TPPF's DC Expansion makes Brady more valuble

"As iron sharpens iron,
So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend."
Proverbs 27:17

On Tuesday, we discussed TPPF's D.C. expansion in terms of what it meant for the open seat congressional races.

But there's another point to consider: As TPPF expands into D.C., having a Ways and Means committee chairman from Texas becomes significantly more valuble.

If a widely respected organization back home makes a suggestion, you're going to at least listen.  You don't have a choice.  That's not necessarily true if the W&M chairman is from another state.

The 2017 tax bill, while a tangible step in the right direction, will not be the final effort on the tax code.  When congress takes up the next tax bill, we're TPPF to be at the table, that would be a very good sign.  That's a lot easier to make happen if the W&M chairman is from Texas.

Furthermore, from an activist perspective, this could give you a direct line to the committee chair for whatever your pet federal tax issue happens to be (eg. this author's interest in housing).  You send an e-mail to the relevant TPPF person, and they bring up the topic with the policymaker.  We've done it in the Texas Legislature and there's no reason why the same model can't work federally.

When the whole thing was said and done, Brady did a good job with the tax bill; with TPPF's help, he can do something even better in the future.

Bottom Line: As long as good things are getting done, having a ways and means chairman from Texas isn't the worst thing in the world.

Wayne Christian defeats Elon Musk

"Dishonest scales are an abomination to the Lord,
But a just weight is His delight."
Proverbs 11:1

Enjoy your serving of chicken fried awesome:

Friends, Today, Congress unveiled their tax-reform package and I was excited to see the elimination of the electric vehicle subsidy in the text of the bill. Earlier this week, I penned a letter (learn more here) to Chairman Kevin Brady and the Texas Delegation encouraging the elimination of this boondoggle that allows for the  government to pay people – through a tax credit program implemented by the IRS – as much as $7,500 to purchase an electric car.  I believe that our tax policies should not pick winners and losers in the market place and certainly shouldn't pay individuals to buy any car – electric or otherwise. At the Railroad Commission, our mission statement asserts we are here to “serve Texas through our support of enhanced development and economic vitality for the benefit of Texans”. This federal subsidy is nothing more than a feel-good tax break for wealthy environmentalists to help them punish the energy industry that powers our state and nation. I’m proud to regulate this important industry, and when necessary defend it from government attacks cloaked in bad policy. I am thankful Congressional leadership has included the elimination of this subsidy in the initial draft of the tax-reform bill and hope it remains in the legislation as it moves through the House and Senate.  For Texas, Wayne Christian Texas Railroad Commissioner

Empower Texans has more here.

IN CURRENT FORM, Brady's Tax Bill a TANGIBLE (if incomplete) step in right direction....

"Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
When it is in the power of your hand to do so."
Proverbs 3:27

Obviously the details of Kevin Brady's tax bill remain in flux, but we have to confess something we weren't expecting: We kinda like some of the features in the outline.

Specifically, we like that Brady's proposal begins to reign in the deduction for local property taxes and we also like that Brady's proposing limits on mortgage interest moving forward.

Anyone who regularly reads this website knows that the City of Austin's asinine land use policies and runaway property taxes across the state of Texas are two of our biggest bugaboos.  Unfortunately, it's impossible to overlook the role federal tax policy plays in incentivizing each.  Thankfully, in Brady's bill, the two provisions we mentioned above will begin to change that incentive structure.

To be honest, Brady's bill reminds us of the property tax bill the Texas Senate considered this session.  It wasn't everything we need, but it was a tangible step in the right direction.  Capping the property tax and mortgage interest deductions is the equivalent of creating automatic rollback elections; we can always come back and lower the threshold at a later date.

The one thing we would like to see added is to limit the mortgage interest deduction to a primary residence.  It would be similar to homestead exemptions at the state level.  That way we could stop subsidizing fourth, fifth, and sixth homes for rich liberals.

Of course, the Texas Senate's property tax bill also offers a cautionary tale about political reality.  While it passed the Senate twice, it got gutted into meaninglessness in the House.  At the federal level, it wouldn't surprise us to see Mitch McConnell play the Joe Straus role.

Who says we can't be pleasantly surprised?!?

OBSCENE Local Tax Burdens aren't just a Blue State Problem....

"But the former governors who were before me laid burdens on the people, and took from them bread and wine, besides forty shekels of silver. Yes, even their servants bore rule over the people, but I did not do so, because of the fear of God."
Nehemiah 5:15

We attended an event with Congressman Roger Williams related to federal tax reform efforts this morning; out of respect to our host, suffice to say we found the Congressman long on platitudes and short on specifics.

But this is as good of a time as any to bring up something we've been meaning to discuss: Perverse incentives in the federal tax code subsidize high property taxes, and Texas' congressional delegation appears content to continue this subsidy.

The federal tax code contains a loophole that allows individual taxpayers to deduct the cost of their state and local taxes, but only if they itemize their deductions.  Unfortunately, middle class taxpayers rarely itemize their deductions.  So the federal "state and local" tax loophole subsidizes higher local property taxes.

Unfortunately, Texas' own Kevin Brady seems inclined to preserve this tax subsidy to spendaholic local politicians:

House Republicans' top taxwriter said Saturday he would add a federal tax break for state and local property taxes back into the tax plan set to be unveiled next week, bowing to pressure from members of his conference from blue states with high taxes.

Kevin Brady, the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, said he was restoring a deduction for property taxes "to help taxpayers with local tax burdens."

The Trump administration and congressional Republicans had proposed to entirely eliminate the ability of federal taxpayers to deduct state and local taxes in order to pay for lower tax rates.

This is absurd.  Brady's concession doesn't "help taxpayers with local tax burdens"; it just raises the tax rates paid by middle class taxpayers to subsidize spendaholic local politicians.  In one pocket and out the other.

Furthermore, this isn't just a blue state problem.  Texas currently has the sixth highest property tax burden in the nation.  Thus, federal subsidies for spendaholic local politicians hurt middle class Texans just as badly as it hurts middle class taxpayers in any blue state.

Obviously, Texans need the Texas legislature to strengthen property tax rollback protections.  The legislature should also take a long look at the appraisal system (if not outright elimination of property taxes).  But the fact that the Texas legislature has failed to act within the areas of its jurisdiction doesn't excuse the Texas' congressional delegation if they fail to eliminate subsidies for spendaholic local politicians in the federal tax code.

Bottom Line: From Democrats like Steve Adler in Austin and Sylvester Turner in Houston, to Republicans like Betsy Price in Fort Worth and Craig Doyal in Montgomery County, it's not a secret that local politicians across Texas love to spend other people's money.  Loopholes in the federal tax code subsidize that spending.  It's a shame that Texas' congressional delegation appears more interested in preserving those subsides than in making local officials be honest with their voters.

Kevin Brady gets the challenger he Deserves....

"So Saul eyed David from that day forward."
1 Samuel 18:9

From the inbox:

The Woodlands, TX - National conservative policy expert and media commentator Autry Pruitt today launched his campaign for the Republican nomination for Congress in Texas’s 8th Congressional District saying he shares the frustration of Texas voters who are disappointed with the Republican Congress.

“Watching Congress makes me sick to my stomach,” said Pruitt, an author, broadcaster and Donald Trump campaign surrogate. “For years the smartest Republicans in the room (a.k.a. Republican Congressional leadership) told us that if we gave them the House and the Senate, they would repeal Obamacare, give us real tax-reform, and take control of our massive debt. We delivered, they did not. Much like the people of the 8th Congressional District, Texas Senator Ted Cruz, and other good Texans, my family and I share the frustration of voters and we grow more frustrated everyday at their lack of resolve.”

“Many people worked incredibly hard to give the Republicans a majority. But, Obamacare is still law of the land, the government still steals your money, and America is in crisis debt territory,” said Pruitt. “The inaction of the current Republican Congressional leadership is standing in the way our pro-America agenda and that’s just all sorts of wrong.”

Read the whole thing here.

-------

Good.  Kevin Brady has been an abject failure as Ways and Means chairman.  We're certainly in the market for an upgrade.

Bottom Line: We've never met Mr. Pruitt or even been aware of his work, but based upon ten minutes on Google it seems that his credentials check out.  Furthermore, we suspect we share a number of mutual friends with Mr. Pruitt.  It remains to be seen how strong of a campaign Mr. Pruitt runs, but on first inspection it looks like a significant step in the right direction.

#TXLEGE: Thoughts on #SINEDIE (take 2)....

"For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God."
Romans 8:19

We're still digesting the past 24 hours, but a few observations in no particular order:

• 83 Republican house members showed up to today's caucus meeting.  That's a heck of a lot more than we expected.  We were also pleasantly surprised by the length of the meeting.

• Joe Straus personally showing up is an admission that all is not well in the Republican caucus.

• There was a whole bunch of traditional media at today's caucus meeting; media interest can only raise the profile of the issue..

• We're not sure who said it (Jim Graham?!?) but they're absolutely correct: You can't support both Greg Abbott and Joe Straus anymore.
• At this point, it remains an open question whether Greg Abbott supports Greg Abbott or Joe Straus.

• The arrogance of house leadership remains a sight to behold: Had they simply shown up for work this morning, they probably could have run out the clock with a fairly typical act of failure theater.  But they just had to jam their thumb in the eye of Abbott, Patrick/the Senate, and the Texas grassroots.  In doing so, they elevated their profile all over again.
• Note: The only reason we haven't completely given up on Greg Abbott is because the degree to which he's been publicly disrespected essentially demands a response.

• Apparently, the house Republican caucus has a September retreat scheduled; grassroots activists really ought to crash that party.
• Note: If the new RPT leadership really wanted to impress this website, they'd convince the caucus make the whole event open to the public.

• The kumbaya messaging coming out of today's caucus meeting was obnoxious.

• Abbott said all the right things in today's radio interview.  But Greg Abbott frequently says all the right things.  Its Greg Abbott's follow through that leaves a lot to be desired.

• Another special session won't accomplish anything right now.
• Note: But then there's redistricting....

• The Senate is certainly isn't perfect, but they're moving in the right direction.
• Note: And some of those moves are VERY significant....

• In both Austin and DC, the Republicans aren't getting the job done; if the grassroots are smart, they'll find challengers areas where bad Texas and U.S. members share territory and knock out multiple birds with one stone.
• Example: Michael Conaway and Drew Darby have overlapping districts.  Ditto Kevin Brady and Dan Huberty/Ernest Bailes.  Pete Sessions/Jason Villalba.
• UPDATE: Duh...Lamar Smith/Joe Straus.

• Random Thought: We wonder if the Texas Association of Business has ever taken any money from George Soros?!?
• cc: Abbott, Greg

• We're getting really, really, really sick of the socialized education industrial complex's sense of entitlement....

Steve Toth: THE CLOSING ARGUMENT!!!

Then the Lord said to Gideon, “By the three hundred men who lapped I will save you, and deliver the Midianites into your hand. Let all the other people go, every man to his place.”
Judges 7:7

D.C. is freaking out over this race:

Thank You For All Your Help and Supoort
Posted by Steve Toth on Monday, February 29, 2016

Highlights:

• "We have sent a tremor through Washington and the K Street lobbyists."
• "One of their best, one of their most loyal subjects, is in trouble."

• "Kevin Brady's in trouble and he's fighting like mad to try and keep his spot."

• "Don't worry about the negative things that are being said, I've got big shoulders."

• "This is the way...the liberal establishment rolls when they're in trouble."

• "They want to protect the status quo; you and I want to wreck the status quo and bring constitutional governance back to Washington."

Brady and #NoRePete Sessions vote FOR #OMNIBUS

"Therefore by their fruits you will know them."
Matthew 7:20

Cross-referencing the list of Republicans who voted for the DUMPSTER FIRE of a spending bill that just came out of D.C. with the list of Texas Republican Congressmen with serious primary challengers, two names stand out:

• Kevin Brady.

• Pete Sessions

Bottom Line: Other members with challenges at least pretended to oppose this monstrosity, but these two chairmen were arrogant enough to give their voters yet ANOTHER middle finger less than three months before election day....