FreedomWorks is working with grassroots leaders to organize Taxpayer Tea Parties in Texas this April. With all the outrageous government spending in Washington and Austin, along with high property taxes and attempts to limit our freedom, there is no better time than NOW to come out and make your voice heard. So mark your calendar for Tax Day, April 15th, and join the national movement to take our country back from the politicians.

Please attend the Tea Party closest to you!

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

Soon Congress will take up the SCHIP expansion bill that was vetoed by President Bush. Congress needs to uphold the president's veto of this bill and prevent a serious move towards socialized medicine. The SCHIP program was meant to cover poor children, but Congress is trying to move adults into government-run health care. As if this wasn't bad enough, the proposed $35 billion expansion would be funded by yet another huge tax hike! This time, the target is smokers, to the tune of 61 cents per pack.

In a victory for consumers, Texas Governor Rick Perry (R) signed HB 735, repealing the Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund Tax (TIF). The temporary tax was created in 1995 to fund construction of advanced telecommunications infrastructure. It served this purpose, garnering more than sufficient funds to connect public schools, public libraries, and public hospitals with high speed internet access.