Friday, February 27, 2009
Taxpayer Tea Parties Take Off Texas Style
We just finished the Austin Taxpayer Tea Party – and have word that the Dallas Tea Party had 300 people. (see it here - thanks, Dwayne Horner!). We had about 60 at the impromptu Austin event, and Rep. Wayne Christian spoke as did Peggy Venable (Texas AFP director) and Michael Quinn Sullivan (president of Empower Texans).
Houston held a tea party simultaneously. We are waiting to hear how that event went. The Ft Worth event starts at 3 pm.
We’re seeing RED! The federal government is in the red, mortgaging our grandchildren’s future, using so-called “stimulus” and bailouts to redistribute wealth, and promoting a $3.6 Billion budget full of big-government programs and policies (such as government-run health care).
While we are seeing RED, Texas legislators are working to keep our state in the BLACK. With 44 states having significant deficits, we are working to enact a more stringent spending limit in Texas which will keep Texas a beacon of fiscal sanity and freedom.
The tea parties were result of Rick Santelli’s rants on CNBC – find that and see how you can participate by clicking here: http://www.taxpayerteaparty.com/
Federal spending has Texans seeing RED
We’re seeing Red …
but want to keep Texas – and Texas taxpayers – in the BLACK
Texans are seeing RED – with the federal bailouts, unprecedented spending “stimulus”, and a $3.5 trillion federal budget full of big-government policies – the federal government is also in the RED.
Texans have the opportunity to embrace sound fiscal policies and keep the Lone Star State a beacon of fiscal sanity.
With 44 states having significant budget deficits, Texas can continue to show the rest of the states – and the federal government – the appropriate role of government. We believe government doesn’t have first dibbs over taxpayers’ hard earned dollars.
Texas is poised to consider more stringent spending limits are enacted. Texas currently has a constitutional spending limit which but lacks definition. Texans deserve greater transparency, accountability and some degree of certainty for Texas taxpayers.
Spending limits have been a centerpiece for AFP’s public policy since the organization was created five years ago. Taxpayer protections are AFP’s number-one state initiative.
The legislation below will apply a statutory spending limit to the appropriations that are acquired from state tax revenue.
HB 994 – Rep. Ken Paxton (R-McKinney)
SB 928 – Sen. Dan Patrick (R-Houston)
Both bills have multiple bill sponsors – check the links to see if your legislators are already signed on.
Putting taxpayers in control over local government growth – the ultimate in local control:
Local government has grown four times faster than peoples’ paychecks and local government debt has grown five times faster. Currently, property taxes can increase as much as 8% before citizens may petition the taxing entity to “roll back” the tax rate, requiring as many as 10% of the registered voters to sign the petition. These bills lower the rate to 5% and eliminate the onerous petition-gathering process. They also provide some much-needed appraisal reform.
SB 700 by Sen. Dan Patrick (R-Houston)
HB 1575 by Rep. Carl Isett (R-Lubbock) & Rep. Ken Paxton (R-McKinney)
Take action now: Encourage your state senator to co-sponsor the senate bills (SB) and ask your state legislator to co-sponsor the house bills (HB).
To find your legislator, click here: http://www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us/
but want to keep Texas – and Texas taxpayers – in the BLACK
Texans are seeing RED – with the federal bailouts, unprecedented spending “stimulus”, and a $3.5 trillion federal budget full of big-government policies – the federal government is also in the RED.
Texans have the opportunity to embrace sound fiscal policies and keep the Lone Star State a beacon of fiscal sanity.
With 44 states having significant budget deficits, Texas can continue to show the rest of the states – and the federal government – the appropriate role of government. We believe government doesn’t have first dibbs over taxpayers’ hard earned dollars.
Texas is poised to consider more stringent spending limits are enacted. Texas currently has a constitutional spending limit which but lacks definition. Texans deserve greater transparency, accountability and some degree of certainty for Texas taxpayers.
Spending limits have been a centerpiece for AFP’s public policy since the organization was created five years ago. Taxpayer protections are AFP’s number-one state initiative.
The legislation below will apply a statutory spending limit to the appropriations that are acquired from state tax revenue.
HB 994 – Rep. Ken Paxton (R-McKinney)
SB 928 – Sen. Dan Patrick (R-Houston)
Both bills have multiple bill sponsors – check the links to see if your legislators are already signed on.
Putting taxpayers in control over local government growth – the ultimate in local control:
Local government has grown four times faster than peoples’ paychecks and local government debt has grown five times faster. Currently, property taxes can increase as much as 8% before citizens may petition the taxing entity to “roll back” the tax rate, requiring as many as 10% of the registered voters to sign the petition. These bills lower the rate to 5% and eliminate the onerous petition-gathering process. They also provide some much-needed appraisal reform.
SB 700 by Sen. Dan Patrick (R-Houston)
HB 1575 by Rep. Carl Isett (R-Lubbock) & Rep. Ken Paxton (R-McKinney)
Take action now: Encourage your state senator to co-sponsor the senate bills (SB) and ask your state legislator to co-sponsor the house bills (HB).
To find your legislator, click here: http://www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us/
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Obama budget takes us to new heights - dangerously high
Why are taxpayers seeing red? Five charts say it all. The Obama budget:
- will send the tax and spend-o-meter will hit historic heights;
- pushes spending to historic levels -- 27.7% of GDP;
- pushes the deficdit to historic levels -- 12.3% of GDP;
- pushes public debt to levels unseen since WWII -- 64.8% of GDP; and
- sends spending and taxes skyrocketing.
You have to see it to believe it: paste this into your browser and weep...
http://www.americansforprosperity.org/022609-kerpen-charts
- will send the tax and spend-o-meter will hit historic heights;
- pushes spending to historic levels -- 27.7% of GDP;
- pushes the deficdit to historic levels -- 12.3% of GDP;
- pushes public debt to levels unseen since WWII -- 64.8% of GDP; and
- sends spending and taxes skyrocketing.
You have to see it to believe it: paste this into your browser and weep...
http://www.americansforprosperity.org/022609-kerpen-charts
Texas Independence Reminds Us Freedom Isn't Free
Remember the Alamo:
Tuesday, Texas celebrates its 163rd anniversary of Independence.
The Texas Declaration of Independence was the formal declaration of independence of the Republic of Texas from Mexico in the Texas Revolution. The declaration was adopted in 1836 at Washington-on-the-Brazos on March 2, 1836 and signed the following day.
While Texas’ declaration of Independence was being signed, the Battle of the Alamo was underway; and in the early morning hours of March 6, the Mexican army launched an assault on the Alamo. The grossly outnumbered Texians fought off two attacks, but were unable to fend off a third. As Mexican soldiers scaled the walls, heroes within the Alamo fought valiantly for our freedom. The lesson we learn from this is that freedom doesn’t come with the signing of a document, but must be fought for. Today, we face a bloodless battle, but a battle no less important.
Independence requires vigilance on the part of citizens, making sure the government is controlled by the citizens, not the reverse. We must continue to fight for our individual liberties, freedom and limited government principles.
Tuesday, Texas celebrates its 163rd anniversary of Independence.
The Texas Declaration of Independence was the formal declaration of independence of the Republic of Texas from Mexico in the Texas Revolution. The declaration was adopted in 1836 at Washington-on-the-Brazos on March 2, 1836 and signed the following day.
While Texas’ declaration of Independence was being signed, the Battle of the Alamo was underway; and in the early morning hours of March 6, the Mexican army launched an assault on the Alamo. The grossly outnumbered Texians fought off two attacks, but were unable to fend off a third. As Mexican soldiers scaled the walls, heroes within the Alamo fought valiantly for our freedom. The lesson we learn from this is that freedom doesn’t come with the signing of a document, but must be fought for. Today, we face a bloodless battle, but a battle no less important.
Independence requires vigilance on the part of citizens, making sure the government is controlled by the citizens, not the reverse. We must continue to fight for our individual liberties, freedom and limited government principles.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
City pulls plug on plan to pay off credit cards for potential homeowners
The Houston Chronicle now reporting:
Mayor Bill White this afternoon announced that a plan for the city to pay off some debts for first-time home buyers has been pulled from tomorrow's City Council agenda.
Council members are now professing their "embarrassment" about the proposal, which has hit the national news circuit, including drudgereport.com., which picked up this morning's Houston Chronicle story about the plan
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/6277344.html
It was bad public policy in the first place. It's the right thing to do to drop that idea like a hot potato.
Mayor Bill White this afternoon announced that a plan for the city to pay off some debts for first-time home buyers has been pulled from tomorrow's City Council agenda.
Council members are now professing their "embarrassment" about the proposal, which has hit the national news circuit, including drudgereport.com., which picked up this morning's Houston Chronicle story about the plan
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/6277344.html
It was bad public policy in the first place. It's the right thing to do to drop that idea like a hot potato.
Home Ownership isn't a Guarantee or Entitlement
The American Dream of Home Ownership: an opportunity, not a guarantee
By Peggy Venable
The City of Houston is in dire straights. They are so broke they had to borrow money.
Two months ago, without any mention in the media at all, Harris County bailed the City of Houston out of a bad deal by loaning it $118 million. As reported on the Chronicle's website on Sunday,
“A series of unexpected market swings and a relationship with a troubled bank has left the city of Houston paying more than $600,000 a month in interest — far higher than the market rate for comparable securities — to a very unusual investor: Harris County.
“The county came to Houston’s rescue in December after a bank that backed $182 million in city bonds had its credit downgraded, leaving the city with a 15 percent interest rate.”
(Thanks for that info, Houston Chronicle reporter Bradley Olson.)
Fast forward to today: the City of Houston is proposing spending almost a half million dollars to give individuals unable to qualify for a home loan up to $3,000 to pay off their credit cards and debts.
Hum…
First, the City was paying a 15% interest rate on bonds and they are going to loan unqualified potential homeowners with money to buy a home they likely can’t afford and who aren’t disciplined enough to pay their current bills on time?
Does this make sense?
Of course not.
It’s clear the Houston leaders didn’t learn their lesson handed to them in the federal housing finance disaster.
The American dream of home ownership is an opportunity, not a guarantee.
It’s an issue of fairness.
Taxpayers who played by the rules and paid their bills on time should not be forced to help pay off the credit cards for folks who didn’t. It would be rewarding irresponsibility and creating adverse incentives.
Houstonians don’t need a new entitlement program they can’t afford, to put people who aren’t financially responsible in homes they don’t afford.
Clearly, Houston doesn’t need to play Robin Hood. Prospective homeowners need to learn first to pay their bills on time, then earn the opportunity for home ownership.
By Peggy Venable
The City of Houston is in dire straights. They are so broke they had to borrow money.
Two months ago, without any mention in the media at all, Harris County bailed the City of Houston out of a bad deal by loaning it $118 million. As reported on the Chronicle's website on Sunday,
“A series of unexpected market swings and a relationship with a troubled bank has left the city of Houston paying more than $600,000 a month in interest — far higher than the market rate for comparable securities — to a very unusual investor: Harris County.
“The county came to Houston’s rescue in December after a bank that backed $182 million in city bonds had its credit downgraded, leaving the city with a 15 percent interest rate.”
(Thanks for that info, Houston Chronicle reporter Bradley Olson.)
Fast forward to today: the City of Houston is proposing spending almost a half million dollars to give individuals unable to qualify for a home loan up to $3,000 to pay off their credit cards and debts.
Hum…
First, the City was paying a 15% interest rate on bonds and they are going to loan unqualified potential homeowners with money to buy a home they likely can’t afford and who aren’t disciplined enough to pay their current bills on time?
Does this make sense?
Of course not.
It’s clear the Houston leaders didn’t learn their lesson handed to them in the federal housing finance disaster.
The American dream of home ownership is an opportunity, not a guarantee.
It’s an issue of fairness.
Taxpayers who played by the rules and paid their bills on time should not be forced to help pay off the credit cards for folks who didn’t. It would be rewarding irresponsibility and creating adverse incentives.
Houstonians don’t need a new entitlement program they can’t afford, to put people who aren’t financially responsible in homes they don’t afford.
Clearly, Houston doesn’t need to play Robin Hood. Prospective homeowners need to learn first to pay their bills on time, then earn the opportunity for home ownership.
Monday, February 23, 2009
In Dallas, the pot calls the kettle black
The City of Dallas faces a $100 million deficit for the 2009-10 fiscal year. Nevertheless, Mayor Tom Leppert thinks the city could do a better job running Dallas Independent School District than the current school board.
Strangely, it's hard to argue with Leppert on that point; the district overspent its 07-08 budget by at least $84 million, they were faulted for using fake SSN's to hire some employees, they laid off more than 500 employees as a result of their financial mismanagement, and -- among mounting charges of corruption and ineptitude -- the school board voted to extend their terms of service by an extra year.
But really, to have one free-spending entity take over another is like jumping out of the frying pan into the fire.
Allowing parents to choose the schools where their children attend would help clean up the public school system. Tax dollars would move into districts where students are getting better educations and administrators aren't blowing taxpayer money on frivolous or corrupt activities. Poorer performing districts would have to shape up in order to keep their doors open.
Strangely, it's hard to argue with Leppert on that point; the district overspent its 07-08 budget by at least $84 million, they were faulted for using fake SSN's to hire some employees, they laid off more than 500 employees as a result of their financial mismanagement, and -- among mounting charges of corruption and ineptitude -- the school board voted to extend their terms of service by an extra year.
But really, to have one free-spending entity take over another is like jumping out of the frying pan into the fire.
Allowing parents to choose the schools where their children attend would help clean up the public school system. Tax dollars would move into districts where students are getting better educations and administrators aren't blowing taxpayer money on frivolous or corrupt activities. Poorer performing districts would have to shape up in order to keep their doors open.
In the Feb. 23 issue of the Dallas Morning News, we learn that school board and City Council members, along with the city's top manager didn't know the Mayor had this hair-brained plan in the works:
Some blasted the idea as unrealistic and bizarre, while others wanted to hear more."Bizarre" is right. Enough said -- we don't need to hear any more.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
So much for individual responsibility
What happened to individual responsibility?
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL QUOTES A READER:
"Now that those of us who have been making steady, on-time payments on our mortgages for years will be paying off others’ mortgages through our taxes, can we claim a tax-deduction for our neighbors’ mortgage interest too?"
Good Question.
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL QUOTES A READER:
"Now that those of us who have been making steady, on-time payments on our mortgages for years will be paying off others’ mortgages through our taxes, can we claim a tax-deduction for our neighbors’ mortgage interest too?"
Good Question.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Gov. Perry Takes Stimulus Money -- on his own terms
Gov. Rick Perry has long been a taxpayer advocate.
This week, he wrote a letter to President Barack Obama in response to stipulations in the $787 billion stimulus package. "On behalf of the people of Texas, please allow this letter to certify that we will accept the funds in H.R. 1 and use them to promote economic growth and create jobs in a fiscally responsible manner that is in the best interest of Texas taxpayers," Perry said. "I remain opposed to using these funds to expand existing government programs, burdening the state with ongoing expenditures long after the funding has dried up."
Thanks for protecting Texas taxpayers, Gov. Perry! Long after the “stimulus” money is gone, we’ll be paying for it. We should not also be paying for government programs it could be used to create or expand.
You tell ‘em, Gov Perry! Read the letter here:
http://governor.state.tx.us/news/press-release/11969/
This week, he wrote a letter to President Barack Obama in response to stipulations in the $787 billion stimulus package. "On behalf of the people of Texas, please allow this letter to certify that we will accept the funds in H.R. 1 and use them to promote economic growth and create jobs in a fiscally responsible manner that is in the best interest of Texas taxpayers," Perry said. "I remain opposed to using these funds to expand existing government programs, burdening the state with ongoing expenditures long after the funding has dried up."
Thanks for protecting Texas taxpayers, Gov. Perry! Long after the “stimulus” money is gone, we’ll be paying for it. We should not also be paying for government programs it could be used to create or expand.
You tell ‘em, Gov Perry! Read the letter here:
http://governor.state.tx.us/news/press-release/11969/
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