TOLLS ARE A TAX – HOW MUCH COULD YOU SAVE?

TOLLS ARE A TAX
The solution…RAISE THE GAS TAX, INSTEAD

For decades, the TX Legislature (and the federal government’s RTC – Regional Transportation Council) have cried that they MUST sellout our public roads to foreign owned companies who build toll roads and charge us by the mile into perpetuity to travel across metropolitan areas in Texas. We were told in 2014 that to keep up with transportation needs, Texas would have to raise the gas tax by 20 cents. Texas hasn’t raised the state gas tax since 1991. Transportation is one of the few responsibilities of federal, state, and local governments. Continue reading “TOLLS ARE A TAX – HOW MUCH COULD YOU SAVE?”

7 PROPOSED AMENDMENTS – Put Through The Test

An NFL referee can’t perform his duty if he’s not well educated on the 200+ page rule book. Voters can’t expedite their duty if they don’t know the rules restricting government – that is the Supreme Law of the land; the 34 page U.S. Constitution. It is upon these principles that our Texas Constitution and statutes are supposed to be enacted.

If you plan to vote on the 7 proposed amendments to our 200+ page Texas Constitution, you should have consistent rules by which you judge every amendment. I consistently use the U.S. Constitution as my benchmark. My three test questions are found here because every law increases the size, scope, and cost of government.

Here’s a summary of the 7 proposals and their constitutionality… Continue reading “7 PROPOSED AMENDMENTS – Put Through The Test”

29 COMMITTEE HEARINGS NEXT WEEK

The 84th Legislature will heat up next week, with 29 Committee Hearings scheduled as of today.

Here’s a sampling of bills that are scheduled to be heard:
FINANCE
• Committees on Finance continue their hearings
EDUCATION
• Compensatory education allotment funding to provide assistance with child care to students at risk of dropping out of school.
• Testing of students with limited English proficiency
• notifying a parent or guardian whether an employee of a school is appointed school marshal Continue reading “29 COMMITTEE HEARINGS NEXT WEEK”

DPS – More Smoke & Mirrors; by quoting 3 words

(updated 9-10-14 @ 3:00pm)

Smoke & mirrors can fool the best citizen activist but, sifting through the smoke and splintered facts with patience can uncover the truth. Taking a statement out of context, and quoting one section of the Texas Transportation Code can claim just about anything a director of the Department of Public Safety may wish to claim, but the truth is found when the entire Code is read, especially when legislative intent is examined.

The current Director of the Texas Department of Public Safety was allowed to write a brief article in a Dallas paper on Sept. 3, 2014, attempting to “clear up any misconceptions related to the legality of the expanded fingerprinting process within Texas driver’s license system”, claiming DPS authority by quoting three words from the Texas Transportation Code; “thumbprints or fingerprints”. Continue reading “DPS – More Smoke & Mirrors; by quoting 3 words”

YOU DECIDE-Is DPS Violating Texas Law?

Since January of 2014, the Texas Department of Public Service (a very powerful bureaucracy) has been collecting fingerprints of all 10 digits to obtain an original driver license, renewal of driver license, or a duplicate driver license. This change also applies to the photo I.D. cards obtained through DPS. 5-5-05 HSE Chamber-2nd reading

Texas law reads:
(b) The application must include:(1) the thumbprints of the applicant or, if thumbprints cannot be taken, the index fingerprints of the applicant

YOU DECIDE whether the legislative intent was to extend the thumbprint collection to all 10 digits. Watch the videos… Continue reading “YOU DECIDE-Is DPS Violating Texas Law?”

9 Proposed Amendments – Put Through the Constitutional Test

Here is a taxpayer’s view of the intended and unintended consequences of the efforts of our noble Austin legislators.

First, one must read the proposed legislation because the brief explanatory statement of the nature of each proposed amendment listed on the ballot is not even close to addressing what is in the amendment. If a proposed amendment has enabling legislation (many do), the details of the amendment with taxing authority, penalties for violations, and other changes/additions to other state statutes may be found there. In short, you have to read the amendment/enabling bill to find out what’s in it and often times we have to pass the amendment/bill to find out what’s in it. On some of the proposed amendments, the enabling legislation is silent (deficient) in certain areas. Where there is silence in the enabling legislation, once the amendment is passed then it may be up to the courts to decide the intent of the author(s) of the amendment or enabling legislation. This is unfortunate but true.

Second, one should understand the Purpose and Consequences of laws.

Third, one should put each proposed amendment to the 3 question test of “constitutionality”. Continue reading “9 Proposed Amendments – Put Through the Constitutional Test”

Transportation, PPPs, TEF, and Our Appetite for Imports

Gov. Perry’s press release announced that TEXAS taxpayers are providing $800,000 through the Texas Enterprise Fund to close a deal with Fritz Industries, Inc. in Greenville, TX.

COULD THIS HAVE ANYTHING to do with the “Blacklands Corridor Feasibility Study”, proposing to build the new multimodal (includes toll road option) transportation facility along or near the Northeast Texas Rural Rail Transportation District (NETEX) right-of-way, from IH-30 in Greenville (Hunt County), through Collin County, to the President George Bush Turnpike in Dallas County? By the way, NETEX already signed a lease agreement on Jan 9, 2013 with a private company named Cotton Belt Turnpike LP (public private partnership) to do such a thing, so this study is a “cart before the horse” study. Continue reading “Transportation, PPPs, TEF, and Our Appetite for Imports”

Nov 5, 2013…Nine Proposed TEXAS Constitutional Amendments

Hot off the press….
Nine (9) propositions will appear on the Nov 5th ballot, in the attempt to amend our state constitution [this has been done every 2 years since 1879]
Does Austin want more of your savings account?

Below, you can find 2 state legislative produced documents that outline the 9 propositions that you will be asked to vote on this Nov 5th. Before you read, please understand who is directing the narrative on these 2 publications:
HRO Steering Committee and the Governing Body of the TX Lege Council
These are the very people that wrote the bills and managed to pass them. As you read, you will see more details are attributed to the “supporters” than the “opponents”. Read them very carefully and do some research. It’s only your money they are spending. Continue reading “Nov 5, 2013…Nine Proposed TEXAS Constitutional Amendments”

Perry adds Transportation, Abortion, & Mandatory Life w/Parole, to the Special Session

Gov. Perry Adds Transportation to Special Session Call
Monday, June 10, 2013 • Press Release
http://governor.state.tx.us/news/press-release/18635/

Gov. Perry Adds Two Issues to Special Session Call
Tuesday, June 11, 2013 • Press Release
(regulation of abortion procedures & mandatory sentence of life with parole for a capital felony committed by a 17-year-old offender.)
http://governor.state.tx.us/news/press-release/18638/

Turning Freeways into Tollroads and Double Taxing

Three issues regarding roads in Texas are listed here. The first one is specific to the North Texas Area. This info comes by way of Texans Uniting for Reform and Freedom (TURF)

—

URGENT ACTION ITEM #1 Continue reading “Turning Freeways into Tollroads and Double Taxing”