CLOUT announces lawsuit (TX State Govenment being sued)

http://www.lonestartimes.com/ ^ | 6-2-06

[Hydroshock]

KSEV morning talk-show host and executive director of CLOUT: Citizens Lowering Our Unfair Taxes has announced his intention to file a lawsuit designed to force state government to comply with strict spending limits written into the Texas State Constitution.

Article 8, Section II of that fine document was approved by 84% of Texas voters in 1979, and reads as follows:

In no biennium shall the rate of growth of appropriations from state tax revenues not dedicated by this constitution exceed the estimated rate of growth of the state’s economy.

Here’s the problem– the legislature hasn’t been doing this. Instead, they’ve allowed an unelected and unaccountable committee– the "Legislative Budget Board"– to use "Enron math", year after year, to come up with economic estimates that bear no relationship to reality. And no one has challenged anyone on this.

Until now.

Under the banner of CLOUT, Edd has assembled a team of conservative leaders– including Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector Paul Bettencourt and former Harris County GOP Chairman Gary Polland– who intend to sue Governor Rick Perry, Comptroller Carol Keeton Strayhorn, and the Legislative Budget Board (which includes Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and House Speaker Tom Craddick) to force them to obey the Article 8, Section II spending limitations of the Texas constitution.

That’s just the "headline" consequence of this lawsuit.

More details– including ways you can join the fight– coming soon

[Hydroshock]

Ping

[snowrip]

When is the suit against the federal gov't coming?

[sinkspur]

Who's funding this lawsuit? Better have deep pockets, if, indeed, the lawsuit is not thrown out.

[Hydroshock]

I do not know who has waht money. I know they got a good bit.

[sinkspur]

This is nothing but a political stunt to help Patrick's Senate campaign. Is it CLOUT's intent to have judicial oversight of state budgets now?

We just got these black-robed idjits off our backs as far as funding schools is concerned. Now, some "conservative" group is using the Democrat playbook by calling in the judiciary to supervise the legislative branch.

[sinkspur]

More details– including ways you can join the fight– coming soon

I found the answer. CLOUT is going to pass the tin cup.

[Hydroshock]

I will sent them $20 to help.

[mnehring]

I thought, for at least last year, that the deficit spending numbers in Texas were re-evaluated and we actually are still in the black, the over spending was a result of Foghorn-Strayhorn's inability to count (and loosing something like $5 billion in revenue due to an accounting error)

[P-40]

we actually are still in the black

We will be in the black (last count $8 million) until after the election. Then we will be in the red again.

[Hydroshock]

I am sure the courts could do a better job then the rinos in Austin of managing the budget.

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ping

[Hydroshock]

ping

[sinkspur]

I am sure the courts could do a better job then the rinos in Austin of managing the budget.

That's a Democrat attitude. You must not remember the days of Ann Richards.

[Hydroshock]

I do, but I also see these days under the Perry business income tax as just as bad.

[demkicker]

I love it. No one is more honest, open and knowledgeable than Edd Hendy and Dan Patrick. Go, CLOUT, Go!

[Hydroshock]

I will be sending them money next week when I get paid.

[sinkspur]

I do, but I also see these days under the Perry business income tax as just as bad.

How? The damned thing doesn't go into effect until January 1, 2007.

If your digs are so posh that your entire property tax cut is going to be eaten up in two years, you don't have to worry about paying taxes.

[demkicker]

We just got these black-robed idjits off our backs as far as funding schools is concerned.

We? Our?

Please let me know if you ever decide to debate Dan Patrick. Many of us would PAY to watch him eat your lunch.