New Community Debt after Election

Well we have had our day at the polls and for the most part the sheeple have spoken... Below is a list of every bond proposal that was on a ballot in the greater Houston area that passed.

State Level
PROPOSITION 2 Allows the issuing of $500 million in general obligation bonds
PROPOSITION 4 $1 billion in bonds
PROPOSITION 15 authorizes issuance of up to $3 billion in bonds
PROPOSITION 16 general obligation bonds $250 million

Harris County
Bond Prop. 1 ($190 million, roads)
Bond Prop. 2 ($95 million, parks)
Bond Prop. 4 ($80 million, forensic center)
Bond Prop. 5 ($70 million, family law center)
Bond Prop. 6 ($250 million, Port of Houston)

Houston
Bond Prop. 1 ($36.85 million: streets, sidewalks, drainage)
Bond Prop. 2 ($22.995 million: public safety, emergency medical service, police, fire
buildings)
Bond Prop. 3 ($10.94 million: parks and rec facilities, aquatics facilities, and beautification)
Bond Prop. 4 ($7.17 million for East Baker Road extension)
Bond Prop. 5 ($2.525 million for Texas Avenue area improvements)
Bond Prop. 6 ($2.02 million for drainage improvements)

Houston ISD
Bond issue ($805 million)

Seabrook
Bond issue ($2.5 million for park)

Southside Place
Bond Prop. 1 ($4.5 million city hall)
Bond Prop. 2 ($1.3 million for Park Assn. clubhouse)

Spring Branch ISD
Bond issue ($597 million to rebuild 12 elementary schools)

Cypress-Fairbanks ISD
Bond issue ($806.8 million)

Brazoria County

Angleton ISD
Bond Prop. 1 ($98.6 million for land)
Bond Prop. 2 ($40.15 million for new football stadium and field house)
Bond Prop. 3 ($1.59 million for renovations, improvements)

Brazosport College
Bond issue ($70 million: classrooms,facilities)

Columbia-Brazoria ISD
Bond Prop. 1 ($12.8 million for renovations at Wild Peach Elem.)
Bond Prop. 2 ($3 million for renovations at Columbia High School)

Fort Bend
Fort Bend ISD
Bond issue ($428 million)

Chambers
CountyMont Belvieu
Bond issue ($11 million, roads, sewer, water)

East Chambers ISD
Bond Prop. 1 ($6 million for renovations, new classrooms)
Bond Prop. 2 ($3.5 million to build a new gym to replace existing unairconditioned facility)

Galveston County
Dickinson ISD
Bond issue ($107.5 million)
Friendswood ISD
Bond Prop. 1 ($91.1 million for a new junior high school campus, other campus upgrades)
Bond Prop. 2 ($1.8 million for football stadium upgrades, including the addition of 3,000 seats) Bond Prop. 3 ($6.5 million for a swimming facility)

Texas City ISD
Bond Prop. 1 ($109.7 million for new Texas City High School, Levi Fry Middle School and Kohfeldt Elementary; other improvements)
Bond Prop. 2 ($4.75 million technology improvements)
Bond Prop. 3 ($4.25 million for football stadium renovations, other athletic facilities)
Bond Prop. 4 ($3.8 million for renovation to the technology education support center and maintenance storage and shops)

Liberty County
Dayton
Prop. 1 ($11.9 million for library, community center, street improvements)
Prop. 2 ($795,000 for street, drainage improvements on Lover's Lane and South Cleveland)
Prop. 3 ($1.2 million for utility improvements at Lover's Lane and South Cleveland)

The Grand total of the bonds that were approved is $8,752,535,000.00, Yes that is eight BILLION Dollars. Now take that out over 30 years and with an interest rate of 5.25% and you are looking at nearly 22 Billion when all interest is included. The sad thing is the state just certified a budget with an 8 Million dollar surplus, and here we are looking at payments in the area of 750 Million a year on this obligation alone....

I know the answer to this, but do these people realize that this money will be coming out of their paychecks and mortgage payments in the form of property and sales taxes...

Headlines I have collected

Ex-Marine, 72, Teaches Pickpocket a Lesson
New Jersey mutt wins ugliest dog crown in California
Judge rejects $54 million lawsuit over lost pair of pants
Millionaire, 84, died fleeing Harris probate court
Disney to scrap lucrative direct-to-DVD animated sequels
Is Earmark Disclosure a True Measure of Transparency? Actually the question is do we actually have a conservative or at least honest democrat?
Embattled Duke Rape Case Prosecutor Mike Nifong Could Get Jail Time
Senate Votes to Increase Fuel Economy Standards in Cars, SUVs
Sens. Hillary Clinton, Barbara Boxer Dispute Conversation About Reining in Conservative Talk Radio So who do you believe, a moderate/conservative republican or two flaming liberals
Prince William Turns 25, Gains Part of Diana's Inheritance Now the question is will he be king instead of his father, and who will he marry....
Bush Administration Opposes Making Immigration Bill Easier on Employers
Vatican Reverses Annulment of Ex-Rep. Joseph Kennedy's First Marriage
Computer Hacking Plagues Department of Homeland Security
County rescinds Westpark Tollway fee hike
Plan for new taxes on oil companies stalls
N.H. Town Hopes to End Standoff Between Police and Couple Barricaded in Home Since January
FOHacker Claims to Have Posted 'Harry Potter' Plot on Internet
Police Say Washington Baby Died After Mom Taped Pacifier in Infant's Mouth
The perils of carving a path to the Taliban's front door
Fireworks sales likely to blast off
Duke prosecutor testifies; ex-lacrosse player weeps

Comics of the Day

Bills on local tax limits languish, and Fred Hill still does not get it

Bills on local tax limits languish , the headline says it all, the Texas Legislature is again dragging its collective feet in getting meaningful property tax legislation sent up to the floor for debate. And again for the third legislative session in a row Fred Hill (RINO) Richardson shows just how stupid and arrogant he is.

I'll start with Mr. Hill who has been the bigest RINO on the plantation with regards to property Taxes. Here is his comments on the issue in the article

"The House still has a whole lot of bills to deal with in the remaining weeks of the session, and I don't believe that appraisal caps or revenue caps will be among those that pass," said Rep. Fred Hill, who chairs the House Local Ways and Means Committee that has jurisdiction over many of the issues.
"In the last three years, the members have learned a lot about these subjects," he said. "It's not that we are opposed to doing something to relieve the property tax situation, but these bills don't really help and won't do anything to make government more efficient."
Mr. Hill, R-Richardson, called the proposals "bad public policy," pointing to studies showing that while Texas has one of the higher property tax loads in the country, it ranks 44th among the states in per capita tax burden.
"Texas is a bargain when it comes to taxes," he said.

He thinks it is a bargain?, he thinks it is bad public policy to force taxing entities to have a strict budget? He seems to miss the point that if things do not change then people will start losing their homes because they cannot pay their taxes. What will happen then? Well I will bet that the classic snowball effect will take place. The tax rates will go up to cover for the missing income, and then more people will lose their homes or downsize. And eventually the strong housing market that we now have will implode worse than the 1980's real estate bust. Hill's comments also prove that he is pro-governement and anti-tax cut, and does not seem to understand that 99% of the people in the state of Texas have not seen an annual salary increase of over 5% in years. Just to prove that Mr. Hill has never been in the situation that most of you that will read this have been in here is a link to Mr. Hill's DCAD property record and you can see that his property value has been capped only 1 year in the past 8. Also look at the value and history and you can see that at about the time the appraisal cap issue came to the forefront of the state legislature Mr. Hill qualified for and was granted an OVER 65 exemption which for the most part has protected him from significant tax increases.

Now from that to the other head of this snake, the TAC and Elna Christopher.

Elna Christopher, a spokeswoman for the Texas Association of Counties, said the group remains "very concerned" about the revenue cap measure. It would establish a 5 percent increase limit on annual revenues for cities and counties that could be exceeded only with voter approval. Currently, voters can petition for an election to roll back the property tax rate if the effective rate increases more than 8 percent in a given year.
"The counties believe it would be disastrous," Ms. Christopher said. City and county officials across the state have warned that priorities such as adequate police protection and economic development projects could be jeopardized if local officials lose control over their property tax rates.

Again the TAC and Ms. Christopher are a fountain of misinformation. First of all, the reason that TAC is against this is because it would force the 90% of counties, MUD Districts, and School Districts to become more responsable stewards with OUR MONEY, heaven forbid. Also it is not harming current budgets, all it would do is reduce the size of the raise that the county would get. I have said it before here shifting where the money comes from will not make the burden any less for the people who pay the taxes.

It is time for the citizens of Texas to step up and put some pressure on those in power to get the following bills out of committee and on to the floor of the Texas House and Senate for some honest debate and a vote up or down, so that we can see who is for giving the tax payers of the state a break and who is willing to side with TAC and other political cronies.

Here are links to the bills as well as a link to the committee that they have been sent to.

SB347: Would reduce the cap on how much property appraisals can increase, from 10 percent a year to 5 percent a year. Bill Text for SB347 and SJR 14
STATUS: Awaiting a hearing in a Senate committee. Finance Committee

HB2463: Would let homeowners pay property taxes based on the five-year average of their home's appraised value. Bill Text for HB2463
STATUS: Given a hearing in a House committee, but the panel has not voted on it. House Ways and Means

HB3534: Would cap how much local governments' revenue can increase, unless they let voters cast ballots on the issue. Bill Text for HB3543
STATUS: Awaiting a hearing in a House committee. House Ways and Means

SB270: Would require the disclosure of the sales price of real estate. Bill Text for SB270
STATUS: Scheduled for a hearing Wednesday in a Senate committee. Intergovernmental Regulations

SB407: Would allow voters to approve a sales-tax increase to offset a property tax cut. Bill Text SB407
STATUS: Awaiting a hearing in a Senate committee. Finance Committee

Political hot Potato or the Third Rail of Politics

After writing my last article I started to think about what issues do the American Public see as critical to the future of the country that most politicians would not touch with a ten foot pole. You see there are issues that can be described as hot potato or third rail issues. These are issues that if you are a senator, congressman or a member of a state legislature, and you take them up and seriously try to push through changes, you are taking your political career into your own hands. Plain and simple these are things that if you make a wrong step you will be out on your backside maybe even before the next election. So here are what I see as the issues that can and sometimes kill the career of most conservatives.

1) Social Security Reform
2) Welfare Reforme - All types
3) Income Tax Reform
4) Immigration
5) Abortion

I know there are others but for the most part when ever a true conservative tries to make significant changes to any of these programs they are always walking on thin ice. And it is for that reason that I have always said that the best way to change these programs short of complete elimination is to make very small changes, that is how 90% of these programs were built and that is how they need to be dismantled as well.

But again this is a common sense approach to things and I beleive that those in Austin and DC lose that skill after being there for to long.

Katy Watchdogs Newsletter #2

THE KATY CITIZEN WATCHDOG NEWSLETTER

We’re Taxpayers. It’s Our Money!

Local Citizens Looking Out For The Interests Of Taxpayers and Students!

Join us at www.katycitizens.org and at www.radiofreekaty.com

Volume 27 – March 29, 2007

Dear Katy Citizen Watchdog Members, KISD Teachers/Faculty, Taxpayers and concerned Parents:

We hope you find our newsletters useful and informative. We urge you to please forward this newsletter to anyone you know that might be interested in its content. For those of you that have received this newsletter via a “forward”, please go to our web site (as noted above) to find out who we are and consider joining us. KCW welcomes your ideas, comments, suggestions, concerns and questions, so please feel free to e-mail us any time at info@katycitizens.org

Contained in this issue:

· Katy Dogs/AFP Call First Ever Texas Watchdog Summit!
· Dogs To Visit Galveston ISD Watchdog Group Next Month!
· Dogs Contacted By Pennsylvania & Michigan Watchdogs!
· KISD Polling Locations & Times Posted!
· Upcoming Events

KATY DOGS/AFP CALL FIRST EVER TEXAS WATCHDOG SUMMIT!

Because of all the positive response that the Watchdog web site has been receiving, both locally and nationally, Co-Founder, Chris Cottrell, began thinking about trying to organize a Texas Watchdog Summit where fellow Watchdogs from around the state could meet and discuss ideas on how we all can take this movement to the next level; that next level being, how we can become more powerful in Austin. Well, Chris’ idea has become a reality. After discussing the idea with Americans For Prosperity (“AFP”), AFP has decided to host the event in Austin. The meeting has been scheduled for April 27 and 28. AFP is currently setting up appointments with various legislators so that the Texas Watchdogs can meet with them to discuss what we are trying to achieve, along with our concerns about taxes and school district shenanigans.

“All Watchdogs in this state need to begin thinking about how we can become more of a resource to AFP and to each other. We need to begin figuring out how this movement can become more of a force in Austin. The Watchdogs of this state need to be a real voice for the ordinary taxpayer that is currently drowning in school and property taxes,” said Co-Founder, Chris Cottrell.

The Katy Dogs are very excited about this event. It will be open to all so if you have any interest in attending please send us an e-mail so we can sign you up. We will post the proposed agenda on the web site just as soon as it is finalized.

DOGS TO VISIT GALVESTON ISD WATCHDOG GROUP NEXT MONTH!

Yet another new Watchdog group has been following our web site and our corresponding accomplishments. We have recently been contacted by a new Watchdog group that has formed in Galveston, TX. They have asked that we come to Galveston to visit with their group to share strategies, recommendations and “war stories”. We are currently working to schedule a mutually acceptable date for all concerned. We will issue a report once the meeting has taken place. Stay tuned!

DOGS CONTACTED BY PENNSYLVANIA & MICHIGAN WATCHDOGS!

In addition to California, Missouri, Nevada, Maryland, Florida and Colorado, we can now add Pennsylvania and Michigan to the list of states that have contacted the Katy Dogs about information in order to help them with their school district fights. The Katy Watchdog$ are thrilled that others have been inspired by our efforts to defend the ordinary taxpayers. We are proud that we have become a real “pox” on local government, not just in Katy but around this state and now around this great land.

KISD POLLING LOCATIONS & TIMES POSTED!

As we do for every election in our community, the Katy Citizen Watchdog$ have added a new button to our web site; that being the “2007 Voter’s Guide”. This is where you can find all the necessary information on polling locations and times for our spring school board election. We realize that this information can be very confusing, but that is exactly the district’s plan. Having these important elections at off-times and in off-months has served this district well over the years. We therefore urge you to please contact us if you are not sure about where and when to vote in your area. Whether you agree with the Watchdog$ or not it is very important for everyone to exercise their right to vote!

THE LAST WORD!

“It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us...that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion...that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain...that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom...and that government of the people...by the people...for the people...shall not perish from this earth.”

Abraham Lincoln

UPCOMING EVENTS

1. April 25, 2007 – 6:30 p.m. Work/Study Board Meeting
2. April 30, 2007 – 6:30 p.m. General School Board Meeting

Don’t forget that as a taxpayer you have a right to speak at any General Board Meeting. Exercise that right if you are so inclined! Come join us at the next meeting.

IF YOU PREFER THAT WE NOT SEND YOU ANY MORE E-MAILS, YOU MAY OPT OUT BY SENDING US AN E-MAIL AT INFO@KATYCITIZENS.ORG

Lawmakers propose education reforms, may axe TAKS test

Leave it to the UT campus newspaper to have the best article on legislation about the TAKS Test and college tuition.

Lawmakers propose education reforms, may axe TAKS test

State legislators have until the end of May to decide how much of the state's surplus budget will fund education reform, but bills that have already
been filed will make lawmakers reevaluate several of Texas' education policies. Bills pre-filed for the 80th Legislative Session aim to reform or repeal past legislation.
Those bills will affect high school students' academic assessment, college admissions and the increasing cost of tuition.
The Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills test, used to evaluate the progress of students, is in jeopardy of being replaced by end-of-course assessment tests in upper grade levels. Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and Sen. Florence Shapiro, R-Plano, the chair of the Senate Education Committee, are among the legislators poised to eliminate the TAKS test. Critics of the TAKS test cite "teaching to the test" and the multiplechoice format for its ineffectiveness.
House Bill 212, filed by Houston-area republican Rep. Beverly Woolley, proposes to repeal the top 10 percent admissions policy. The rule guarantees admission to public state universities for those in the top 10 percent of their high school graduating class. Lawmakers have criticized the rule for forcing students from more academically competitive schools to universities out of state.
Several bills which would directly impact college students are the bills leveled at tuition rates. Three years after the Legislature gave university regents the power to decide tuition rates, the average cost of tuition and fees at public universities has risen more than $2,000, according to figures from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. UT tuition increased 57 percent during the same period. Sen. Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa, D-Mission, pre-filed a bill in November to freeze tuition rates for three years and cap annual increases at 5 percent thereafter.
A similar bill written by Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston, would repeal deregulation in three years unless lawmakers pass legislation to continue it.
The Texas Taxpayers and Research Association estimated the cost of education and finance reform will be more than $10 billion, but no matter how much money is put toward reform, the biggest change to the state's education system may come from bills passed during this legislative session.

The one good thing that I see out of all of this is the fact that there are actually people in the State legislature who are using their head as well as seeing how things are actually going on in the rest of the state.

Katy Watchdog Newsletter

I am a member of the Katy Watchdogs, a group whose purpose is to keep an eye on the spending of Katy ISD. Here is their current newsletter. I am going to post these every time I get them for all to read.


THE KATY CITIZEN WATCHDOG NEWSLETTER

We’re Taxpayers. It’s Our Money!

Local Citizens Looking Out For The Interests Of Taxpayers and Students!

Join us at http://www.katycitizens.org/ and at http://www.radiofreekaty.com/

Volume 26 – February 28, 2007

Dear Katy Citizen Watchdog Members, KISD Teachers/Faculty, Taxpayers and concerned Parents:

We hope you find our newsletters useful and informative. We urge you to please forward this newsletter to anyone you know that might be interested in its content. For those of you that have received this newsletter via a “forward”, please go to our web site (as noted above) to find out who we are and consider joining us. KCW welcomes your ideas, comments, suggestions, concerns and questions, so please feel free to e-mail us any time at info@katycitizens.org

Contained in this issue:

· Dogs Address Boulder ISD Watchdogs & Board!
· KISD Posts Check Register Online!
· KMAC Contract Approved!
· Dogs To Speak At AFP’s Taxpayer Summit Next Month!
· Upcoming Events

DOGS ADDRESS BOULDER ISD WATCHDOG$ & BOARD!

As we told you last month, the Boulder Watchdogs asked the Katy Dogs to meet with their group, as well as address the Boulder Valley School District Board. We want to thank Mr. Mike McDaniel of the Boulder Dogs for the invitation and their hospitality. Co-Founder, Chris Cottrell, made the trip to Boulder, CO. Chris toured several schools in the district, spoke to several Boulder Valley employees and spoke at the school board meeting of the 27th. We will be posting his statements on the web site shortly.

KISD POSTS CHECK REGISTER ONLINE!

On February 1st Co-Founder, Chris Cottrell, sent an open letter to the Board asking that they consider putting KISD’s check register online. Many districts have already done it. Even the Texas Education Agency decided to post their check register online. Gov. Perry recently ordered all state agencies to begin posting their check registers online as well. Co-Founder, Kevin Tatum, spoke on this very matter at the Board meeting this past Monday evening.

Well, we are very pleased to announce that because of Watchdog pressure the district announced at Monday’s Board meeting that they have posted the KISD check register online. The Watchdog$ want to offer our congratulations to the district for doing the RIGHT thing and posting the check register on their web site. This simple act would go a long way in showing that this district wants to take the first steps towards being transparent with OUR tax dollars!!

We also urge you to go to Peyton Wolcott’s web site for all the latest on this check register issue. A link to her web site can be found under the “ Related Links” page of our web site. The Katy Dogs want to acknowledge and thank Peyton for her tireless leadership in this matter and we are pleased that she continues to lobby for districts to post their check registers online. The Watchdog$ are very happy that she can add KISD to her honor role of schools that have decided to post their check registers online.

KMAC CONTRACT APPROVED!
In a 6-1 vote Monday night, the KISD Trustees approved the controversial KMAC contract. Unfortunately, only Trustee Law said “NO” to this matter. We want to thank all the Dogs that sent e-mails to the board members pleading with them to say “NO”, or at the very least to table to matter until all the questions about this contract could be answered. Instead your pleas were ignored. Fellow Dogs, we hope that you are as outraged as we are that six (6) of your elected board members thought it was ok to thumb their noses at you.

We all need to be very concerned about a matter of such importance being brought up on a Wednesday night with limited discussion, and then approved the following Monday night. The Watchdog$ believe that a decision of this magnitude should have been discussed in detail and the public should have been involved in this discussion. Let’s not forget that YOUR tax dollars were used to fund this KMAC program. The Watchdog$ want to thank Charter Member, Fred Hink, for speaking on this matter at the Board meeting. We will be posting Fred’s speech on the web site shortly. In addition, the Watchdog leadership issued a formal Press Release on this matter on Wednesday. We will be posting that Press Release to the web site shortly.

Fellow Dogs, if you believe in transparent government then the Watchdog leadership is asking that you to become more involved in this fight. We urge you to voice your concerns and/or praise to your elected Board members on a regular basis. Tell them that you support the district’s decision to post the KISD check register online. But those of you that share our concern about the KMAC contract approval should express your outrage as well. The way in which the KMAC contract matter was handled is NOT what representative government is all about. Government, at any level, should be accountable to those that are paying the bills. Don’t know you Trustees’ e-mail addresses?

ericduhon@katyisd.org; tomlaw@katyisd.org; joeadams@katyisd.org; judysnyder@katyisd.org; jackiebirkel@katyisd.org; robertshaw@katyisd.org; rebeccafox@katyisd.org

You can also send your comments to the Katy ISD Communications Department at:

stevestanford@katyisd.org

Fellow Watchdog$, I know you are busy with tasks at home and at the office, but the reality is that we must all begin to take more direct action ourselves. Real change is only going to occur with real commitment to change! Your elected officials need to hear from someone other than those of us in the KCW leadership group!

DOGS TO SPEAK AT AFP’S TAXPAYER SUMMIT NEXT MONTH!

Americans For Prosperity (“AFP”) will be hosting the second annual Texas Taxpayer Summit in Austin on Saturday, March 10th at the Stephen F. Austin Hotel (Intercontinental Hotel). AFP has asked Co-Founder, Chris Cottrell, to speak at that event. Chris’ topic is entitled “So You Want To Be A Watchdog? Really?” We hope that you will consider attending the event. There will be a whole host of topics that concern Texas taxpayers. We have posted the proposed agenda on our web site. You can sign up for the Summit online at the AFP web site (www.afptx.org) which can be found under the “Related Links” page of our web site. If you do attend, please stop by and visit with Chris if you get a chance.

For your convenience, below is a Special Announcement for this event.

THE LAST WORD!

“Never fail to do the right thing for fear that the opposition will attack you in response. The other side can and will attack you anyway, at a time of their own choosing rather than yours, regardless of whether you act”.

Ronald Reagan (One of our nation’s greatest leaders and Presidents)

UPCOMING EVENTS

1. March 21, 2007 – 6:30 p.m. Work/Study Board Meeting
2. March 26, 2007 – 6:30 p.m. General School Board Meeting

Don’t forget that as a taxpayer you have a right to speak at any General Board Meeting. Exercise that right if you are so inclined! Come join us at the next meeting.

IF YOU PREFER THAT WE NOT SEND YOU ANY MORE E-MAILS, YOU MAY OPT OUT BY SENDING US AN E-MAIL AT INFO@KATYCITIZENS.ORG

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT!!

KATY CITIZEN WATCHDOG ANNOUNCEMENT

CALLING ALL CONCERNED TAXPAYERS!!!

February 16, 2007

Dear Citizen Watchdog$ and other interested parties:

As you may or may not know, Americans For Prosperity will be holding their second annual Texas Taxpayer Summit in Austin, Texas on Saturday, March 10th. The event is being held at the Stephen F. Austin Hotel (Intercontinental Hotel) in downtown Austin. Below is the planned agenda as of right now. Co-Founder, Chris Cottrell, will be speaking at the Summit. His topic will be “So You Want To Be A Watchdog? Really?” You can sign up online at http://www.afptx.org/ or you can paste the following address to your URL toolbar:

http://afpf.sfproductions.net/petitions-forms/index.php?petition=26&state=TX

and go straight to the sign-up screen.

We hope that you will join us in Austin! If you do attend, please make sure to introduce yourself to Chris while you are there.
Texas Taxpayer SummitSaturday, March 10, 2007Stephen F. Austin Hotel, Austin
AGENDA
8:00 am Registration and Continental Breakfast – All events are around the Ballroom (Upstairs Stephen F. Austin Hotel)
9:00 am Opening Keynote Session Speaker: Gov Rick Perry (invited) Comptroller Susan Combs; Texas revenue forecast
9:30 am Preserving the American Dream Paul Bettencourt, Harris County Tax Assessor and Collector (invited) Cheryl Johnson, Galveston County Tax Assessor and Collector Sen. Dan Patrick Tom Pauken, Chairman of the Appraisal Reform Task Force
10:30 am Pocketbook Issues Michael Williams, Railroad Commissioner; Environmental and energy issues Mary Katherine Stout; Healthcare and insurance
11:30 am Evils of the Sin Tax
12:30–1:30 Lunch Keynote Session
1:45 pm Putting Taxpayers in Control Peggy Venable, AFP-Texas Director Dr. Byron Schlomach, Chief Economist, Texas Public Policy Foundation Dr. Barry Poulson, AFP Adjunct Scholar Rep Carl Isett (invited)
2:45 pm Focusing on Students, not Institutions Dr. Jim Leininger (invited) Sen. Florence Shapiro Chairman of House Public Ed Will Lutz: higher ed
3:45 PM BREAK
4:00 pm Making a Difference Jason Moore, AFP Citizen Watchdog of the Year, Permian Basin Citizen Watchdogs Chris Cottrell, Katy Citizen Watchdog$ Doug Kirk, Comal county activist Michele Connole Randy Samuelson
5:30 pm Reception and Legislative Award Ceremony Speaker: Tim Phillips; Federal update/Where AFP is headed (invited)
6:30 pm Dinner Honoring AFP Citizen Watchdog Leaders

Cost: $75.00 (This includes all meals, the reception, and all workshops.) Donations are welcome and scholarships are available!For more information, contact:Jan Brauner (512) 476-5905, jan@afptx.orgMichele Connole (512) 476-5905, mconnole@afptx.org Who we are: Americans For Prosperity Foundation (AFPF) is a nationwide organization of citizen leaders committed to advancing every individual’s right to economic freedom and opportunity. AFPF believes reducing the size and scope of government is the best safeguard to ensuring individual productivity and prosperity for all Americans. AFPF educates and engages citizens in support of restraining state and federal government growth, and returning government to its constitutional limits. Americans for Prosperity educates and mobilizes grassroots citizens.
Peggy M. Venable, Texas Director,
Americans for Prosperity and AFP Foundation 807 Brazos St,
#210; Austin, TX 78701
phone: 512/476-5905;
fax: 512/476-5906;
cell: 512/423-2947;

Harris County GOP: 2007 HCRP Legislative Agenda

Harris County GOP: 2007 HCRP Legislative Agenda

RESOLUTION PROCLAIMINGTHE HARRIS COUNTY REPUBLICAN PARTYLEGISLATIVE AGENDAFOR THE 2007 TEXAS STATE LEGISLATIVE GENERAL SESSION
Whereas, the 2007 Texas Legislature will convene in 2007 with a majority of both the Texas Senate and Texas House represented by Republican members, we the Harris County Republican Party Executive Committee urge the Republican members of the Texas Legislature to author, introduce, and pass legislation to accomplish the following legislative goals, as contained both in the 2006 State Republican Party Platform and in many 2006 Senate District Republican Convention Platforms in Harris County, and across the State of Texas; and
Whereas, thousands of Republican Precinct Chairmen and campaign workers worked tirelessly for the election of these Republican nominees to the State Legislature in the recent general election, the Harris County Republican Executive Committee asks that these legislative goals be assigned the highest priority and embraced, sponsored, and enacted by all members of the Republican majorities elected to both houses of the Texas State Legislature; and
Therefore, Be It Resolved, that the Harris County Republican Party Executive urges the Republican members of the Texas Senate and House of Representatives, as well as Governor Rick Perry and Lt. Governor David Dewhurst, to author, introduce, and pass legislation that will:
1) Lower the state property appraisal cap to 3% per year on all residential property;
2) Repeal the new HB3 business tax, as well as the old franchise tax;
3) Reduce state government spending to the level that balances the state budget, after eliminating the taxes listed above;
4) Enact a "Texas Abortion Ban" law, which would immediately go into effect when Roe vs. Wade is overturned by the US Supreme Court
5) Secure our southern 2,000+ mile Texas border with a high "Defense Wall", and take all possible state legislative actions to stop illegal immigration NOW!,
6) Prohibit the granting of citizenship to children of illegal aliens born in the United States and its territories;
7) Maintain the present system of election of Texas Judges by party affiliation and general election;
8) Prevent any further restrictions on campaign finance activities, i.e. McCain-Feingold, etc.;
9) Support passage of a "Jessica's Law" to protect our children.
10) Oppose legalization of gambling in Texas.
11) Support a Photo Identification requirement to vote, and oppose election "paper-trail" systems.
12) Establish English as Texas's official language.
13) Transfer the Texas State government's Public Integrity function from the Travis County District Attorney to the Texas Attorney General.
14) and pass all other State Legislative changes recommended by the 2006 State Republican Party Convention Platform, and 2006 Harris County Senate District Convention Platforms; and

Be it further resolved, that this Legislative Agenda of the Harris County Republican Party Executive Committee be forwarded to all Republican State Legislators, as well as Lt. Governor David Dewhurst and Governor Rick Perry.

House members get $132 a day to do nothing until Feb. 8

House members get $132 a day to do nothing until Feb. 8

OK I am going to put names and e-mail links with faces here for this one... this is just one more piece of proof that the rules that the Texas Legislature are antiquated and those in power are more interested in getting along than in healthy debate on the issues.

AUSTIN — House members will be collecting $132 a day for expenses while doing little work on legislation until Feb. 8 because a routine rules suspension fell victim Tuesday to partisan acrimony.
In yet another sign that the House is off to a rocky start following a failed effort to dethrone Speaker Tom Craddick, the leadership was unable to get the necessary four-fifths vote needed to suspend a provision in the Constitution that prevents committees from hearing legislation during the first 30 days of a session and the full House from debating bills during the first 60 days.
Thirty-three Democrats and one Republican, Rep. Robert Talton of Pasadena, voted to block the rules change. The last time the House failed to suspend the rules was in 1981.

During a colorful and contentious debate, members of the speaker's team warned that the public would not understand why lawmakers are collecting their pay and per diem but not working on legislation per diem.
"Do we just get paid to sit on our patooties?" asked Rep. Sylvester Turner, a Houston Democrat who supported Craddick on the rules suspension.

Other Democrats opposing the rules suspension said they didn't trust the leadership not to try to move bad legislation quickly through the committee process.

"The minority party has been totally disrespected for four years," said Rep. Lon Burnam, D-Fort Worth.( Image on left)

Rep. Warren Chisum, R-Pampa,(Image on Right) said the constitutional provision dates to 1930 when the public wanted to make sure that lawmakers gave due deliberation to new laws.

He noted that now Texans are able to watch committee hearings on the Internet and are more aware of the contents of bills.
Craddick said he doesn't bear any responsibility for the breakdown in the House. He blamed "a group that wanted to slow the process down."
In reality, little work gets done in the first month of the session as lawmakers take time to organize their committees and get to know the new members. The long hours and heavy lifting come near the end of each 140-day session.
Issues declared an emergency by Gov. Rick Perry — property tax relief for senior citizens and state tax rebates so far — can be considered.
And lawmakers can vote on a bill-by-bill basis to allow committee hearings, as they did for several transportation bills Tuesday.
"We are willing and able to suspend the rules for any individual piece of legislation that warrants early and expedited consideration," said Rep. Jim Dunnam, D-Waco. "But we cannot wholesale waive our constituents' constitutional rights to be heard without a compelling reason."

Ok I am going to start at the bottom of this article and work my way up with commentary. Rep Dunnam, is wrong, plain and simple, our rights are for a fair and open government, not for stonewalling so that every thing can be pushed into the final 30 days of the session. If he was interested in doing his job he would be pushing for more open and extended debate so that each piece of legislation can be given a full and fair examination.

Craddick is right on about a small group of people including a RINO in Talton who are more interested in slowing things down so that there is chaos at the end of the session.

Burnam is a typical liberal who is crying about not getting his way because he is part of the minority, well now you know what it was like to be a Republican in the Texas Legislature until the 1990s.

Turner is right on the button, these people are up there to do a job and if they cannot be enabled to work during the whole time they are up there then why should they even be getting paid.

Talton has again shown that he is a RINO that needs to be voted out of office. He simply is there to consolidate power and is acting like a liberal Democrat who wants to take his ball and go home.

Your comments are appreciated.

Headlines for Today

7 Large Tunnels Beneath U.S.-Mexican Border Raising Security Concerns

London Prison Changes Direction of Toilets in Respect to Islamic Law
The Wealthy Far More Likely to Be Audited on Their Taxes

Cops Taser Student Running Naked Through High School Cafeteria

Microsoft Releases Windows Vista to Masses

12-Year-Old Boy Becomes 14-Year-Old Girl, World's Youngest Sex Change Patient

Gaza Cease-Fire Between Hamas, Fatah Holding

Official: Siberian Girl Paid Teens $570 to Kill Parents

Saudi Official: We're Working With Lebanon to Calm Crisis in Iraq, Lebanon

WWII Vet, 84, Wins $254 Million Lottery Jackpot

Bonds passes physical, gets one-year deal from Giants

Super Bowl comes home

Hall of Famer Singletary to interview for Dallas job

If he returns, Clemens says it won't be full season

Greatest hits, in the palm of your hand

Open Letter to Texas Senator Kyle Janek

After the first day of the Texas Senate and seeing the change in rules offered up by Senator Patrick shot down, I decided to compose a letter to my state senator and express my feelings toward his vote and the "business as usual" attitude that is in Austin. I would encourage everyone who has a Republican Senator to do the same, and always remember to be polite in your message. Also I would encourage everyone to send Senator Patrick a note thanking him for standing up for majority rule in the senate.
Links to the senators is below.

Senator Janek,

As a taxpayer, homeowner, and resident of both Texas and your district, I would like to know why you voted against the changes in the rules of the Senate that Senator Patrick brought forth on the first day of the legislative session. This includes the elimination of the blocker rule which requires 21 senators to approve that a bill comes up for debate and vote. Your decision to not support this change has done nothing to encourage the citizens of the state that the Senate is nothing more than a good ole boys club where nothing gets done. It also makes it look like you have forgotten all of the work that both Senator Patrick did in supporting your election but have forgotten that you are a public servant whose job in Austin is to serve District 17. I hope you realize that by not eliminating that rule you and your fellow Republican Senators have effectively undermined the power of the majority that you and you r fellow Republicans have in the senate and does everything to empower the MINORITY. That is not how our government was designed, nor should it be that way in the year 2007. I am becoming even more disappointed with the current group of Republicans in legislative positions every day, and actions or lack of action like this have me questioning weather yourself and the others that I have voted for to represent MY interests in Austin as well as Washington are either woefully corrupt, or simply on an overwhelming power trip that they do not care. I am watching the actions of both the Senate and House as well as Gov Perry and Lt Gov. Dewhurst to see where my support both financially and vote wise will be going in the future.
I would appreciate a response to my comments if possible and would be more
than happy to even visit with you about my concerns when you are in Katy
area.

Thank you,

Bill Weldon

Texas Senate

Katy superintendent discloses cancer, surgery and retirement

Here is the story, basically an attempt to make a quiet exit.

Katy .superintendent discloses cancer, surgery

Katy school Superintendent Leonard Merrell, who announced his retirement Wednesday, is being treated for prostate cancer and has recently undergone surgery, a school district spokesman said Thursday.
In a statement Merrell wrote to school trustees, he did not give any reason for ending a 12-year tenure during which he oversaw improved student performance and led the district through a period of explosive growth.
He also encountered some difficult times. Merrell's sharpest critics, members of a school watchdog group, often accused him of being out of touch with the district's needs.
Merrell's secretary, B.J. Alvarez, said the superintendent was in meetings Thursday and was unavailable to return calls.
In an interview with the Chronicle in March, Merrell said he had no plans to retire. "As long as I'm healthy and I enjoy the work, I'll keep doing it. If I ever get to the point that I don't enjoy it anymore, that will be the time to leave, because then it wouldn't be fair to the district," he said.
Merrell, 62, was hired in 1995 as he beat out a national slate of candidates. He told trustees Wednesday night he will retire June 30 when his contract expires, after serving 39 years in education.
"I'm disappointed and surprised but I understand that at some point in time a person has to make personal decisions," said Bill Moore, the district's chief financial officer.
School board president Judith Snyder said the board would use a national search firm to help select Merrell's replacement for the district, which has about 6,200 employees and an annual budget of $435.2 million for 2006-07.
"It is the intention of the board to complete the search and have Dr. Merrell's replacement before his retirement in June to provide a seamless transition," Snyder said.
Garland "Scooter" McMeans, the assistant superintendent for support services, said he is excited for Merrell but extremely disappointed for the district. Katy, a school district that grew from about 25,000 to more than 50,000 pupils during Merrell's reign, regained its Texas Education Agency "recognized" status in 2006, making it one of the largest districts in the state to earn the second highest ranking the agency designates.
Four bond elections passed from 1996 to 2006, totaling nearly $1.13 billion to fund new technology, renovation and repair work, and 20 new schools. Merrell also oversaw the construction of a multipurpose center named the Leonard E. Merrell Center, which also became a source of contention for the watchdog group.
The $23.5 million center was was funded through a tax increment reinvestment zone established by the city of Katy, Fort Bend County and Katy ISD in 1999.
In a 2005 interview with the Chronicle, Merrell said he was "humbled by, and very appreciative of, this honor. It came as a complete surprise and never at any time did I ever expect that the board would choose to name the facility after me."
But under the constant scrutiny of a school watchdog group, Merrell also had to deal with a number of controversies. One criticism was that district officials were harsh in enforcing applying zero tolerance discipline policies and did not use common sense. An e-mail controversy that resulted in several employees being disciplined for using school computers to discuss a school board election brought complaints from critics from within and outside of the district.
Fred Hink, a member of the Katy Citizen Watchdogs, criticized Merrell on Thursday as a "reactionary leader who never looked at the true business of running the school district."
Chris Cottrell,co-founder of the watchdog group, said the district is ready for new leadership.
But Anne Hodge, Katy Area Chamber of Commerce president and chief executive officer, praised Merrell's leadership. "I think he's been a coalition builder and one who understands the importance of developing strategic teams to address the problems in the community," Hodge said.
Lance LaCour, Katy Area Economic Development Council executive director, said Merrell's announcement came as a "somewhat of a shock." "It's probably going to be some big shoes to fill," LaCour said.

Now for my take on things. As much as I liked Dr. Merrell as a person, and I have met him on several occasions. His leadership skills left a lot to be desired. Look at the people who are praising him, and what they are saying, "coalition builder", "big shoes to fill". I am sorry but that is hardly a ringing endorsement of a man who has overseen one of the fastest growing school districts in the State and in the nation as well. Look at his record.

• 1.13 BILLION in debt over 10 years
• a multi purpose facility that only seats about 5ooo people funded by a TIRZ that has cost those that set it up millions...
• lack of common sense with regard to zero tolerance policy
• a district that has doubled in size but the quality of education has dropped.
• 6,200 employees and an annual budget of $435.2 million
• e-mail controversy that resulted in several employees being disciplined for using school computers to discuss a school board election

and then look at what the critics have said...
"reactionary leader who never looked at the true business of running the school district."
district is ready for new leadership.

Over all here is what I see. Dr. Merrell was a good man who was not prepared to run a district that was sitting on a population time bomb, like KISD was in 1996. He failed to be the aggressive leader that a fast growing district needs. He allowed land owners to take advantage of the districts fast growth and suck nearly 35 Million out of the district for land needed for schools. The districts growth planning group was horribly under informed, and the company that was doing the growth analysis was about 3 to 5 years behind in knowing what properties were being developed. He encouraged enormous pleasure palace campuses to be designed, and was the first superintendent to have a bond election fail, nearly had a second one fail. Dr. Merrell is a good person who did the best he could for the district, but the scope of the job far outdistanced the man, and I really thing that if he was not undergoing treatment for prostrate cancer, he would have resigned anyway this summer. His health just gives him a way to step aside with out having to worry about people questioning why he is leaving now after he fought so hard to get passed, but if only by the narrowest of margins.

Humbled Texas leaders take office in new era

This story even though it comes from the Chronicle speaks volumes for the state of leadership and everything else in Austin. Highlights are mine and comments to follow.

Humbled Texas leaders take office in new era

AUSTIN — The inauguration ceremony Tuesday for Gov. Rick Perry and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst is about more than taking an oath of office. It is about taking the reins of power.
And while Perry, Dewhurst and House Speaker Tom Craddick all once ruled like the undisputed lords of their respective realms, times have changed. This year, each will come to the legislative negotiating table with political problems that could weaken him in the eyes of the others.
Perry won re-election last year with 39 percent of the vote. Craddick won re-election as House speaker last week with 45 percent of his members voting against him on a key procedural vote.
And Dewhurst is returning to a state Senate in which Democrats can force him to compromise because they have the votes to block anything from passing. Additionally, freshman state Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, already has made it clear that he will be a maverick who tries to push the Senate to the right.
"Perhaps that translates back to the Big Three burying the hatchet," said Rep. Warren Chisum, R-Pampa, a key Craddick ally.
"Every place there's a different dynamic than we've had in previous years: a 40 percent governor, 40 percent 'no' votes against the speaker and then the Senate a few more issues for them out there," Chisum said.
The behind-the-scenes battles among the leadership were legendary between 2003 and 2005. Perry once got angry when Dewhurst failed to show for a leadership breakfast. On another occasion, Dewhurst told reporters he had filled in Craddick on some Senate plans on legislation, and Craddick replied by saying Dewhurst must have been talking to someone else.
And when negotiations on congressional redistricting stalled, Dewhurst said Craddick negotiated like "an Iranian cab driver."
In those days, Perry was the governor who had crushed his 2002 Democratic opponent. Dewhurst had the upper hand in the Senate, and Craddick was firmly in control of the House. The friction led to the Legislature failing to pass public school finance reform and property tax relief in either 2004 or 2005.
The atmosphere began changing during the 2006 election. Republican voters were demanding a solution. So was the Texas Supreme Court, which had declared the public school finance system unconstitutional.
With the hammer cocked on the electoral pistol, Perry, Craddick and Dewhurst came together to pass such legislation. Dewhurst said that began the healing. "This past spring, I was able to put together a very solid and constructive working relationship with Speaker Craddick that enabled us to put together bold elements in school reform," Dewhurst said. "He's told me, and I've told him, we each want to continue to build (on) the progress that we've made."
Craddick has been avoiding the media since the speaker's race began shortly after last year's election. His spokeswoman, Alexis DeLee, said the three leaders "like and respect" one another.
State Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, said anyone observing the leaders has to remember Craddick is a state representative from Midland who is elected by House members, while Dewhurst is a statewide politician with hopes of winning higher office. "Dewhurst is concerned about the statewide constituency and the statewide press," Whitmire said. "Craddick is solid in his House district and his Midland constituency. ...

So they both have different pressures that they face as they go to work every day."
Perry said he thinks the tales of the leadership battles are overblown, as is the perception that he lost any clout by winning re-election with less than 40 percent of the vote. "When I take my hand off the Bible, I'll be 100 percent governor. I won't be 39 percent governor. I'll have 100 percent of the authority," Perry said. "When the session is done, take a look, and I believe we'll have had a pretty successful session."
At the moment, though, the scorecard is mostly blank.
Perry spent most of the election defending his programs. His biggest campaign promise was to obtain $100 million from the Legislature for border security — not a difficult task when the state has an unencumbered budget surplus of about $8 billion.
Aides have said Perry wants more line items in the higher-education budget so he can veto some spending.
The governor also wants to repeal or change the top 10 percent law, according to spokesman Robert Black. Perry also may want to consider some kind of exit test for some college graduates.
Dewhurst won re-election campaigning on a simple platform: protect children by passing a version of Jessica's Law that mandates life sentences or the death penalty for repeat child sexual predators and protect student athletes by putting an automatic external heart defibrillator in every school.
Dewhurst said, in the short run, the session's success will be measured by how "prudently" the state uses its surplus while also guaranteeing the major property tax cuts that have been promised.
Senate Finance Chairman Steve Ogden, R-Bryan, also said making sure the business tax will work as intended will be a legislative priority this year."All of that school finance reform is riding on the fact that that business tax will work as intended," Ogden said.

So it is not about serving the public interest but about Power? If the general population did not know that before they will by the end of the article. Perry comments about being a 100% governor after taking the oath on Tuesday, and not being a 40% governor, well Mr Perry, you have to realize that you will not be a Senator if you can only get 40% of the state wide vote in 4 years. As far as the infighting and other crap, the more they fight the better it is for the voters to see who of the 3 is the most conservative. I could go on and on about the fact that each of these 3 men face issues both with dealing with the other 2 but as well as credibility and believe-ability issues, that have knocked them from their ivory towers of power. And until I see Perry and Dewhurst pushing for smaller government, lower taxes, and more straight forward laws as well as stronger border protection, they will simply be 2 RINOcrats that need to have viable contenders facing them in the next set of primaries. Note to all conservatives, keep your eye on how Dewhurst handles Dan Patrick, as well as how Perry tries to work the room to get things done. You will see very early on in the session if they are going to have any political capital to spend, or if they will be for all reasonable discussions, lame ducks because of the fact that they have failed to listen to those that voted them into their positions.

Perry defends tuition breaks to illegal immigrants

Perry defends tuition breaks to illegal immigrants Chron.com - Houston Chronicle

AUSTIN — Gov. Rick Perry said Thursday he will oppose efforts to repeal a law, which he signed six years ago, giving tuition breaks to illegal immigrants attending state universities.
"I'm for leaving the law like it is because I think it serves a good purpose," (like encouraging illegal immigration...)he said. The governor also said he is willing to
consider legislation to expand the death penalty to repeat child molesters, even
if the victim isn't killed, but stopped short of endorsing the proposal.
"Let's have the debate and see how they do it," he said in an interview with
the Houston Chronicle.
Perry said he and the media may have failed to adequately educate the public about the tuition law.
State legislators have filed at least four bills to repeal the measure, which grants lower, in-state tuition to the children of immigrants who have lived in Texas at least three years, have graduated from a Texas high school and plan to become citizens.
Opponents say it is unfair to give the financial break to illegal immigrants when many U.S. citizens who are non-Texas residents have to pay more to attend college here.
"The only way that you can be eligible for that in-state tuition is if you are in the process of getting your citizenship," Perry said. "I think that's been highly overlooked in this debate."

Governor, no sir you are missing the point, you are with this law saying it is alright to enter this country illegally (one crime), attentend public schools without paying taxes to support them (which I see as theft of services) and then get in state tuition as long as you are "in the process of getting your citizenship? come on, wake up you pompus over hair sprayed fool. People can stretch the citizenship process out over the 4 to 6 years that it takes to graduate and then drop the citizenship process and go back to their home country with an education that cost them about 70% less than an honest citizen in of this country or any other student over here on a student visa is able to get.

However, under the law, students only have to promise that they will apply for
citizenship.
State Rep. Debbie Riddle, R-Tomball, sponsor of one of the bills to repeal the law, said she disagrees with Perry.
"What we are doing is grossly unfair to people who are here legally," Riddle said. "It gets down to the question: Are we going to continue rewarding people who cut to the front of the line and are not here legally."
On other immigration-related issues, the governor repeated his vow to seek $100 million to strengthen security along the border and said he opposes legislation to remove citizenship rights from the Texas-born children of immigrants.

That is indeed the question and if the Governor thinks that his stand on immigration and handouts for those that are here illegally will help him get to the White House or the Senate, he is sadly mistaken. It is quite clear that the Governor and his advisors have already forgotten that nearly 65% of the voters in the state voted against him and his policies. He needs to listen to what people are saying and pull his head out of his ass. As it is right not Perry is nothing more than a RINOcrat. And it is obvious that he has no clue what so ever what the population of this state want or are expecting from those in Austin.

Time to pay, but 10,500 lack bills for property tax

That is the headline of the article in the Houston Chronicle and on Chron.com. It seems to me that if we want to get our point about property taxes being to high, protesting your appraisal value is one way. It is also probably the easiest since you do not have to deal with the up to 15 taxing entities that could have "claim" on your property. Not that being said, most people do not have the time to protest their taxes by themselves, so I would suggest using one of the companies that will protest your taxes for a percentage of what you would save. It cost you nothing up front and can save you large amounts in the end. I'll use my home as the example. My pre protest value was going to be $116,800, by protesting it it was reduced to $105,000 that is a savings of $11,800 which is a 10.2% decrease in my taxable value. Now if you figure that my tax rate including homestead exemption is around say $3.50 per 100 in valuation I just saved around $450 in taxes this year. Not a huge amount but it makes a huge difference if you start to look at things on a say school district level.

XYZ ISD has say 100,000 homes in it and say 20 % of the homes protest their value and all of them get their appraised value reduced by oh let's say 5%, the result is dramatic. We will assume that the average value of the homes is $100,000 and the district tax rate is $1.75 per 100 in valuation look at the numbers

100,000 homes times ( 1000 x 1.75) = $175,000,000 in tax revenue. Yes 175 Million in tax revenue. No on to the appraisal protest

Ok

80,000 homes with the same appraisal values and tax rates. - 80,000 x(1000x1.75) = $140,000,000

20,000 homes with appraisal values 5% less and the same tax rate. 20,000x(950x1.75)=$33,250,000

Which ends up with a reduction to $173,250,000 it is only a 2 million dollar reduction but that $2million is more than most people think. It can send a message to the leaders of the district that the residents are going to whatever they can to keep their wallets from overflowing. The key for all good tax conscious people is to help spread the word to your neighbors to help to by protesting their appraisal value, and explain to them that their mortgage payments can come down because of this small effort on their part, and in the worst case it cost them nothing if their appraisal value does not go down.

Read the Article and spread the word. Conservative ideas are spread best by word of mouth, and from one friend to another. We are our most powerful when we work at the neighborhood level and expand out from there.

Schools still big issue at Capitol

Schools still big issue at Capitol, that is the headline of the article in the City-State section of the Chronicle. It does not surprise me that this is coming back up since it was a major issue in the governor's race. What will be interesting is how things are handled, so in the meantime let us take a look at this story and see if there is meaningful context or simply more political smoke being blown up our collective skirts.

AUSTIN — State legislators will consider getting rid of the TAKS test when they return to a regular legislative session in a few weeks. And some warn they must increase funding for new schools to head off another finance lawsuit.

Just because lawmakers passed major education bills last spring doesn't mean an easy agenda lies ahead when they return to the Capitol on Jan. 9.

"You never stop discussing education. It's got to be every session, and it's got to be major — every session," Senate Education Chair Florence Shapiro, R-Plano, said.

Public education directly affects more than 4.5 million Texas students,
their parents and about 600,000 teachers and staff.

It all depends upon what is done, and if it makes things easier for TEACHERS TO TEACH, and not have to worry about some joke of a test, that is anywhere from 1 to 3 years below the grade of those being tested.

Shapiro is among those who believe the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills
test "has worn out its welcome," particularly for high school and middle school grades. She will push for "end-of-course" exams for the upper grades.

She also wants to review the state's assessment process and minimum standards for student performance. Currently, schools earn "acceptable" status with a 25 percent passing rating.

"Nobody believes that 25 percent passing is acceptable," Shapiro said. "We've got to change that and make (school grades) meaningful and not something to snicker at because that's what we're doing right now."

Here are some good ideas, however as along as there is no separation of skill level, then both the upper and lower level students will be getting the short end of the stick.

It took lawmakers three special sessions to reform the state's property tax system for funding public education, motivated by a Texas Supreme Court deadline for doing so.

But lawmakers did not address funding inequities for school facilities. Continuing failure to do so will trigger another lawsuit, said Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio, a member of the Senate Education Committee.

Funding for new schools and renovation of older buildings is a problem facing districts both in property-poor areas and busting-at-the-seams suburbs.

"We may not get to the tipping point of doing a massive new school facilities finance
program, but we know, sooner or later, someone's going to take us to court on that," she said.

She also wants the state, along with districts, to be more efficient in the planning of new schools. It doesn't make sense, for example, to hire 500 architects for 500 schools, she said.

"Why can't a school district have a template and save money on architects, on design, on construction practices?" she asked.

Lawmakers last year passed legislation pushing students to take an extra year of science, which will require schools to add laboratories, Shapiro said. The state did not provide funding.

Several billion dollars are needed for school buildings across Texas, but no one seems to know the exact cost, she said.

"We don't project out what our needs are. We just go a year at a time, and that is
absolutely nuts," said Shapiro.

The problem with projections is if the data that they are based upon is flawed then the projections will be flawed as well.

Rep. Harold Dutton, a longtime member of the House Public Education Committee,
is not optimistic lawmakers will significantly improve education.

"We'll probably talk about facility funds, but when you talk about facility funding, you're talking about money, and who's going to put more money into public education?" the Houston Democrat said.

Dutton, who is starting his 12th House term, contends the state's public education system "is simply not working for the masses of students out there, particularly those of color. I don't know how to say it any louder or clearer."

Well the race card has been laid out there. How about the fact that the upper 10% of the student body in Texas is being taught at a level about 2 to 3 years behind where they actually can perform. The idea that teaching to a single common level, and test is the biggest disservice that can be placed upon all students, but there are not enough people who have realized that to get rid of it, and start to go back to the old days when students were placed in classes with piers who had the same skill set and ability.

Some folks want lawmakers to review a provision in last year's school funding bill requiring districts to get voter approval for any effective tax increase exceeding 4 cents per $100 property valuation.

And who are these people? I would bet that these are the same board members that are now limited by this legislation and are going to make hard decisions, like if the district can afford a $80 Million sports facility.

Lawmakers probably won't make major changes to the school finance bill
they just approved last spring, said Rep. Rob Eissler, R-The Woodlands,
a member of the House Public Education Committee. But he agrees with Shapiro
that end-of-course exams should replace the TAKS test.

And it will probably take "some intensive study" before lawmakers change funding formulas for transportation, bilingual education and low-income students, said
Eissler, who spent 18 years on the Conroe Independent School Board before moving to the Legislature.

This is the voice of a career education beurocracy advocate. Take what is says with a grain of salt, anyone who spends 18 yrs on a school district board either is blind to the issues or simply is unwilling to make hard decisions.

Eissler expects less rancorous debate over public education and other issues because House Republicans lost six seats last year, reducing their majority to 81-69.

"I think the voters aren't real enamored of very strong partisanship. They want to see results more than they want to see fights," he said.

That is the one thing in this article that is 100% true. Discussion about issues and working to provide a solution is what we want. If they cannot come to a workable solution then they need to get the hell out of the way

As income grows at top, we're milking it for taxes

This article was in the Chronicle a week ago and on one even said a word about it. I'll let you read it first and add my comments at the end.

Burns: As income grows at top, we're milking it for taxes

Today's awkward situation: Suppose the rich and the affluent were cows. And
suppose the rest of us ran the farm. The answer, according to the most recent
IRS statistics, is a resounding yes. Over the last two years, tax collections
have enjoyed the largest increase in history. We're doing right well by the
herd. They are treating us well in return. The herd is growing. It is providing
a good deal of milk in the form of tax payments. The most productive cows on the
farm are otherwise known as corporate executives. Their specially engineered tax
milk comes from stock options, which are generally taxed at ordinary income tax
rates when realized. So it's the rich and creamy 35 percent stuff. The more of
these cows we have in the herd, the greater the productivity of our tax farm.
The usual view is to bemoan the growth of income at the top. After that, we
worry about how it is depriving the rest of us of our ability to pay for cell
phone minutes, lattes, lottery tickets and other life essentials.

In fact, if "taxes are the price of civilization," most of us are getting our civilization
cheap. Why? Because the rich and affluent — our cash cows — are paying most of the bill. In 1986, according to IRS data, the top 10 percent of all households had incomes of $48,656 or more, collected 35.1 percent of all income and paid 54.7 percent of all income taxes. They paid an average tax rate of 22.6 percent.

By the recently released figures for 2004, the top 10 percent of all households
enjoyed adjusted gross incomes of $99,112 or more. They collected 44.3 percent
of all income. And they paid 65.7 percent of all taxes, at an average rate of
18.6 percent.

Lower tax rates on top-earner income had the beneficial result of
reducing the portion of the tax burden that the other 90 percent had to pick up.
Viewed from the other end of the pyramid, the bottom 90 percent of all
households collected only 55.7 percent of all income. But they paid only 31.8
percent of all taxes. Better still, they paid at an average rate of only 6.9
percent. You're pretty much excused as a taxpayer if your income is in the
bottom 50 percent, some $30,124 or less in 2004, because your average tax rate
will be only 2.94 percent. If human beings didn't change their behavior when
taxes were changed — and the idea that they don't is one of the most persistent
delusions of politicians — we could see some interesting tax policy changes.

Suppose, for instance, that the average tax rate on the cash cows in the top 10
percent was increased from 18.6 percent to an average tax rate of 27.3 percent.
The poor cash cows would be trapped into paying enough income tax so the other
90 percent wouldn't have to pay a cent. I'd bet heavy money that more than 51
percent of all voters would be in favor of such a plan. Indeed, I can imagine
the positive vote going to nearly 90 percent.

Then again, if you yanked an additional 8.7 percent from those fabulously well-off households that earn $99,112 or more, there's a good chance much of the income being taxed would mysteriously disappear. So the bottom 90 percent would still have some income taxes to pay. Needless to say, this is not the end of all tax discussion.

Much could be said about the regressive impact of the employment tax. We could still worry about the long-term impact of the increasing concentration of income among the top earners, or the difficulty many workers have in increasing their real
income. The one thing we really can't talk about is whether the affluent are paying their fair share. They are

Now for the commentary... For the first time Mr. Burns writes something that can be appreciated by the conservative portion of society. He is correct about all of his income tax issues and has hit the nail right on the head. Those that are on the top of the income ladder have no problems with paying a REASONABLE tax on our income, however if that tax get to be to punative then we will look for ways to shelter that money from taxation thus cutting off the supply. Really simple. The funny thing is my family fall into the top 10% because of our income. So if I want to bitch and complain about Taxes I am well within my right because as Mr. Burns puts it I am paying my fair share, and should be able to voice my discontent with the way it is being used.

Rick Perry, the big Tax and Spend RINO

As I sit here today the Houston Chronicle has published an article that talks about the "Tax Savings" that homeowners are supposed to be getting with the new tax bill that Gov. Rick Perry, Lt. Gov DavidDewhurst, and Speaker Tom Craddack pushed through the special session of the Texas Legislature.

I have run the numbers with no appraisal increase for homes with appraised values of
$75,000
$100,000
$125,000
$150,000
$175,000
$200,000

And Base M&O Tax rates of
$1.50
$1.25
$1.00

In summary here is what I found...
Starting Tax rate of $1.50

Appraisal Value	Year 1 Savings	Year 2 Total Savings	Year 3 Total Savings
$75,000	$97.13	$440.94	$784.76
$100,000	$129.50	$587.92	$1,046.34
$125,000	$161.88	$734.90	$1,307.93
$150,000	$194.25	$881.88	$1,569.51
$175,000	$226.63	$1,028.86	$1,831.10
$200,000	$259.00	$1,175.84	$2,092.68

Starting Tax rate of $1.25

Appraisal Value	Year 1 Savings	Year 2 Total Savings	Year 3 Total Savings
$75,000	$75.94	$358.65	$641.36
$100,000	$101.25	$478.20	$855.15
$125,000	$126.56	$597.75	$1,068.94
$150,000	$151.88	$717.30	$1,282.73
$175,000	$177.19	$836.85	$1,496.51
$200,000	$202.50	$956.40	$1,710.30

Starting Tax rate of $1.00

Appraisal Value	Year 1 Savings	Year 2 Total Savings	Year 3 Total Savings
$75,000	$54.75	$276.36	$497.97
$100,000	$73.00	$368.48	$663.96
$125,000	$91.25	$460.60	$829.95
$150,000	$109.50	$552.72	$995.94
$175,000	$ 127.75	$644.84	$1,161.93
$200,000	$146.00	$736.96	$1,327.92

This is if there is ZERO Appraisal increases over 3 years... So yes Texas home owners can save over $2000 on their property taxes but only if.... They have a house that has a starting Value of around $200,000 and a Tax school District Tax M&O tax rate that is maxed out at $1.50 per 100.

Also if you look at the list of districts and see which ones have M&O Tax rates in each area you will see that the larger majority of districts have M&O rates of over $1.25, now granted that means that people could see some savings, however the AVERAGE appraisal increase over the past 10 years in the Greater Houston area is 7% so let's do the math on how fast that savings really is around.

Appraised Value

Year	$75,000	$100,000	$125,000
2006	$1,027.88	$1,370.50	$1,713.13
2007	$820.24	$1,093.66	$1,367.07
2008	$861.26	$1,148.34	$1,435.43
2009	$904.32	$1,205.76	$1,507.20
2010	$949.54	$1,266.05	$1,582.56
2011	$997.01	$1,329.35	$1,661.69
2012	$1,046.86	$1,395.82	$1,744.77

Year				$150,000	$175,000	$200,000
2006				$2,055.75	$2,398.38	$2,741.00
2007				$1,640.49	$1,913.90	$2,187.32
2008				$1,722.51	$2,009.60	$2,296.68
2009				$1,808.64	$2,110.08	$2,411.52
2010				$1,899.07	$2,215.58	$2,532.09
2011				$1,994.02	$2,326.36	$2,658.70
2012				$2,093.73	$2,442.68	$2,791.63

My one question to Gov. Perry is why would you use a value of savings that is inflated over what the average home in Texas is appraised at?

There you go all of Gov. Perry's Tax savings are gone about the same time he decides to leave Austin and make a run for the Senate. Lord only knows what Dewhurst and Craddick will be doing in 6 years, but I'll bet good money that they will be trying to find another way to take more money out of our pockets. It has to stop, however we right now do not have many logical/reasonable options.

I mean right now We as Texans have to choose between

Perry and his half truths, and half assed efforts to fix things.
Perry Link1
Perry Link2
Perry Link3
A grandma who cannot keep one name on her ballot
Grandma1
Grandma2

A commedian who is half liberal and half conservative
Kinky1

And Chris Bell who cannot keep an elected office for more than 1 term because of reasons to numerous to list.

There are two lessons to learn from this years Governor's race and Elections in general.

1) We need to get more rank and file - grass roots republicans in local offices, and start to fight against Washington and Austin.
2) The Conservatives need to take a page from the liberal hand book and start to play incremental governance.

What I mean by that is stop trying to eliminate government progams all at one time but set things up where over the course of 3, 5 or even 7 years the program is reduced, or made less important each time. That is what the Liberals did with Social Security, Medicare, the Income Tax system. Think about it and let me know what you think.

Finally an Honest Taxing Entity

Well Clout, Dan Patrick, Paul Bettencourt, and all of the truth in Taxation people out there can raise a glass in recoginition of the people who are on the board for West Harris County Emergency Services District, for being upfront and truthful about our taxes.

Here is the story. and a couple portions of the article.

Over the next few years, residents in Emergency Services District No. 47 could see property tax increases to provide additional funding for fire and emergency services.

Residents recently approved a proposition giving the district the option to increase its tax rate, now 5 cents per $100 property valuation, to provide funding for the Westlake Volunteer Fire Department.

Approved by a 40-10 vote in the May 13 election, the proposition gives the district the ability to impose increases that over time could boost the tax rate to the maximum statutory limit of 10 cents per $100 valuation to cover fire and emergency medical services, said the district's attorney, Butch Callegari of Callegari Law Firm PC.

Notice the small number of people voting. This is because it was done during the School Bond election in May, not during an normal November election.

Callegari said that whether a tax increase will be needed depends on whether the fire department receives adequate funding and how property values fluctuate.

"If property values increase and there's enough new growth, there may not be a need for a tax increase," he said. "If property values decrease or if the expenses necessary to fund the fire department are so much that a tax increase is warranted, then (the district) will do that. The money has to come from somewhere."

The district's five-member board will discuss a proposed increase in mid-August when the district receives the fire department's proposed budget and current property tax values. A decision would need to made in September if a tax increase were to be imposed for this year.

"If property values increase, and the money has to come from somewhere". Callegari is correct, but he is the first representative from any taxing entity, out side of Paul Bettencourt, to openly announce that appraisal increases help increase revenue and have kept them from raising the tax rate, until now. I applaud both Mr. Callegari, the board of ESD 47 and Chief Mark Palmer who are being open and up front about the financial situation that the district is facing. I know both Mr Callegari and Chief Palmer and would expect nothing less. I also am happy to see that they are dedicated to continuing to provide the best possible fire and ambulance protection for their residents.

The greatest irony of this whole things is who is making the comments.
Butch Callegari is the son of Bill Callegari, Texas house of Representatives district 132. This is the same Bill Callegari that voted for the LARGEST TAX INCREASE in Texas history, see the record of vote. This is the same man who voted against all appraisal cap reductions, because he just does not get it.

Well apparently his son does. Kudos to Butch and everyone over at ESD 47 for being open about their tax situation.