The Texas Freedom Agenda

For those Texans who support the principles of lower taxes, less government, and more freedom, the 78th Legislative session in Texas was a success. Those principles were reflected in much of the legislation this session. Thanks to the legislative leadership and citizens willing to defend our economic liberty, a $9.9 billion budget shortfall was met with spending cuts and no new taxes were passed.

The following are some of the highlights of the legislative session:


    
No Tax Increases

In the wake of a budget shortfall, Texas CSE’s central concern was that legislators would try and solve the state’s financial woes with tax increases instead of responsible fiscal constraint. Texas CSE stood firmly against any tax increases and supported legislation to ease the tax burden on hard-working Texas families.

Texas CSE supported the following legislation:

HB 1 passed: The $116 billion state budget which for the first time in over 20 years reduced the size and scope of government.

HB 2292 by Rep. Arlene Wohlgemuth passed: streamlined health and human services and is designed to reduce fraud and abuse of the system, realizing savings of one-quarter billion dollars for taxpayers!

HB133 / HJR15 by Rep. Carl Isett “Reining in State Spending” did not get to the floor of the House: to limit the growth of appropriations in a biennium to not exceed the estimated rate of growth of total personal income in the state.

SB 392 by Sen. Steve Ogden and Sen. Tommy Williams “Truth in Taxation” passed: relates to Texas utility districts that levy property taxes in the state, and provides for safeguards for the taxpayers requiring them to notify taxpayers in advance of proposed tax rate increases.

Texas CSE helped kill legislation that would have used tax dollars to unfairly subsidize public entities:

HB 262 by Rep. Steve Wolens: this bill was called by the Mayor of Dallas “the most important legislation to the City of Dallas” but would have allowed several large municipalities to use hotel occupancy taxes to guarantee bonds to finance convention center hotels and other public facilities (golf courses, parking garages, restaurants.) It would have been the ultimate irony to have private enterprise taxed to pay for public-funded ventures. Texas CSE had a study done which found that there would be no benefit to the City and significant loss to existing hotels had that legislation passed.

 
 
 
 
Tort Reform

HB 4 by Rep. Joe Nixon: Litigious trial lawyers rob decent, honest Americans of their money, trust and peace of mind. Fear of lawsuit impacts our daily lives both at the workplace, at home and while enjoying recreational activities. It’s time to finish the civil justice reforms began in Texas. This legislation continues the tort reforms passed in 1995 and addresses a number of issues including medical malpractice reform, teacher protection from frivolous lawsuits, product liability, proportionate responsibility, and other measures.

  
  
Regulatory Reform

Removing the obstacles that allow our state’s businesses to compete in a free market environment is absolutely critical to Texas CSE. Texas CSE supported efforts to remove barriers that prohibit free enterprise and limit consumer choices.


SB 14, as passed, was mixed in its approach but basicly provided market solutions to personal property and auto insurance by Sens. Mike Jackson and Troy Frasier and Rep. John Smithee:
replaces the current regulatory regime with a more competitive system that gives insurance companies greater the flexibility they need to respond to changing market conditions and provide consumers with better services at better prices.

HB 2997 by Rep. Jamie
Capelo “Protecting Consumer Rights to Own Their Contact Lens Prescriptions” did not make it out of committee: this legislation would have granted Texas consumers greater freedom and promote competition in the contact lens market by allowing Texans to easily obtain their contact lens prescription and purchase from any provider; instead of jumping through government mandated “hoops” that limit their ability to shop for contact lenses.

 
 
 
 
Education Reform

Policy makers in Texas need to understand that choice in education, not more spending, is the way to help our children. They also need to realize that education unions aren’t focused on providing quality education but on protecting the interests of their members. Furthermore, attempts by forces on the left to inject the liberal agenda into the Texas’ school curriculum must be stopped. Texas CSE supports School Choice and empowering parents with the ability to determine the educational environment for their children. Unfortunately, efforts to expand choice and bring innovation to education did not succeed this session.

HB 319 by Chairman Kent Grusendorf is signed into law: HB 319 includes in the list of the objectives of public education that educators prepare students to be thoughtful, active citizens who have an appreciation for the basic values of our state and national heritage and who can understand and productively function in a free enterprise society.


HB 318 by Chairman Kent Grusendorf passed the House but failed to get through the Senate:
Relating to certification to teach in certain grade levels of individuals who hold baccalaureate or advanced degrees from an institution of higher education.


SB 83 by Sen. Jeff Wentworth and Rep. Dan Branch passed into law:
provides the Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of silence in public schools.


HB 2465 by Chairman Kent Grusendorf and Reps. Mike Krusse, Ron Wilson, and Glenn Lewis “Texas Freedom Scholarship Pilot Project” did not make it to the House floor for vote:
A first step toward School Choice in Texas, this legislation would allow parents to receive a scholarship of 90% of the state expenditure per student in a given Texas school district and give parents an active choice in where their child goes to school.


HB 1277 and SB 744 by Rep. Jerry Madden and Sen. Tommy Williams; “Paycheck Protection” did not get to the House floor:
ISD’s currently provide “dues check off” for employees, and the ISD is then responsible for collecting teacher union dues and Political Action Committee (PAC) contributions, used to support political parties, organizations and candidates. This legislation “Paycheck protection” refers to those labor reforms to protect workers’ rights and the use of taxpayer dollars.


HB 1172 by Rep. Jerry Madden made it through the House and the Senate Education Committee but didn’t have time for vote on the Senate floor:
This bill would require the public school curriculum, thru TEKS reform, promote patriotism and portray America as a great nation, which has overcome its mistakes to emerge as the most free, democratic nation in the history of the world.


HB 1447 by Rep. Charlie Howard did not get out of the House:
This legislation acts to clarify the textbook approval process in Texas by providing the SBOE, a body elected by the people of Texas, with the authority to review the content of our children’s textbooks. This body would be ultimately answerable to the people for attempts by liberal groups such as the environmentalists who try to brainwash our children with their own agenda.


HB 859 by Rep. Jerry Madden failed to pass:
This bill which would have provided flexibility and local control, was opposed by the teacher unions and the PTA. HB 859 revolves around three main themes: voter approval, local control, academic performance and accountability.

Texas CSE is asking for a Gubernatorial veto of the following legislation:

SB 435 by Sen. Carona passed: this legislation threatens existing Texas jobs by mandating divestiture of Allstate Insurance in a motor vehicle repair facility, Sterling Auto Body Repair and sets a dangerous precedent – allowing government to dictate the consumer options that a company can offer.