The Texas Legislature is busy filing bills and holding hearings on a wide range of issues, from taxes and spending, to eminent domain abuse and personal freedom. I just wanted to take this opportunity to inform you of a couple of issues that we can have an impact on during this legislative session.

Protecting Property Rights for all Texans

State Senator Craig Estes (R-Wichita Falls) has introduced a bill protecting Texans from eminent domain abuse. In the post-Kelo world, our property rights have been eviscerated, and we must encourage Texas lawmakers to pass meaningful reform that prevents governments from taking private property for an “economic use” that benefits a private entity. This is an abuse of the intent of eminent domain, which was never meant to be used as a way for some to use coercion through government action to take the property of others. TAKE ACTION NOW to protect property rights in Texas!

Another property rights issue that is being debated in the legislature is the idea of a statewide smoking ban. Some lawmakers in Texas want to force businesses to outlaw smoking in their establishments. But this decision should be left up to business owners, since it is their property. Consumers can choose whether or not to visit certain restaurants, bars or other places. It should not be up to the state government to decide whether these businesses can allow smoking or not. TAKE ACTION to tell your elected officials that Texans should be free to choose when it comes to whether or not to allow smoking in restaurants, bars and other places.

Eliminate the Business Tax

The Texas Legislature passed a business tax bill that has been detrimental to the business climate in Texas. In order to maintain our competitiveness and dynamic economic growth as a state, we must reduce the amount of our money taken by government. High taxes on businesses cost Texans in jobs, income and the price of goods and services. The worst part is that the business tax disproportionately harms our small businesses, which create most of our jobs. Please TAKE ACTION and let your state lawmakers know that we want to see the business tax eliminated!

As the legislative session goes on, we will continue to update you on opportunities to move the freedom agenda forward in Texas. If you would like to help us start a FreedomWorks chapter in your area, please reply to this email and let us know!

Sincerely,

Dick Armey
Chairman
FreedomWorks.org