Americans for Prosperity Foundation-Texas
AUSTIN In response to the outrageous efforts of Friendswood City Council members to raise taxes abort the city charter and buy land outside of its jurisdictional limits Americans for Prosperity Foundation-Texas has filed an amicus brief on behalf of its members in Friendswood.
The Friendswood City Council has acted in a most arrogant and capricious manner in asking a judge to allow them to issue debt without taxpayer approval in violation of their own City Charter" said AFP Foundation State Director Peggy Venable. We filed this friend of the court brief today in order to hold those elected officials accountable to the citizens and to show support to the brave taxpayers in Friendswood who have been willing to fight to City Hall."
In the brief Americans for Prosperity Foundation raises questions as to the Constitutionality of the citys request that the court order the Friendswood Five (Janis Lowe Kathy Rogers Deborah Winters Chaney Mel Austin and Leslie Rocque) to pay $1 million in order to oppose the citys action. The brief also raises issue to the citys plan to use certificates of obligation to buy land in Brazoria County which is expressly outlawed by the Texas Government Code and the Friendswood City Charter.
A hearing regarding the citys request to override its city charter will take place on Monday July 13 2009 in the 419th District Court in Travis County.
City leaders have tried to silence taxpayers. We support those Friendswood residents who are fighting to protect the city charter and the citys taxpayers" Venable said. The city council has challenged our democratic values and has misled the citizens. Taxpayers already overwhelmingly opposed the city issuing more debt. If city officials think they can repay the certificates of obligation out of existing revenue streams they need to show the taxpayers how."
If these local officials are allowed to get away with this others may follow" Venable added. We are drawing a line in the sand on behalf of Texas taxpayers."
