Flynn: Cut Taxes Help Families in Their Household Economy

By Dan Flynn State Representative District 2   The holiday season is over all the bowl games have been played  political candidates are in place and it is a new year.   It is now time for the issues  of our day to be understood and discussed.  I would like to take this opportunity to present facts on issues that are important to the citizens of House District 2 and all Texans.   Outside of the appropriations bill with the funding of public education and health care the major issues debated in the 81st Legislative Session were the three large agency Sunsets bills.  They included the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDoT) Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA).  The Special Session that was necessary was to extend TXDoT and TDI as they did not pass during the regular session.  Agreement was never reached on the TDI Sunset bill.  The TXDoT Sunset recommendations bill came to the House Floor and grew substantially after moving to the Senate where it again grew seemingly exponentially.  Both agencies will continue under Sunset review heading towards the 82nd Session.  The major issues on TXDoT were the operations of the agency and the tax bill that was attempted gave grave concern to the members with the economic conditions as they exist. The bill that caused the concern included 6 new taxes and fees but never received a vote on the House Floor. During a procedural move to insert that bills taxes into the Sunset bill I opted to join the majority (83 others) of my colleagues in keeping the bill at-hand focused on the agency and not to include the excess taxes and expenditures. The list of taxes and fees that would have been up for debate should we have permitted the inclusion of a defeated bill into a different bills contents included but was not limited to:

1. A county tax on the sale of motor vehicle fuel
2. A local option mobility improvement fee
3. A parking regulation and management fee in the amount of $1 per hour per vehicle use of a parking space
4. An annual motor vehicle emissions fee based on the amount of pollutants released by a vehicle
5. A fee for the renewal of a drivers license and
6. A new resident roadway impact fee in an amount not to exceed $250.

In a time when every taxpayer is under attack by the current Washington Administration led by the Reid-Pelosi team even some well-meaning elected officials are caught up in this scheme. I am steadfast in my resolute to cut taxes and help every family in their household economy.  I recently had a visit with one my friends and colleagues who serves on the North East Texas Regional Mobility Authority.  I was very pleased when he applauded our efforts and commitment to improving transportation in North East Texas and here in House District 2.  My offices communicate frequently with our county judges and local leaders in our continued efforts to allocate funding for roads in our area of the state.  It remains my belief that if all Texas lawmakers would join me in my conservative fight to use existing funding for transportation in the manner it is intended excess fees and taxes would not be necessary.  Robbing Peter to pay Paul is simply not a financial strategy I stand by.  Fund 6 is the States primary highway funding mechanism collecting the vast majority of highway-related revenue from federal reimbursements state motor fuels taxes motor vehicle registrations and various fees.  I have been an author of several bills that would restrict the expenditure of Fund 6 moneys for its intended purpose: funding highways and roads in Texas. My mission is simple: I will not vote for bills that increase your taxes. However I will vote for bills that improve the quality of life in House District 2 and for all Texans.  I will support measures that direct transportation funding away from frivolous purposes and back to improving roads in Hunt Rains and Van Zandt Counties.  I will protect traditional family values and individual freedoms. I look forward to serving as your State Representative in the next term and will continue to defend your wallets and household bottom-lines by opposing tax-and-spend bills and supporting common sense balanced budget concepts. As your State Representative over the past 6 years I have never waivered in my commitment to the principals of limited government free market individual freedoms protection of life and support of traditional family values.  It remains my pleasure and honor to represent all the people of House District 2.  My staff and I continue to welcome your input and your questions. Feel free to contact me: P. O. Box 2910 Austin TX 78768 Email District2.Flynn@house.state.tx.us Toll free number 1-800-734-9515