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Michael Quinn Sullivan Commentary
Texas’ Worst Republicans; Seeing Red
Dear
Friend,
Frustrated by the lack of fundamental fiscal reforms in the legislature? Does
the fact that your tax burden is only going up make you mad? Bothered that the
Republican-controlled legislature has failed to deliver on strengthened spending
limits and property tax appraisal reform? Well, you are not alone.
Why does it seem so many people campaign as conservatives, but legislate like
liberals? Some of them don’t believe in the ideas in the first place; others get
seduced by the allure of spending your money. But the fact remains, they are
spendoholics addicted to growing government, believing they can spend your money
better than you can.
Who are the worst of these hypocritical, spendoholic Republicans?
Find out below…
Running Red
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your comments!)
While Texans are correctly suspicious of Big-Brother-like red-light cameras
robotically sending out tickets, municipalities are eager to install the cameras
to enhance their monthly revenues, er, I mean, to promote public safety.
Legislators put a mild brake on the cameras, telling cities half the money had
to come to the state. In return, lawmakers promised to use the proceeds to fund
hospitals and trauma centers. With the promise of free money, doctors and
hospital administrators suddenly supported the red-light cash grab-and-release
program.
The money has started flowing into the special red-light fund, but nothing is
being paid out. The Legislature somehow forgot to provide for the way to spend
those dollars when they crafted the budget. Gee, how could that happen…? All too
often the lege collects money for special funds, and then spends it however they
want. That age-old practice needs to end.
Red-Lighting Hypocrisy
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your comments!)
Confronted with not getting 100% of the money, the city of Nederland (near
Beaumont) is backing out of their red-light camera contract.
Seems now that they aren’t getting all the cash, the city fathers just don’t see
the “public safety” angle to having the cameras anymore. Funny how that happens.
Campaign Conservatives, Legislative Liberals
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your comments!)
Speaking of hypocrites…
When we consider the lack of progress on important fiscal reforms, the blame
lies almost exclusively with a small group of legislators who campaign as if
they are budget conservatives, but legislate like liberals.
Look, for example, at the records of Tommy Merritt of Longview,
Charlie Geren of Fort Worth, Delwin Jones of Lubbock, Todd Smith
of Euless, Tony Goolsby of Dallas, Susan King of Abilene, and
Pat Haggerty of El Paso. Sure, they talk a good game and run on the “brand
name” of being conservatives; their fiscal voting record? Not so conservative.
That’s just to name seven of the most offensive.
During the legislative session, they tended to
vote to grow government and thwart tax relief efforts. By lining up with
liberals, they made it almost impossible for real conservatives to implement
true fiscal reform.
Texans pay a steep price for these politicians and their budget-growing,
tax-rising ways. Unfortunately, the news media conspires with these legislative
ne’er-do-wells, hiding their big-government record from the constituents. You
and I can change that.
If you’re tired of politicians who work against Texas’ taxpayers, I hope you’ll
consider
supporting TFR and the
Empower Texans PAC.
More importantly, I hope you’ll communicate with your friends and family who
live in the districts of these faux conservatives. Those voters need to know
their legislator has been voting like a fiscal liberal in conservative clothing.
Spendoholic legislators need to be reformed or replaced. And that is within our
power as taxpayers and voters.
For Texas,
Michael Quinn Sullivan