#TXLEGE: Today's TPPF #SpecialSession Policy Orientation

"Prepare yourself and be ready, you and all your companies that are gathered about you; and be a guard for them."
Ezekiel 38:7

TPPF hosted a supplemental policy orientation today with a mix of speakers and panels; the following is a direct transcription of our notes.

Governor Greg Abbott:

• Teachers are the most important part of the education process.

• Reward the best teachers.

• School finance -- What has been studied previously is not adequate.
• No more "band aids over band aids."
• End Robin Hood.

• Current education structure focuses on "schools, not students."

• Cities have enacted policies that are hostile to economic growth.
• "If we don't stop this, real quick, we are in real danger."

• Taxpayers should have a say in tax increases.
• #1 issue we must address.

• Private property rights are being diminished across Texas.

• "I want a vote" on union dues bill.

• Dallas mail in ballot fraud nothing new.
• Been going on since (at least) Lyndon Johnson.
• Removing paid political operatives from the process.

• Publishing lists of special session items re: who's supporting/who's not "on a daily basis."

Lt. Gov Dan Patrick:

• Points out Straus laying foundation for state income tax in the first paragraph.
• Along with Democrats and school district officials.

• 52% of budget goes to education.

• Teachers only get 32% of education $$$.

• "It's not an unfunded mandate...school districts need to re-purpose the money."

• Teachers unions oppose higher pay for teachers.

• Math is math.

• "Governor Abbott and I do not want Texas to become California or Illinois."

• "Greg Abbott's priorities are my priorities."

• Property taxes #1 priority.

• House has lots of members who will vote the right way "if they get the chance."

• "Texas likes fighters, not quitters."

• "We've shown that big government Republicans are wrong."

• re: Straus: "Don't undermine the entire party and the entire state."

From Left: Talmadge Heflin (TPPF), Sen. Kelly Hancock, Rep. Craig Goldman, Sen. Bryan Hughes, Patrick Gleason (ATR)

State level fiscal policy panel:

• Statewide spending limits needs to go down to (population + inflation).

• Hancock: Abbott created conference committees before the bills were even filed.

• Public sector unions are bankrupting California.

• Hancock: Spending is where you control the growth of government.
• (Population + inflation) is a real cap.
• Note: As this session's budget can attest, (population + inflation) is more of a bare minimum than a real cap...but it would still be a significant improvement on the status quo.

• Gleason: It's easier to pass things in other states when Texas has done it.

• Gleason: Kansas cut taxes, but failed to keep spending in check.

From Left: Sen. Donna Campbell, Sen. Paul Bettencourt, Rep. Paul Workman

Local Liberty Panel:

• Cities are doing power grabs to increase their tax base.

• Annexation: Cities have been unrestrained for decades.
• Campbell's bill expedites voluntary annexation.
• Texas is one of the last states in the country to permit voluntary annexation.

• Property Taxes: Revenue up >30% in all the major counties over the past few years.
• Anywhere you go in the state, appraisals are up at least 15% annually.
• School districts have to hold tax ratification elections past a certain threshold; you need a similar mechanism for cities and counties.
• Current rollback petition requirements "are fictitious nonsense."
• Rollback rates have been >5% since Jimmy Carter.
• Bettencourt supports 0% rollback rate but doesn't currently have the votes.
• Texas currently chasing New York and Illinois on property tax burdens.

• Tree Bill: Heritage trees add value to property, so cutting them down is rare, but in the cases where it's necessary it's none of the government's business.
• Westlake tried to fine a property owner $100k for cutting down a tree on his own property.

• Expedited Permitting: Workman's bill states that cities can have expedited permitting, but doesn't allow them to add strings to the process.