A Conscientious Objection to Paying for Abortion

As a follow-up to my previous post on this issue (see Travis County Healthcare Board of Managers, Please Reconsider) I decided to indicate in a simple way my conscientious objection by writing two separate checks for my property taxes, so that I could document on the check for the Travis County Health Care District tax that I was being forced against my will and in violation of my conscience to provide funds to Travis County that will be used to kill unborn children.

Travis County Healtcare Board of Managers, Please Reconsider

Thursday night at the Travis County Commissioners' Court on West 11th Street in downtown Austin, TX the not-elected-but-appointed-by-elected-officials Travis County HEALTHCARE District Board of Managers voted unanimously to use $450,000 of the district's property tax revenue (assessed without recourse to all Travis County property owners) to abort the unborn babies of poor and minority women. Margaret Sanger, who never met a person whom she considered of inferior race whom she didn't want to prevent from reproducing, would be so proud. The Board of Managers should be so ashamed of themselves.

As a result of this decision whether they like it or not, whether they live in Austin or not, whether they believe in the right to life or not, all Travis County Property owners' who pay their property taxes will be funding the killing of the unborn babies of poor and minority women. The Board of Managers made such a decision in the face of overwhelming opposition by the public. Why should the managers care about public opinion, they were not elected to their positions and so do not fear the public.

When unelected boards make life and death public policy decisions that are controversial and opposed by the public such decisions are dictates, not a consensus, not the decisions of a democratic body. Those decisions are therefore of questionable legitimacy. Those decisions should be appealed and litigated, and if there is no recourse they should perhaps be civilly disobeyed, in this case by a taxpayer revolt.

For the sake of decency and respect for the poor and minorities, we at The Travis Monitor urge the Hospital District Board of Managers to reconsider their ill-advised decision made without regard of public opinion.

And one more thing, ABORTION IS NOT HEALTH CARE.

Click here to read the Austin American Statesmen story on the "hearing".

The Property Tax Dilemma

I had the satisfaction of mowing my lawn this morning for the first time at my own home. My wife and I just purchased our first home in north Austin last month, so this morning was very satisfying that I have a yard that is mine, and not one that I am renting from another home owner.

But then, as I do when I labor, my mind drifted to more philosophical topics. I first designed a new deck for the back yard in my mind. Then, I thought about how I can fix up the garage to make room for all the tools I need to buy to build this mythical deck. Then, I thought about how much it would cost to buy new power tools and how I can trim my personal budget to do so. Then, I thought about how much I will have to pay in property taxes in Texas over the life of my mortgage and beyond.

Property taxes in Texas have doubled over the past twelve years. If the State Legislature and local governments do not address the problem, property taxes will double again over the next dozen years in Texas. Texas taxpayers are being taxed out of their homes. I quickly realized it is not a mortgage lending crisis that is preventing home ownership in Texas, it is skyrocketing property taxes.

(More...)

Texas Taxpayer Petitions

Texas Taxpayers now have a home for signing online petitions to encourage State Legislators to limit state spending, cut taxes, and eliminate the business tax.

www.texastaxpayers.com

Newt Gingrich has had great success with his Drill Here, Drill Now petition. We can have the same success to eliminate the business tax, limiting government spending, and eliminating the maintenance and operations portion of the school property taxes.

Who is the Greedy One Now?

Democrat politicians play the greed card very well. They claim that the Republicans are controlled by greedy corporations, oil companies, and CEO's. These same liberals claim that these same companies and individually are intentionally taking money from the poor and middle classes to pad their own pockets. There are two examples that show the government bureaucracies are the actual greedy ones.

Example #1:

Democrats are blasting the oil companies for making windfall profits. Democrats desire to impose even higher taxes on the profit margins of oil companies and many of these liberals even desire to nationalize the oil refineries.

In looking at this from a practical level, oil companies make about 25 cents profit off of each gallon of gasoline sold in this country. This profit is put back into the company to make more efficient gasoline, create new and more efficient ways to drill for oil, and develop other new technologies. This is earned profit.

On that same gallon of gasoline, the government in Texas makes 44 cents of profit in the form of taxes. The state government makes 23 cents per gallon and the federal government makes 21 cents. This tax is not earned income as the government has done nothing to earn this money...they just levied a tax on an item we cannot do without.

So, the liberals are calling out the "price gouging" oil companies for making too much profit while the tax policies these same liberals uphold actually generate more revenue for the government on the same gallon of gasoline. The real price gouging is going on by our own government.

Example #2:

Liberals are also continue to bring up the mortgage lending crisis in this country. With the latest scandal involving Countrywide Mortgage, it is easy to think that lending companies are working to hurt the consumer.

The bigger problem in Texas, as pointed out by the Texas Conservative Coalition, is not the so called "predatory lenders," it is in fact high property taxes. Property taxes account for about 1/3 of the mortgage payment per month. With appraisals rapidly increasing and hungry local governments raising taxes, the property taxes make up an increasingly larger percentage of a person's mortgage each month.

If liberals really wanted to make homes more affordable, they will work to lower the tax burden on Texans by cutting property taxes, capping appraisals, and reducing state spending instead of attacking lending companies.

Liberals consistently put their hope in mis-guided places. The growth of big government is hurting Texas taxpayers more than any corporation ever could. It is time for Republicans to investigate greedy big governments before bureaucrats put hardworking Texans out to pasture.

Property Tax and Appraisal Committee

Tired of high property taxes and appraisal creep? Here is your opportunity to talk to the elected officials who work on tax policy in the State Legislature. The House Select Committee on Property Tax Relief and Appraisal Reform will be conducting public meetings and taking testimony at locations across Texas beginnning on June 17.

Tuesday, June 17, 2008 - Travis County
Tuesday, June 24 - Hidalgo County
Tuesday, July 1 - Bexar County
Tuesday, July 8, Tarrant County
Tuesday, July 15 - Jefferson County
Tuesday, August 12 - Lubbock County
Tuesday, August 19 - Harris County

Travis County Appraisals Skyrocket

Marc Levin posted this on the Empower Texans blog.

At a time of record foreclosures and declining home values, someone forgot
to tell the Travis County appraiser. Values were posted minutes ago and my home
rose a whopping 19.3%, sending my school property tax cut up in smoldering
flames. However, values are up 31% in Lago Vista.
If you own a home in Travis
County, check your value at:

http://www.traviscad.org/tcad_search.php?mode=name&kind=real

Warning - viewing not recommended if you are on a defibrillator or
assisted breathing device.

Craddick Announces Property Tax Relief and Appraisal Reform Committee

Tom Pauken and his committee put in a lot of hard work touring Texas two years ago, researching and hearing testimony for appraisal caps and property tax relief. With this committee, Texas taxpayers may get some additional relief.

I am especially excited that Ken Paxton is on the committee. I know from personal experience that he is committed to reducing the tax burden on Texans. He worked very hard in the 80th Session to lower property taxes, including carrying legislation that would have reduced property taxes an additional 8 cents per $100 of valuation.

CRADDICK ANNOUNCES THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON PROPERTY TAX RELIEF AND APPRAISAL REFORM

For Immediate ReleaseWednesday, April 23, 2008

Austin) - Speaker Tom Craddick (Midland), today, announced the formation of the Select Committee on Property Tax Relief and Appraisal Reform, which will oversee all matters relating to property tax relief and reforming the property appraisal system. Rep. John Otto (Dayton) will chair the committee and Rep. Ken Paxton (McKinney) will serve as vice chair.

"The House is committed to doing everything it can to provide meaningful and responsible property tax relief to those who are strained by the burden of soaring taxes," Speaker Craddick said. "Under the experienced leadership of Rep. Otto, I have full confidence that the members of this committee will come together and create a workable solution to this issue."

The committee will review the sections of the Texas Constitution and the tax code that limit or authorize limiting the appraised value or increases in the appraised value of property for tax purposes. It may request assistance from any executive branch agency, and it will issue a report to the House of Representatives before the 81st Legislative Session, which may include draft legislation or recommendations for legislation.

"I would like to thank Speaker Craddick for allowing me to chair this committee," Rep. Otto said. "This issue of property tax increases continues to frustrate property owners who feel the current system is too subjective and unfair. I look forward to working with the committee members as we consider realistic ideas to improve the system for all taxpayers."

The committee members include: Rep. Drew Darby (San Angelo), Rep. Gary Elkins (Houston), Rep. Ismael "Kino" Flores (Palmview), Rep. Dan Flynn (Van), Rep. Dan Gattis (Georgetown), Rep. Joe Heflin (Crosbyton), Rep. Phil King (Weatherford), Rep. Tracy King (Batesville), Rep. Ruth Jones McClendon (San Antonio), Rep. Inocente "Chente" Quintanilla (Tornillo) and Rep. Larry Taylor (Friendswood).

CONTACT
Alexis DeLee or Chris Cutrone (512) 463-0223
###

Texas Conservative Conference: Live Blog. Peggy Venable

I missed Robin Armstrong's speech as I needed a bathroom break. He is always very good as a speaker and as an advocate for Republican values. I am proud that he is the Vice President of the Republican Party of Texas.

Peggy Venable, the Texas Director for Americans for Prosperity is now speaking.

Peggy is a leading taxpayer advocate in Texas. She is speaking on the TaxPayers Bill Of Rights (TABOR). Taxpayers need transparency and accountability among our elected officials. Government entities are spending lots of money with no restraint.

County governments are spending money on lobbyists, through the Texas Association of Counties and the Texas Municipal League, to lobby the Legislature for additional money. Taxpayer funded lobbyists is a major problem in that the money that is spent on lobbyists is usually going to advocate for additional tax money wasted by our government entities. This is a blatant violation of the Texas local government code. Peggy Venable has sued Williamson County for spending money on the Texas Association of Counties to illegally lobby for additional funding. Peggy Venable won the lawsuit, but Williamson County has not pulled out of the Texas Association of Counties.

We need elected officials to stand up for spending constraints at the state and local government level. Over the past 30 years, local government spending has risen 4 times from what is was in the early 1980's. The debt of local governments has increased 5 times from the early 1980's. The total amount of interest on debt that local government pays statewide, as of 2007, is greater than the amount of money that local governments spend on fire and police departments statewide. More money is spent on interest payments than on the necessary functions of local governments.

The government is run by those who show up. Inform yourselves and get active in lobbying your elected officials for spending restraints, appraisal caps, and transparency in government. Only through a grassroots efforts can we lower spending and limit the growth of government spending.

Property Taxes

The Texas Task Force on Appraisal Reform is not being taken seriously by the Texas Legislature. The recommendations made by the panel are a start, but the bill introduced into the committee may not come out of the committee to be voted on by the house. It may be postponed for the next session. Therefore, expect your property taxes to be going up.

-Jerry Mikus