Illegal immigration
Although securing our borders is a
federal responsibility, Texas is obligated to protect the safety and well-being
of its citizens. Texas must act now to aid our law-enforcement officials on
the border and restrict government handouts to those who have entered our
country illegally. If Oklahoma can get tough on illegal immigration, so should
we. Politicians have talked about this problem for years, but they do nothing
once they get to Austin. It is time to walk the talk.
Appraisal caps
Government appraisers are under tremendous
pressure to increase the appraised value of your home for tax purposes. I
favor eliminating annual appraisals and using the value of your home when you
bought it. This will put the pressure back where it belongs--on the
politicians who set our tax rates.
Government spending
The Texas Legislature authorizes a
state budget every two years. In 2005, the legislature increased spending by
19 percent and, in 2007, by 20 percent. This spending far outpaces any increases
in population and inflation. In fact, the last session of the legislature exceeded
the constitutional spending cap for the first time in history. We must reign
in spending now.
Taxes
The Texas Legislature has a big appetite for your
money. But, in 2005, you were promised a $2,000 property-tax cut. I didn’t
get mine; did you get yours? What happened? With increased tax appraisals, the
money was all but gone before the cut even took effect. And guess what’s
coming? A new “business income tax” in 2008. And who, ultimately, will pay that
“business” income tax? That’s right, you. We should reject any income tax, whether
charged to businesses or to us personally.
College Tuition
In 2003, the Texas Legislature passed the
buck on college tuition and allowed state universities to set their own rates.
After the legislature abdicated its responsibility, college tuition in Texas went up an average of 43 percent. It is up 104 percent at the University of Texas and 65 percent at the University of Houston. This has made it even more difficult for
working families to send their kids to college. The legislature needs to step
up to the plate and help make college affordable again in Texas.