means
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- taxpayer funds to the state while having to pay exorbitant property insurance costs.
- This bill establishes a sense of fairness for our taxpayers and our schools.
- This situation puts our students, our staff, and our taxpayers at risk.
- Taxpayers are going to have to pay more money, even though it was a bond.
- So that's money that taxpayers have lost because of the situation.
Bills:
HB178 , HB178 , HB1551 , HB1939 , HB2040 , HB2354 , HB2674 , HB3029 , HB3460 , HB3631 , HB3662 , HB5201 , HB5381
Committee:
House Public Education
Keywords:
efficiency audit, political subdivision, tax rate, fiscal management, government accountability, Texas education, public schools, curriculum, social studies, high school graduation requirements, State Board of Education, Education Code, ethnic studies, world history, world geography, U.S. history, government, economics, personal financial literacy, free enterprise
TX
Texas 89th Regular
S/C on County and Regional Government Apr 14th, 2025
S/C on County & Regional Government
Transcript Highlights:
- Most importantly, as stated earlier, it directs taxpayer dollars away from the urgent safety, health,
- But here we are today, poised to waste millions in taxpayer dollars to compel county law enforcement,
- It will cost our taxpayers. As a taxpayer, I have to stress that we cannot afford it.
- Like Hayes County, this already costs taxpayers exorbitant amounts.
- County budgets are paid for by local taxpayers, especially through property taxes.
Committee:
House S/C on County & Regional Government
Keywords:
transportation, infrastructure, funding, state budget, public safety, child welfare, county boards, membership, local governance, public welfare, government service, social services, Texas Family Code, regulation, vendors, solicitors, roadside sales, county authority, Sweeny Hospital District, board of directors
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
House Standing Committee on Local Government (2-18-25) - Reupload
Transcript Highlights:
- Right now, smaller counties, cities, and local government units have no choice but to spend taxpayer
- Right now, smaller counties, cities, and local government units have no choice but to spend taxpayer
- </c><00:19:39.480><c> dollars</c> good stewards of the taxpayers dollars good stewards of the taxpayers
- The question is whether taxpayers have to fund that, and so I think that is an important part of this
- </c><00:31:06.440><c> have</c><00:31:06.559><c> to</c> question is whether taxpayers have to question
Summary:
The committee met with a quorum and considered four bills. House Bill 131, sponsored by Representative Meredith, was amended with a committee substitute and would allow former second class city fire departments more scheduling flexibility, including hybrid shift patterns, while preserving existing collective bargaining agreements. There was no opposition or questions, and the committee adopted the substitute and passed the bill favorably by voice/roll call vote.
House Bill 256, sponsored by Chairman Flannery, would impose a 40-year statutory limit on root-of-title interests to clear dormant title issues and improve marketable title, while excluding coal and mineral interests. A committee substitute was adopted, and the bill passed favorably on a unanimous roll call. House Bill 290, sponsored by Representative Wilson, would update county law library funding/use rules to allow more modern expenditures such as online legal services; Representative Willner supported it as a useful modernization, and the bill also passed favorably on a unanimous roll call.
House Bill 368, sponsored by Representative Decker, would expand local governments’ ability to use online public notice alternatives instead of relying solely on newspaper publication in smaller counties. Supporters from local government groups argued the change would save money, improve efficiency, and still keep the public informed, while the Kentucky Press Association cautioned that website standards should be addressed and noted concerns about losing newspaper notice revenue. After discussion, the committee passed the bill favorably by roll call vote. At the end of the meeting, members recorded additional yes votes for HB 131, HB 256, and HB 290, and the committee adjourned.
MO
Missouri 2026 Regular Session
2026 Legislative Session - Day Fifty Nine - Tuesday, April 28
Missouri House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Those are taxpayer dollars.
- Do you have a website that taxpayers can go to to see the— Do you have a website that taxpayers can go
- And likewise, what you spent your per diem on, that's taxpayer dollars.
- It wouldn't apply to taxpayer dollars spent, say, at the police.
- Religious education doesn't belong in taxpayer-funded, public, education.
Summary:
The House began with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and approval of the prior day’s journal by a 123-1 roll call vote. Members then spent time introducing guests, including physicians, sheriffs, students, interns, and school groups from several districts. The chamber also heard a personal privilege statement recognizing a member’s son’s birthday.
On third reading, House Bill 1758, dealing with permanent daylight saving time in Missouri, drew debate over whether ending clock changes would improve convenience or create safety and health problems by leaving more commutes in darkness. Supporters argued it would align with public preference and reduce disruption, while opponents warned of circadian and safety concerns. The bill passed 107-31 with two present. The House then moved to perfection of House Bill 3329, which repeals expired or unused tax credits, and House Bill 3405, which reclassifies SALT/pass-through entity items as deductions rather than tax credits for reporting purposes; both were described as cleanup and efficiency measures and were perfected without opposition.
The chamber then took up House Bill 2426, a broad parental rights bill covering medical, educational, privacy, and related decision-making for children, and a major amendment focused on individualized education plans (IEPs). Supporters said the bill and amendment strengthen parental involvement and require stricter judicial review, while opponents raised concerns about overbreadth, school district administration burdens, transparency requirements, and possible conflicts with existing law on truancy, medical care, and records. House Amendment 1 was adopted 98-25 with six present, and debate continued on the underlying bill with no final vote shown in the transcript excerpt.
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
FL House Floor Session - 2026-03-09 (1:00PM Session)
Florida House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- That has been a cost of Florida taxpayers up to the billions.
- And this is... ...when we ask our taxpayers to operate within their means, that we do the same.
- Over a half a billion dollars of our taxpayer money has already been spent.
- Over a half a billion dollars of our taxpayer money.
- It does it without burdening the taxpayers.
Summary:
The House convened with prayer, a moment of silence for former Lee County Judge John Carlin, the Pledge of Allegiance, and recognition of Officer Cody Popple of the FSU Police Department for his actions during the April campus shooting. The Speaker also outlined the final week of session, noting the chamber had passed 253 House bills and 149 Senate bills to date, with budget negotiations still unresolved and the 2026-27 budget not expected to be completed that week. The special order report was adopted, setting the day’s calendar and debate times.
The chamber then took up several Senate bills, mostly technical or open-government sunset review measures, and passed them with little or no opposition: SB 100, SB 104, and SB 102 on Florida statutes; SB 7006, SB 7014, SB 7002, SB 7012, SB 7024, SB 7016, SB 7026, SB 7008, SB 7000, and SB 7004 on public-records or meeting exemptions; and SB 7022 on public records related to exams. Members asked questions on a few of these bills, especially the exam-records bill and the military and gaming-related exemptions, but the measures generally advanced without amendment. Votes ranged from unanimous to modest opposition, with SB 7026 passing 106-3 and SB 7022 passing 101-8.
The most substantial debate centered on SB 7040, which recreates the emergency preparedness and response trust fund in the Executive Office of the Governor. Rep. Eskamani offered an amendment to let the fund expire, arguing the money had been misused and that the Legislature should retain control over spending; several members supported her position, while others said the fund is needed for rapid disaster response. A strike-all amendment from Rep. Griffiths was adopted instead, adding accountability provisions and expanding the fund to cover man-made emergencies as well as natural disasters. The bill then passed 82-25. The House also passed CS/CS/SB 302 on coastal resiliency, CS/CS/SB 984 on firefighter cancer benefits, CS/SB 474 on military affairs, and SB 488 on Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles issues, with SB 488 still under amendment debate when the transcript ends.
AZ
Arizona 2026 Regular Session
02/18/2026 - Senate Health and Human Services
Health and Human Services
Transcript Highlights:
- Apparently, taxpayers have been funding gender transition drug dispensing to prisoners.
- In this one prison, there was getting dispensed gender transition drugs at taxpayer expense.
- So they can then receive these drugs at taxpayer expense.
- Effectively steering taxpayer dollars to one...
- Most importantly, it puts the best plans in front of Medicaid members and taxpayers.
Bills:
SB1014 , SB1094 , SB1146 , SB1177 , SB1192 , SB1194 , SB1214 , SB1372 , SB1390 , SB1398 , SB1399 , SB1494 , SB1557 , SB1561 , SB1564 , SB1602 , SB1603 , SB1621 , SB1628 , SB1629 , SB1713 , SB1752 , SB1776 , SB1813 , SB1814 , SB1821
Keywords:
gender transition, gender detransition, health insurance, medical procedures, insurance claims, official documents, Arizona law, gender reassignment, civil liability, minors, medical consent, detransition, dependent children, foster care, periodic review, court hearings, child welfare, public funds, prohibition, Arizona legislation