Pledge with Texans Spotlight: Limiting the Growth of Government

Limit the Growth of Governments

Impose strict constitutional spending restraints to further slow the growth of state government; ensure that dedicated funds are spent for their intended purpose or return the money to taxpayers; return to a true zero-based budgeting process to force agencies to justify all spending requests each legislative session; close loopholes in welfare programs; increase resources for child support collection to reduce reliance on government programs; and, end double taxation on phone bills by eliminating the sales tax on telecommunications fees and surcharges.

In the recently released Pledge with Texans, the Texas Conservative Coalition highlights limiting the growth of government as one of the key planks to the Legislative Agenda for conservatives in the 81st Texas Legislature. I could not agree more with this statement.

The best plan of the 80th Legislative Session was proposed by State Representative Ken Paxton (R-McKinney). Paxton's plan would have limited state spending to the rate of inflation plus the increase in population. This amounts to about a 5% increase per year. If the Legislature has an emergency and needed to spend beyond the 5% increase, there would need to be a 2/3 super-majority to increase the appropriation beyond that point. Any additional money that was brought in from taxes under the Paxton plan would automatically go into tax-relief funds, under the oversight of the Comptroller, which would be evenly dispersed to all citizens to lower their property, business, and sales taxes. Representative Paxton's bill, HJR 53, would have also put the caps in place on local governments as well.

The current constitutional spending cap that limits Legislative appropriations is very tough to comprehend and is easily broken every year by a simple majority. Which ever party happens to be in power choses to break the cap by voting to increase the limit on the appropriation before the budget is heard. In 2007, the Republicans in teh House voted to break the constitutional spending cap to pass property tax relief.

Regardless of the intent to increase government spending, an increase in spending is still an increase in spending. Why is this important? Taxpayers complain about high taxes. Taxpayers have the potential every year of having their homes taken by the government because of climbling property taxes. Business owners are now subject to the gross margins business tax so revenue can continue to come into the Texas coffers. Why? Because Texas spends a lot of money.

If a true constitutional spending cap that limits state spending to the rate of inflation plus the rate of population growth that also takes a 2/3 super majority to break had been put in place in 1978, the Texas budget would be about 1/2 the size that it currently is. The current state budget is roughly $168 billion and growing.

There is no better way to limit the authority and power of government and the role of government in our daily lives then to limit the growth of the budget. Without increasing spending, the government cannot grow because the government does not produce a marketable product that, on its own merits, will make money for itself. All government programs are subsidized by taxpayers. If the subsidies go away, the program will too. If the program was truly necessary, a non-profit or business will quickly fill in to continue the job and will produce better results than the government agency.

Now is the time to take bold initiatives and bold steps to create the most business friendly climate that we can in Texas. With the national economy sputtering and jobs going oversees, it is imperative that Texans give the rest of the country an example of how to attract businesses and limit the role of government to give our citizens a better quality of life for all.

lobby prohibition is the ticket price of admission to the public trough

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D., Calif.) said Monday she will propose a bill requiring that financial institutions participating in the Treasury's $700 billion financial-markets rescue plan be banned from lobbying with that money.Fine, Sen. Feinstein, but that doesn’t go far enough.

Taxpayer-funded lobbying is a betrayal of taxpayers’ trust. No public dollars should be used to lobby.

Washington’s $3 billion-a-year lobby industry may fight the ban, but a complete prohibition should be the price of admission for accepting public dollars.

Lobbying is part of a democratic system, but it isn’t ever appropriate to lobby with tax dollars.

We’ve have seen associations representing cities, counties and school districts across the country spending hundreds of millions of dollars lobbying congress and state legislatures. Unfortunately, their lobby agenda is often anti-taxpayer. They lobby to defeat taxpayer protections such as spending and revenue caps. And they do it with our money.

So either accept public funding and stop lobbying or refuse public funding and lobby. It's as simple as that.

A lobby prohibition is the ticket price of admission to the public trough.

Let's see if Sen. Feinstein would support that ticket.

Grabbing defeat from the jaws of victory

It appears that one State Republican Executive Committee member is ready to throw Speaker Tom Craddick overboard, and grab defeat from the jaws of victory.

Mark McCaig is calling for Speaker Tom Craddick to announce he will not seek the Speaker position. McCaig claims Republicans have little to be tout under Craddick’s leadership.

Let’s look at the cold, hard facts. While 30 states are experiencing a budget shortfall, we will enjoy a surplus. Texas continues to fare better economically than most other states.

In fiscal 2008, Texas’ gross state product grew by 4.1 percent, versus 1.5 percent for the national economy.

Fiscal 2008 was strong for Texas, and the Texas economy is still expanding. It will slow due to the US economic situation, but Texans are faring better than other states.

One way to look at it is the fact that Texas is leading the nation in job growth. In the 12 months ending in September 2008, Texas gained almost 248,000 jobs, more than the next 14 top job-growth states combined.

Over last 12 months, Texas accounts for 54 percent of entire job gains for all states.

In the past five years, Texas added 1.3 million new jobs to our economy.

This information came straight from the Comptroller’s website: http://www.texasahead.org/economy/outlook.html

So maybe, Mr. McCaig, you should step back and say “thanks” to the leaders who have brought tort reform, kept taxes relatively low, and kept government growth in check so in these tough economic times across the country, Texas has a budget surplus, not a shortfall.

It makes no sense to beat up the leadership. This good news for Texans didn’t happen in a vacuum.

Here is the McCaig op ed:
http://www.statesman.com/opinion/content/editorial/stories/10/1023mccaig_edit.html

Tell Government to "Butt" Out.

Dallas City Council is considering an ordinance expanding their smoking ban by including bars and taverns.

It's a freedoms issue: Business owners should have the freedom to choose to be smoke-free or allow smoking within their establishments. Just as consumers should have the freedom to choose which establishments they'd prefer to go to.

It is not the government's right to infringe on our freedom of choice.

If they succeed in passing this expansion, is Dallas any different than Cuba?

AFP interviewed the owner of Havana Social Club in Dallas, Carlos Rodriguez, to find out how this ban will personal affect him and his business.


An American Dream Up in Smoke from Americans for Prosperity - TX on Vimeo.

A few news stories on this issue:
Dallas mayor pushes for smoking ban in bars - Dallas Morning News
Expansion of Dallas Smoking Ban Seen as Unconstitutional by Local Tobacconist - Reuters
Groups rally against extended smoking ban in Dallas - Dallas Morning News

Taxpayers Footing the Bill for More than Superintendent’s Base Salary

Most may not know it, but our school districts are handing out more of our money to superintendents than we think.

With a couple of clicks, it is easy for anyone to look up their superintendent’s base salary on the Texas Education Agency website; but, do you know all of the financial perks that aren’t included in that online total?

As an example, we looked at Hutto ISD (near Austin). Through an open records request, we were able to obtain the current Superintendent’s current contract and pay increases since the start of his employment.

What we found was shocking. At the start of Hutto ISD’s employment in 2005, he was making a base salary of $94,000. His current contract, outlining the 08-09 school year, has him at a base salary of $131,040. This means that his raises over the past few years have totaled $37,040! That is almost DOUBLE the per capita income for residents in Hutto!

Not only is Hutto ISD’s Superintendent receiving an exorbitant amount in pay increases; but when you look at his contract, you can see all of the other financial perks he receives with our tax dollars.

This is what the taxpayers of Hutto are paying for, to name a few:
**A $5,000 incentive per year for meeting the bare minimum on academic requirements and assuring the district fund balance is increased.
**30 vacation days + every legal holiday/non-duty day = 52 days taxpayer’s pay him to not work (excluding sick days)
**Cellular Phone, Pager, Laptop for personal and business use
**$3,000 monthly allowance for car expenses (totaling $36,000 per year)

You would think that a school district that is willing to give a superintendent more of our tax dollars for an almost 40k raise within three years and financial perks within his contract the ISD would be performing at a level of excellence and that our tax dollars would surely be going toward more instruction for pupils. But, sadly that is not the case in Hutto ISD.

After reviewing the 2007 Snapshot for Hutto ISD on the Texas Education Agency website, this is what we’ve learned:
**Hutto ISD is only “Academically Acceptable”.
**Teachers are paid at least $17,000 per year less than support and administrative staff.
**Only 41% of their budget is spent on instruction in the classroom.

With a school district underperforming, it is difficult to understand how their superintendent is still rewarded.

What financial perks is your superintendent receiving with your money? It is public information.

Austin ISD Wants More of Your Hard Earned Money

It has never been a solution to throw money at a problem; and, Austin ISD’s spending habits are just that – a problem.   Yet, they are asking for more of your hard-earned money on this year’s election ballot.

 

 

Austin ISD’s Proposition 1 asks that the taxpayers of Austin fork over $17.7 million more dollars for“general operating expenses”, according to their brochure, explaining the “need” to increase Austin residents’ taxes. 

 

 

After looking at their district’s Snapshot for 2007 from the Texas Education Agency website, you will find that not only is Austin ISD under performing; but they are spending their money frivolously on everything but teachers’ salaries and instruction for students. 

 

Take a current lawsuit with Austin ISD, which went to trial this past Monday, as an example.  Austin ISD would rather spend your taxpayer dollars on attorney’s fees than reimburse a teacher $22.50 for a Spanish workshop.   

 

 

According to the Texas Bond Review Board website, Austin ISD currently has its taxpayers $1 BILLION dollars in the hole.  This amount does not include the debt taxpayers also carry for their city and county. 

 

 

To view the jaw-dropping total of local government debt in Austin – click here. 

 

 

 

 Things you may not have known about Austin ISD...
 
Did you know...

• Austin ISD is ranked "Academically Acceptable" - which is second from the bottom?
• That only half of Austin ISD's staff consists of teachers?
• Teachers at Austin ISD make over 10k less than "Support Staff"?
• Local Government Debt has been growing 4 times faster than our income.
• The Grand total of Debt (between City, County & Austin ISD) is $8,540,378,421?
• or that, the Debt per Taxpayer in Austin is $11,493.31 - DOUBLE what the state average is?
   

INFORMATION:

(Click on link to view PDF)

Local Government Debt in Austin (information was taken from the Texas Bond Review Website)

Austin ISD Snapshot 2007 (information from Texas Education Agency Website) 

Austin ISD's brochure about Proposition 1 (if you look at the numbers, they don't match up with what the snapshot details show on the TEA state site)

GOUGED (Groups Opposed to Unsustainable Government Education Debt), Taxpayers Oppose Increased Taxes – Voting NO on RRISD Bonds

Contact: Kristin Jones, (949) 230-2965, Don Zimmerman, (512) 577-8842

Statements / Press Conference:
Wednesday, Oct 22nd, 2008 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM

Round Rock ISD central compound, 1311 Round Rock (Round Rock, TX, 78681)

AUSTIN – Groups of parents and property taxpayers and activists are meeting on Wednesday, Oct 22nd, 12:00 noon at the Round Rock ISD central compound to express opposition to November 4th ballot issues which would authorize unlimited tax increases and school debt by over 30%. The Round Rock ISD Bond seeks to add almost $300 million to an existing debt of about $680 million. Round Rock ISD taxpayers were hit with about $250 million of new debt just 2 years ago. The ballot language permits UNLIMITED TAXES to be assessed, at any interest rate, to repay the bond debt: "...and the levying of a tax in payment of the bonds and to pay the costs
of any credit agreements executed or authorized in anticipation of, in relation to or in connection with the bonds."

Says Michele Samuelson of Wells Branch Watchdogs, “"Round Rock ISD already owes taxpayers $600,000,000, 1/3 of this is in the form of interest payments from previous bonds. At this rate, the only thing we will pass on to our children is not an education, but a huge pile of local debt that our children and grandchildren will be saddled with. Our children's future depends on responsible spending policies that do not incur additional public debts."

Liz Elleson, former Round Rock ISD trustee and opponent of the failed $350M Bond issue of March, 2005, has filed an open records request for numerous documents, including for payments to Superintendent Chavez and salaried administrative (non-teaching) employees for 2007 – 2009, and for large expenditures approved on a “consent” agenda without full disclosure or debate. Liz will present facts on wasteful spending.

John Gordon, former GOP candidate for State Rep in Williamson County and opponent of the 2005 Bond, will present facts supporting the bad timing and overpricing of the Bond.

Says Craig Wilkerson, of the Williamson County Campaign for Liberty, “Most WilCo residents send their children to public school, but a growing number of parents prefer homeschooling or private schooling. It is against the principles of Liberty to force any WilCo residents to subsidize an educational system they do not utilize and philosophically reject.”

Says Pat Dixon, Libertarian Party state chairman, "As a member of city council in Lago Vista I have always worked to reduce spending and lower tax rates. … In a time when voters are threatened by federal, state, and local politicians with greater intrusion into their wallets, voters need to speak up and protect themselves."
Says Wes Benedict, Exec. Dir of LP of Texas, who had a role in defeating the March, 2005 Bond, “Taxes are already too high and we should not throw more money into government schools.”

Don Zimmerman, Republican candidate for Travis County anti-tax assessor-collector, a Round Rock ISD parent & taxpayer, adds, “The public school monopoly has given us what other government monopolies like the post office give us – marginal service at high cost. We need more school choices, not more debt and taxes.”

GOUGED includes Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, and independent voters and taxpayers working to save their homes from confiscatory property taxes.
www.gouged.info
# # #

Taxpayers Reject Cedar Hill, Duncanville ISD Tax Increases

Voters in Cedar Hill ISD and Duncanville ISD rejected 13-cent tax increases that were on Tuesday's ballot, according to BestSouthwestBlog.com, a sister blog to The Ellis County Observer.

To view the latest results, click here.

Cedar Hill ISD Tax Increase Results
For: 385 - 26.03%
Against: 1,094 - 73.97%

Duncanville ISD Tax Increase Results
For: 1,628 - 41.28%
Against: 2,316 - 58.72%



Not a bad campaign for only spending $30. That's right. The Taxpayers Alliance for Good Government defeated the CHISD tax increase with $30.

In a released statement, TAGG chairman Joey Dauben had this to say:

"We want to especially thank Duncanville school board trustee Cindy Werner for being the lone dissenting vote against this tax increase," Dauben said. "Her one 'no' vote was the first sign that things could get interesting in Duncanville. Even with an early election date of October 7, TAGG and the Americans For Prosperity-Texas organization helped inspire and mobilize the forces in these two districts. I personally put up the Vote No signs in Cedar Hill that cost me $30. That's $30 well spent, and 73 percent of the electorate rejected higher taxes. We have plenty to talk about at the AFP summit in Washington, D.C. this weekend!"

The signs were printed off of a color copier, and stakes and nails were donated.

Free Markets work - the key is keeping them free

Jeff Sandefer, founder of the Acton School of Business and TPPF board member, wrote piece on the bailout that sacrifices freedom for dependency. He wrote:

"Charging the Federal Reserve, investment bankers, and politicals to "solve" this crisis is like deputizing arsonists to fight a wildfire. The central enabler is government, with Wall Street hucksters as eager accomplices..."

It's worth a read...
http://www.texaspolicy.com/commentaries_single.php?report_id=2193

-- Peggy Venable

Sarah Palin's able -- credible, likeable, knowledgable and capable

Gov. Palin proved that a hockey Mom who has served as a mayor, as the Alaska energy czar and Governor CAN shut down a US Senator who's warmed a chair for far too long in Washington, D.C. Main Steet takes on Capitol Hill and takes the debate prize. Palin showed the world she is able -- credible, likeable, knowledgable and capable.