Whisper is

Someone had a talk to our non-resident PISD board member and rumor has it that he has tenured his resignation. Current law in Texas states he tenured his resignation the day he moved from the district. Wonder if someone finally called his hand?

You know how rumors go...................................

Can you believe the nerve of the reps in Austin

Rep. Corona wanted a local option election that would add an additional 10 cents to a gallon of gasoline. You fought hard and you defeated this move by a tax and spend Republican. It took the last day of the session to kill this measure; however, it was completed. Rep. Corona needs to decide if he is a conservative, and the people he represents need to help him pack his bags for a NO return trip to the legislature.

"Texans aren’t interested in unproductive spending and higher taxes. Those in the political leadership of our schools, cities, counties and state need to do a better job of listening to the people, not other politicians."

Where is your pocket change going

Earlier this month, the Senior Citizens League released a report showing that seniors have lost 20% of their purchasing power since 2000. In other words, $1 from nine years ago is now worth just 80 cents. And when you look at housing and health care costs, that loss of purchasing power is even more dramatic:


2000
2009
% increase Year 2000 Year 2009 % Increase
Homeowners insurance $492 $789 60%
Real-estate taxes $690 $1,224 77%
Heating oil, 1 gallon $1.25 $2.45 96%
Medicare Part B monthly premiums $45.50 $96.40 112%

and you want to know why you don't ever have any pocket change.................................

As it became obvious that runaway appraisal values have been bloating property tax assessments

http://www.dallasblog.com/200905181004770/guest-viewpoint/thwarting-property-tax-reform.html

David Hartman does a nice job framing the problem with appraisal reform efforts this legislative session. One reader comment goes on to state that the people don't have a clue as to how the system works, and we should be holding the taxing entities accountable. I think we all know how the system operates, and now they are fighting hard with our tax dollars to prevent changes to the system.

Do you agree with taxpayer funded lobbying - hope not and your help is needed now

"Legislation to provide taxpayer protections which allow YOU to determine how much government you want and are willing to pay for are being fought by – you guessed it – taxpayer-funded lobbyists. The Texas Association of Counties – funded with your tax dollars – is working to defeat Sen. Dan Patrick’s SB 700 which would allow voters to approve local government spending above 8% over last year’s.

TAC clearly doesn’t trust taxpayers. In their County Issues they write “The current rollback election system works: changing it to mandate automatic elections would be costly and dangerous.”

Taxpayers – you are DANGEROUS! The fact is, TAC and local officials like current law which requires taxpayers to petition the government for an election if property tax revenue increases to 8%. Sen. Patrick thinks the election should be automatic – and we agree!

Call your state senator and ask that they support SB 700 and give you a right to vote! Click here to find your senator and his/her contact information."

Source AFP Texas

Read how taxpayer funded lobbying destroys your pocket book: http://www.americansforprosperity.org/051209-government-funded-lobbying-hinders-tax-relief

More Education Mandates

By TCollins
Created 05/12/2009 - 7:41am

"For all the whining Democrats do about unfunded mandates on public education, they sure don't mind implementing them. The Texas House voted last night on legislation mandating that every public and private high school principle designate four people as deputy voter registrars. Every Republican, except RINOs Todd Smith and Tommy Merritt, voted against this mandate. Every Democrat, except Tracy King, voted for it. Worse, House Bill 1654 requires that three of the four designees be certified classroom teachers. What? Any yahoo can be a deputy voter registrar. Why add this to the burden of already over-burdened classroom teachers? As Sullivan and others have been pointing out, this is typical of the drivel coming out of this legislation session under the "leadership" of Joe Straus as Speaker. Sure, Tom Craddick may not have been the most likable guy in Austin, but at least he is a conservative. Straus' tenure as Speaker has been marked by constant capitulation to the grow-government left and the Democratic party machine. "

Who in their right mind
Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 05/13/2009 - 1:05pm.
Who in their right mind keeps electing this people? Is Longview and Fort Worth REALLY that crazy? These guys are killing us!

Protect your pocket book

Urgent - Contact your representatives now and inform them you have no desire to pay any additional gasoline taxes.

"Legislation which would allow taxpayers to approve gas tax increases of up to 125% over several years is racing through the legislature. It’s called a local option transit bill but it includes gas tax indexing. Parts of the bill impact “only 115” counties – but that encompasses around 78% of the Texas population.

We say “NO” to this bill and want gas taxes going to roads and transportation. Currently 50% of the state tax dollars are diverted to other programs and a large portion of local transportation dollars fail to go to roads. First direct all the gas taxes to roads, then consider new revenue if necessary."

Source: AFP Texas