Posted on 02/19/2006 1:51:31 PM PST by anymouse
The Game: Reduction of the homestead appraisal cap
The Players: State Legislators (Government) –vs- Texas Homeowners
The Score: Government 8 - Taxpayers 0
Through two legislative cycles, Texans were denied the opportunity to vote for or against reduction of the homestead appraisal cap. Three years – eight tries – no ballot proposition. Why? Special interest groups prevented this issue from being brought to the voters. Government professional associations (aka TML and TAC) convinced State officials that we truly don’t know what is good for us (meaning paying more taxes is good for us). Their voice was heard and yours was not.
A golden opportunity has been placed before you. The Republican Party primary ballot includes four initiatives—two important for taxpayers--spending caps and appraisal cap reduction. Spending caps will limit government expenditures to their current income plus increases due to population/growth and inflation. Appraisal cap reduction will reduce the impact of rising taxes resulting from increasing property values.
Across the world, taxpayers are outraged at the endless increase in government taxation fueled by government spending. A combination of spending and appraisal caps will most effectively address both the cause and the result. Are appraisal caps fair? According to Comptroller’s Property Value Studies, single family properties increased an average of 11% per year during the last five years, commercial properties 5% and industrial properties just under 2%. Reduction of the current 10% appraisal cap will insure that the burden of value increases—and therefore tax increases—will not be carried disproportionately by Texas homeowners while establishment of government revenue caps will slow the spending. In the 1998 primaries, 8% of all County voters participated; 13% in 2000; 11% in 2002; and only 8% in 2004. One can only surmise that so few participate in primary elections because they do not want their voter card stamped “Republican” or “Democrat” OR that voters have no opinion about the candidates presented on the ballot. I AM certain you have an opinion about government spending and taxes and the Republican Party Executive Committee has presented an opportunity for you to voice it. March 7th, leave your voter card at home (bring your driver’s license instead) and take a stand on these issues.
The four initiatives:
PROP 1: Voter ID. This is NOT about intimidation or denying anyone an opportunity to vote--it is about verifying a person’s identity.
PROP 2: Private Property Protection. Prevents government from taking your property for economic purposes; under current law, your home could be taken if the government decided that the community would benefit more from it being a restaurant or shopping center.
PROP 3: Spending Caps. (See above)
PROP 4: Appraisal Caps. (Also above)
Early voting begins February 21st. Don’t miss this golden opportunity!
Texas ping.
ping
A M E N ! ! !
See y'all there.
Check out the languages on http://www.votexas.org/
An obvious effort to get people to vote in the primary and thus thwart the petition campaigns of Kinky and Carole Whozit.
This is not binding, more like a poll.
Good hunting, Republicans and Freepers alike!
Uh... what's a `Pimary'?
Hmmm.. combination of a Pimm's Cup and a Bloody Mary?
Dunno.
Should read Primary. Just checking to see if you are paying attention. :)
(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")
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