AUSTIN Texas With the end of the 81st Session of the Texas Legislature the president of Texans for Fiscal Responsibility said that while efforts to advance taxpayer protection stalled lawmakers did little harm and got a good bit right."
Michael Quinn Sullivan offered the following statement:
Through our web portal Texans for Fiscal Responsibility delivered tens of thousands of letters from voters to their lawmakers on substantive issues facing the legislature. In good portion the Legislature listened. We saw our positive agenda advanced and the grow-government crowd held at bay.
Gov. Perry Lt. Gov. Dewhurst and Speaker Straus delivered on a state budget that at the bottom-line actually reduced general revenue spending and kept over-all government growth under strict control.
Legislators correctly protected the states economic competitiveness by rejecting new federal mandates and even provided a slight respite from the gross margins tax for small businesses. It would have been better if that relief had been set permanently but at least it will provide necessary wiggle-room in this economic downturn.
Even as we were told dollars didnt exist to provide greater property tax or permanent business tax relief legislators did find money to create a new pre-K program.
Texans escaped the imposition of massive new gasoline taxes and related fees. Over the interim the legislature must systemically address transportation funding not with patchwork locally-imposed tax hikes and fee increases but with strict prioritization and an end to the diversions.
Texans still overwhelmingly demand greater transparency and accountability with our local tax dollars.
Lawmakers must be ready to explain to Texans why stronger taxpayers protections were not enacted for property owners and commit to reforming the outdated appraisal system in 2011. Legislators should explain why taxpayer-funded lobbying was allowed to continue unabated."
AUSTIN Texas With the end of the 81st Session of the Texas Legislature the president of Texans for Fiscal Responsibility said that while efforts to advance taxpayer protection stalled lawmakers did little harm and got a good bit right."
Michael Quinn Sullivan offered the following statement:
Through our web portal Texans for Fiscal Responsibility delivered tens of thousands of letters from voters to their lawmakers on substantive issues facing the legislature. In good portion the Legislature listened. We saw our positive agenda advanced and the grow-government crowd held at bay.
Gov. Perry Lt. Gov. Dewhurst and Speaker Straus delivered on a state budget that at the bottom-line actually reduced general revenue spending and kept over-all government growth under strict control.
Legislators correctly protected the states economic competitiveness by rejecting new federal mandates and even provided a slight respite from the gross margins tax for small businesses. It would have been better if that relief had been set permanently but at least it will provide necessary wiggle-room in this economic downturn.
Even as we were told dollars didnt exist to provide greater property tax or permanent business tax relief legislators did find money to create a new pre-K program.
Texans escaped the imposition of massive new gasoline taxes and related fees. Over the interim the legislature must systemically address transportation funding not with patchwork locally-imposed tax hikes and fee increases but with strict prioritization and an end to the diversions.
Texans still overwhelmingly demand greater transparency and accountability with our local tax dollars.
Lawmakers must be ready to explain to Texans why stronger taxpayers protections were not enacted for property owners and commit to reforming the outdated appraisal system in 2011. Legislators should explain why taxpayer-funded lobbying was allowed to continue unabated."
