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/

By pvenable
Created 02/27/2009
Published on Americans for Prosperity (http://www.americansforprosperity.org)