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The Conservative Solution to the Margins Tax NightMare
Thu, 15 May 2008 17:29:00
Article by: State
Representative Debbie Riddle
State Representative Debbie Riddle Press Release May 15, 2008
http://www.infousamagazine.com/news/117/ARTICLE/2747/2008-05-15.html
In the last few weeks my office has been flooded by calls and e-mails
from business owners who are just now beginning to realize the full impact of
this ludicrous new margins tax. The attitudes of these calls and letters have ranged from white-hot
anger to complete disbelief to absolute despondency and depression over the
reality that this tax will put them out of business.
On May 15th, I attended a meeting of the National Federation of
Independent Business, and saw a room full of small business owners who have had
enough. One of them told us that
his tax liability is increasing 1,400 percent this year under the new tax. That is not a misprint. That was fourteen HUNDRED percent. Keep in mind, this small business man
was already paying taxes under the old franchise system; he didn't start with
zero tax liability.
I opposed this tax with every fiber of my being back in April of 2006
when it was first proposed. Here's
what I said in a press release dated April 5, 2006:
"Let's destroy this mindset that for some reason businesses have a
responsibility to pay an additional tax just because they're a business. Let's get away from thinking of ways to
create a new, 'fairer' business tax and takes steps to simply eliminate the
existing one. Let's realize that
paying property taxes and sales taxes already make up the majority of the taxes
that businesses pay in Texas, and learn to live within those means.
And most importantly, if the time comes to 'replace' the revenue lost
from these tax cuts, let's replace it with… nothing. Let's be Republicans, and make up the difference with a
continued commitment to reductions in government spending and the size of
government."
The big myth in this whole charade is that the new margins tax is
necessary to pay for (alleged) property tax reductions. But that's just absolutely not true. We do not have the right as a
government to go into your wallets and take what we want whenever we need more
revenue. The state of Texas runs a
surplus in the billions of dollars every fiscal year, and thats on top of the countless billions of dollars in wasted money already written
into the budget! But when the
Texas Supreme Court said we had to fix school finance or else face a shutdown
of public schools, legislators buckled and went for the quick fix, rather than
making some long-term changes that would benefit the state for generations to
come.
This interim, I have formed a citizen's task force to audit the state
budget and trim the fat out of the state's expenditures. We've already had our first meeting,
and I couldn't be more pleased with the potential of this group. Because we know that any attempt to
repeal or amend the existing margins tax will be met with skepticism until we
show that the revenue can be replaced, our goal is to find at least $6 billion
in unnecessary state spending and present our findings to the legislature. Whether we find six dollars or sixty
billion dollars in waste, it is our duty as diligent citizens to hold our
government's feet to the fire when it comes to the money they take from us to
run the state.
With the surpluses our healthy economy perpetually generates, there is
no need for us to live with the idea that we must always have business or
property taxes. If we mandate that
a percentage of every surplus goes to buy down both the business and property
taxes and couple that with a strict cap on growth of state spending, we could
live in a state that subsists ENTIRELY on a consumption tax. Just imagine the economic health we'd
all enjoy here in Texas!
I believe we can make these dreams a reality through projects such as
our citizen's task force. I am so
very honored to represent the best district in the state, with the most
dedicated patriots I have ever encountered. Most of all, I am excited about what we are going to
accomplish, together, for benefit of our Great State of Texas!
God Bless Texas,
DEBBIE RIDDLE
STATE REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 150
Capitol Office:2910 - Austin, TX 78768-2910 -
(512) 463-0572 - Fax: (512) 463-1908 District Office: 3648 FM 1960 W, Suite 106
- Houston, TX 77068 - (281) 537-5252 - Fax: (281) 537-8821
Texas Earns 'd' in ethics, accountability
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
When it comes to ethics and accountability, Texas has much room for improvement. However, when compared to most of the other states in the nation, Texas ranks high among state governments.
Texas ranked seventh overall on the new Better Government Association-Alper Integrity Index. The index ranks all 50 states on the strength of their laws that relate to transparency, accountability and limits on government.
Broken down by issue area, Texas ranked 17th in open records laws; fourth in whistleblower laws; 36th in campaign finance laws; 22nd in open meetings laws; and third in conflict of interest laws. Despite its No. 7 ranking, Texas achieved a modest 60 percent overall score.
“Texas should be congratulated that it beat out 43 other states,” says BGA Executive Director Jay Stewart. “However, there is clearly a lot of room for improvement. If you look at the percentage score, Texas received 60 percent, the equivalent of a ‘D’ letter grade, hardly a cause for celebration.”
The top five states on the index in order are New Jersey, Rhode Island, Hawaii, Washington and Louisiana.
“The BGA feels that these laws go to the core of responsive and ethical government. Just as the 50 states compete to see which one is the most business friendly or has the biggest population, they should also compete to see who has the strictest laws in regard to governmental integrity,” Stewart says.
The Better Government Association is an independent, nonpartisan government watchdog organization based in Chicago.