Conservatives in Texas are fed up with out of control property taxes, spending that’s going through the roof, and a new business tax created to satiate the demands of growing government. That’s why 92 percent of Republican primary voters said on the March ballot that they want to “limit any annual increase (in spending) to the combined increase in population and inflation” except when authorized by a popular vote or an emergency declaration.
Texas Governor Rick Perry has made spending limits a priority — but under our Constitution governors don’t have too much legislative stroke. The House leaders talk positively about strong limits, and State Reps. Ken Paxton and Carl Isett have put forward serious proposals. Will Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst make strict constitutional limits a priority in the Senate? He’d sure make every conservative, and most independents and moderates, pretty happy if he did.
In fact, whether it’s Perry, Dewhurst, or someone running for county commissioner, voters and taxpayers are showing they’ll forgive almost any past policy sins for serious action on putting government on a permanent diet. The “92 percent” says it all. No more excuses, no more inactivity. It’s time for action.
We need not just a leader, we need all of our leaders to actively pursue strong spending limits in Texas. Conservatives are demanding that it be at the forefront of every campaign, and a top priority in the next legislative session.
