| From | Fran's Friday Message <[email protected]> |
| Subject | Agree to Disagree! |
| Date | September 3, 2025 2:10 PM |
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Giving Fake Republicans a dose of their own medicine =E2=80=93 vote with De=
mocrats!
Yesterday I posted on social media about SB10, an alleged property tax reli=
ef bill, and shared Bill Peacock=E2=80=99s article about it. Bill and I we=
re urging Republicans in the House to vote with Democrats to reject the con=
ference committee report for SB10. And guess what? THEY DID!
SB10 was supposed to be the answer to the Governor=E2=80=99s special sessio=
n call for =E2=80=9CLegislation reducing the property tax burden on Texans =
and legislation imposing spending limits on entities authorized to impose p=
roperty taxes.=E2=80=9D. However, the bill can barely be called relief, an=
d barely limits some entities. SB10 as written would have only slowed the =
growth of property taxes, by lowering the increase in revenue that taxing e=
ntities are allowed from 3.5 to 2.5 percent year over year. But the bill o=
nly applied to large cities and counties. Rep. Mitch Little calculates tha=
t the savings for people in his district would be about $12 per year with t=
his legislation. Some call that relief, but I call it insulting. =20
The biggest problem with this bill, as we see it, is a statement from Commi=
ttee Chair Morgan Meyer: =E2=80=9CThis is an agreed to bill. We have reache=
d agreement, we have worked with the governor=E2=80=99s office, we worked w=
ith the Senate. This is where the agreement landed."
So apparently the Governor, the Speaker of the House, and Lt. Governor all =
agreed that this bill constitutes =E2=80=9Creducing property taxes and limi=
ting taxing entities=E2=80=9D. We agree to disagree!
During House debate on the bill, 3 amendments were added that at least made=
the bill better, increasing coverage to all municipalities and reducing th=
e allowed percentage of revenue increase to 1%. The Senate refused to acce=
pt the House version so it went to conference committee. The conference co=
mmittee removed all three of the amendments and sent it back to the House i=
n its original form.
Fortunately, 24 members of the House decided that the =E2=80=9Cagreed=E2=80=
=9D upon bill was just not agreeable, and they voted with Democrats to reje=
ct the conference committee report. Sometimes voting with Democrats is the=
right thing to do.
While SB10 is not a great bill, as amended, it would have at least been a s=
mall step towards limiting local government spending. But without the amen=
dments, it=E2=80=99s practically worthless for taxpayers.
Please contact these Republican House Members and thank them for doing the =
right thing, standing up to leadership, and supporting all taxpayers (not j=
ust some).
Daniel Alders: 512-463-0584, [email protected]
Ben Bumgarner: 512-463-0688, [email protected]
Drew Darby: 512-463-0331, [email protected]
Mark Dorazio: 512-463-0646, [email protected]
Brian Harrison: 512-463-0516, [email protected]
Andy Hopper: 512-463-0582, [email protected]
Marc LaHood: 512-463-0686, [email protected]
Mitch Little: 512-463-0478, [email protected]
AJ Louderback: 512-463-0456, [email protected]
David Lowe: 512-463-0599, [email protected]
Shelley Luther: 512-463-0297, [email protected]
Don McGlaughlin: 512-463-0194, [email protected]
Brent Money: 512-463-0880, [email protected]
Matt Morgan: 512-463-0710, [email protected]
Mike Olcott: 512-463-0656, [email protected]
Katrina Pierson: 512-463-0484, [email protected]
Keresa Richardson: 512-463-0738, [email protected]
Nate Schatzline: 512-463-0562, [email protected]
Alan Schoolcraft: 512-463-0602, [email protected]
Joanne Shofner: 512-463-0592, [email protected]
John Smithee: 512-463-0702, [email protected]
Tony Tinderholt: 512-43-0624, [email protected]
Steve Toth: 512-463-0797, [email protected]
Wes Virdell: 512-463-0536, [email protected]
The most important takeaway from this experience is not whether or not SB10=
is a good bill, a bad bill, or whether the amendments were important. The=
thing you should remember is that it was leadership that got together and =
=E2=80=9Cagreed=E2=80=9D upon how this requirement to hold taxing entities =
accountable would work. Long before the bill was debated in either chamber=
, leadership decided what was going to happen, and completely ignored the o=
pinions of our duly elected representatives in the House and Senate. This =
happens more often than you might think. It's part of the games that are p=
layed in the legislature, and it=E2=80=99s refreshing to see people pushing=
back, at least in some small fashion.
It=E2=80=99s just as important to shower with praise for doing the right th=
ing as it is to shower with criticism for doing the wrong thing. These fol=
ks did the right thing yesterday.
Taxpayer Funded Lobbying Update:
Chairman of the House State Affairs Committee, Ken King, is still ignoring =
grassroots demands for a hearing on SB13 and/or HB186 (identical bills). E=
ven though the house bill now has over 70 co-authors, Mr. King refuses to h=
old a hearing or advance the bills. Michael Quinn Sullivan has written a g=
reat article about how King is blocking this Republican priority - again. =
We=E2=80=99ve had grassroots supporters calling and emailing King, the Gove=
rnor, and the Speaker of the House for months. But it looks like this issu=
e is going to die once again this session on the trash heap of the State Af=
fairs Committee. Will the Governor call a third to address it? I hope so,=
but not holding my breath.
Thanks for staying engaged!
Fran Rhodes, President
=20
True Texas Project works hard to train and engage activists.
Can you help?
We are 100% donation-based.
Click here to donate to our movement. =20
TrueTexasProject.com
=20
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; background-color: #ffffff;">=20
<th class=3D"columns small-12 large-12 first last default" st=
yle=3D"vertical-align: top; color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sa=
ns-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; =
line-height: 1.5; margin: 0 auto; Margin: 0 auto; word-break: break-word; o=
verflow-wrap: break-word; width: 564px; padding-left: 24px; padding-right: =
24px; border-collapse: collapse; padding-top: 12px; padding-bottom: 12px;">=
<p class=3D"MsoNormal align-center" style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: a=
rial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin:=
0; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: =
10px; text-align: center;"><strong>Giving Fake Republicans a dose of their =
own medicine =E2=80=93 vote with Democrats!</strong></p> <p class=3D"MsoNoS=
pacing" style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; f=
ont-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-s=
ize: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;">Yes=
terday I posted on <a href=3D"[link removed]
ick-link/ZPxVHbQxIQ0Vyd7hrPbS-RX0kjMGOka_lEnCqW70jq0=3D/NtugvqTLF-LRbd1D-T1=
AWGMvGrVsGvn_BTgh_vUESJQ=3D" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: none=
; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;">so=
cial media</a> about SB10, an alleged property tax relief bill, and shared =
<a title=3D"Bill Peacock=E2=80=99s article" href=3D"[link removed]
com/emails/tracking/click-link/ZPxVHbQxIQ0Vyd7hrPbS-RX0kjMGOka_lEnCqW70jq0=
=3D/NtugvqTLF-LRbd1D-T1AWC5yDIehwZlt-5VVueeSDgw=3D" target=3D"_blank" rel=
=3D"noopener" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: none; font-weight: =
inherit; padding: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;">Bill Peacock=E2=
=80=99s article</a> about it.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </sp=
an>Bill and I were urging Republicans in the House to vote with Democrats t=
o reject the conference committee report for SB10.<span style=3D"mso-spacer=
un: yes;"> </span>And guess what?<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;">&=
nbsp; </span><strong>THEY DID</strong>!</p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=
=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 4=
00; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; li=
ne-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;">SB10 was suppose=
d to be the answer to the Governor=E2=80=99s special session call for <em>=
=E2=80=9CLegislation reducing the property tax burden on Texans and legisla=
tion imposing spending limits on entities authorized to impose property tax=
es.=E2=80=9D</em>.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However,=
the bill can barely be called relief, and barely limits <u>some</u> entiti=
es.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>SB10 as written would h=
ave only slowed the growth of property taxes, by lowering the increase in r=
evenue that taxing entities are allowed from 3.5 to 2.5 percent year over y=
ear.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the bill only appl=
ied to large cities and counties.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> =
</span>Rep. Mitch Little calculates that the savings for people in his dist=
rict would be about $12 per year with this legislation.<span style=3D"mso-s=
pacerun: yes;"> </span>Some call that relief, but I call it insulting=
.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpa=
cing" style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; fon=
t-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-siz=
e: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;">The b=
iggest problem with this bill, as we see it, is a statement from Committee =
Chair Morgan Meyer: =E2=80=9C<span class=3D"x193iq5w"><strong>This is an ag=
reed to bill. We have reached agreement, we have worked with the governor=
=E2=80=99s office, we worked with the Senate. This is where the agreement l=
anded."</strong></span></p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"color: #3c41=
44; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; =
margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; =
margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;"><span class=3D"x193iq5w">So appa=
rently the Governor, the Speaker of the House, and Lt. Governor all agreed =
that this bill constitutes =E2=80=9Creducing property taxes and limiting ta=
xing entities=E2=80=9D.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We =
agree to disagree!</span></p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"color: #3c=
4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0=
; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5=
; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;"><span class=3D"x193iq5w">Durin=
g House debate on the bill, 3 amendments were added that at least made the =
bill better, increasing coverage to all municipalities and reducing the all=
owed percentage of revenue increase to 1%.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;=
"> </span>The Senate refused to accept the House version so it went t=
o conference committee.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The=
conference committee removed all three of the amendments and sent it back =
to the House in its original form.</span></p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" sty=
le=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight:=
400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; =
line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;"><span class=3D=
"x193iq5w">Fortunately, <strong>24 members of the House decided that the =
=E2=80=9Cagreed=E2=80=9D upon bill was just not agreeable, and they voted w=
ith Democrats to reject the conference committee report</strong>.<span styl=
e=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes voting with Democrats is t=
he right thing to do.</span></p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"color: =
#3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding=
: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: =
1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;"><span class=3D"x193iq5w">Wh=
ile SB10 is not a great bill, as amended, it would have at least been a sma=
ll step towards limiting local government spending.<span style=3D"mso-space=
run: yes;"> </span>But without the amendments, it=E2=80=99s practical=
ly worthless for taxpayers.</span></p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"c=
olor: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; p=
adding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-he=
ight: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;"><span class=3D"x193iq=
5w">Please contact these Republican House Members and thank them for doing =
the right thing, standing up to leadership, and supporting all taxpayers (n=
ot just some).</span></p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"color: #3c4144=
; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; ma=
rgin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; ma=
rgin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;"><span class=3D"x193iq5w">Daniel Al=
ders:<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>512-463-0584,<span st=
yle=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href=3D"mailto:Daniel.alders@ho=
use.texas.gov" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: none; font-weight:=
inherit; padding: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;">Daniel.alders@ho=
use.texas.gov</a></span></p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"color: #3c4=
144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0;=
margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5;=
margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;"><span class=3D"x193iq5w">Ben Bu=
mgarner:<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>512-463-0688, <a h=
ref=3D"mailto:[email protected]" style=3D"color: #0074d9; =
text-decoration: none; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0; text-align: left; =
line-height: 1.5;">[email protected]</a></span></p> <p cla=
ss=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,s=
ans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: =
left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom=
: 10px;"><span class=3D"x193iq5w">Drew Darby:<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: y=
es;"> </span>512-463-0331, <a href=3D"mailto:[email protected]=
ov" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: none; font-weight: inherit; p=
adding: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;">[email protected]<=
/a></span></p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-fami=
ly: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Ma=
rgin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom=
: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;"><span class=3D"x193iq5w">Mark Dorazio:<span s=
tyle=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>512-463-0646, <a href=3D"mailto:m=
[email protected]" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: none=
; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;">ma=
[email protected]</a></span></p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=
=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 4=
00; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; li=
ne-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;"><span class=3D"x=
193iq5w">Brian Harrison:<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>51=
2-463-0516, <a href=3D"mailto:[email protected]" style=3D"colo=
r: #0074d9; text-decoration: none; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0; text-a=
lign: left; line-height: 1.5;">[email protected]</a></span></p=
> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,hel=
vetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text=
-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margi=
n-bottom: 10px;"><span class=3D"x193iq5w">Andy Hopper:<span style=3D"mso-sp=
acerun: yes;"> </span>512-463-0582, <a href=3D"mailto:andy.hopper@hou=
se.texas.gov" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: none; font-weight: =
inherit; padding: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;">andy.hopper@house=
.texas.gov</a></span></p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"color: #3c4144=
; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; ma=
rgin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; ma=
rgin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;"><span class=3D"x193iq5w">Marc LaHo=
od:<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>512-463-0686, <a href=
=3D"mailto:[email protected]" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decor=
ation: none; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0; text-align: left; line-heigh=
t: 1.5;">[email protected]</a></span></p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacin=
g" style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-w=
eight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: =
12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;"><span cl=
ass=3D"x193iq5w">Mitch Little:<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </s=
pan>512-463-0478, <a href=3D"mailto:[email protected]" style=3D"=
color: #0074d9; text-decoration: none; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0; te=
xt-align: left; line-height: 1.5;">[email protected]</a></span><=
/p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,h=
elvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; te=
xt-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Mar=
gin-bottom: 10px;"><span class=3D"x193iq5w">AJ Louderback:<span style=3D"ms=
o-spacerun: yes;"> </span>512-463-0456, <a href=3D"mailto:aj.louderba=
[email protected]" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: none; font-we=
ight: inherit; padding: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;">aj.louderba=
[email protected]</a></span></p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"color:=
#3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; paddin=
g: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height:=
1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;"><span class=3D"x193iq5w">D=
avid Lowe:<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>512-463-0599, <a=
href=3D"mailto:[email protected]" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-d=
ecoration: none; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0; text-align: left; line-h=
eight: 1.5;">[email protected]</a></span></p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpa=
cing" style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; fon=
t-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-siz=
e: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;"><span=
class=3D"x193iq5w">Shelley Luther:<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> =
; </span>512-463-0297, <a href=3D"mailto:[email protected]" st=
yle=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: none; font-weight: inherit; padding=
: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;">[email protected]</a=
></span></p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family=
: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Marg=
in: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: =
10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;"><span class=3D"x193iq5w">Don McGlaughlin:<span =
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>512-463-0194, <a href=3D"mailto:=
[email protected]" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: n=
one; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;"=
>[email protected]</a></span></p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" st=
yle=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight=
: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt;=
line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;"><span class=
=3D"x193iq5w">Brent Money:<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>=
512-463-0880, <a href=3D"mailto:[email protected]" style=3D"color=
: #0074d9; text-decoration: none; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0; text-al=
ign: left; line-height: 1.5;">[email protected]</a></span></p> <p=
class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helveti=
ca,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-ali=
gn: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bo=
ttom: 10px;"><span class=3D"x193iq5w">Matt Morgan:<span style=3D"mso-spacer=
un: yes;"> </span>512-463-0710, <a href=3D"mailto:[email protected]=
exas.gov" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: none; font-weight: inhe=
rit; padding: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;">[email protected]=
as.gov</a></span></p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"color: #3c4144; fo=
nt-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin=
: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin=
-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;"><span class=3D"x193iq5w">Mike Olcott:<=
span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>512-463-0656, <a href=3D"ma=
ilto:[email protected]" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration:=
none; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5=
;">[email protected]</a></span></p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" sty=
le=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight:=
400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; =
line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;"><span class=3D=
"x193iq5w">Katrina Pierson:<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span=
>512-463-0484, <a href=3D"mailto:[email protected]" style=3D"=
color: #0074d9; text-decoration: none; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0; te=
xt-align: left; line-height: 1.5;">[email protected]</a></spa=
n></p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: aria=
l,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0;=
text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; =
Margin-bottom: 10px;"><span class=3D"x193iq5w">Keresa Richardson:<span styl=
e=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>512-463-0738, <a href=3D"mailto:kere=
[email protected]" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: no=
ne; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;">=
[email protected]</a></span></p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" =
style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weig=
ht: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12p=
t; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;"><span class=
=3D"x193iq5w">Nate Schatzline:<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </s=
pan>512-463-0562, <a href=3D"mailto:[email protected]" style=
=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: none; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0=
; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;">[email protected]</a><=
/span></p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: =
arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin=
: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10=
px; Margin-bottom: 10px;"><span class=3D"x193iq5w">Alan Schoolcraft:<span s=
tyle=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>512-463-0602, <a href=3D"mailto:a=
[email protected]" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: =
none; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;=
">[email protected]</a></span></p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing"=
style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-wei=
ght: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12=
pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;"><span clas=
s=3D"x193iq5w">Joanne Shofner:<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </s=
pan>512-463-0592, <a href=3D"mailto:[email protected]" style=
=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: none; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0=
; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;">[email protected]</a></=
span></p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: a=
rial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin:=
0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10p=
x; Margin-bottom: 10px;"><span class=3D"x193iq5w">John Smithee:<span style=
=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>512-463-0702, <a href=3D"mailto:john.=
[email protected]" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: none; fo=
nt-weight: inherit; padding: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;">john.s=
[email protected]</a></span></p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"co=
lor: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; pa=
dding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-hei=
ght: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;"><span class=3D"x193iq5=
w">Tony Tinderholt:<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>512-43-=
0624, <a href=3D"mailto:[email protected]" style=3D"color: #0=
074d9; text-decoration: none; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0; text-align:=
left; line-height: 1.5;">[email protected]</a></span></p> <p=
class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helveti=
ca,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-ali=
gn: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bo=
ttom: 10px;"><span class=3D"x193iq5w">Steve Toth:<span style=3D"mso-spaceru=
n: yes;"> </span>512-463-0797, <a href=3D"mailto:[email protected]=
as.gov" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: none; font-weight: inheri=
t; padding: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;">[email protected].=
gov</a></span></p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-=
family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0=
; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bo=
ttom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;"><span class=3D"x193iq5w">Wes Virdell:<spa=
n style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>512-463-0536, <a href=3D"mailt=
o:[email protected]" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: no=
ne; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;">=
[email protected]</a></span></p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=
=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 4=
00; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; li=
ne-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;">The most importa=
nt takeaway from this experience is not whether or not SB10 is a good bill,=
a bad bill, or whether the amendments were important.<span style=3D"mso-sp=
acerun: yes;"> </span>The thing you should remember is that it was <s=
pan style=3D"text-decoration: underline;">leadership that got together and =
=E2=80=9Cagreed=E2=80=9D</span> upon how this requirement to hold taxing en=
tities accountable would work.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </s=
pan>Long before the bill was debated in either chamber, leadership decided =
what was going to happen, and completely ignored the opinions of our duly e=
lected representatives in the House and Senate.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun:=
yes;"> </span>This happens more often than you might think. It=
's part of the games that are played in the legislature, and it=E2=80=99s r=
efreshing to see people pushing back, at least in some small fashion.</p> <=
p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvet=
ica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-al=
ign: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-b=
ottom: 10px;">It=E2=80=99s just as important to shower with praise for doin=
g the right thing as it is to shower with criticism for doing the wrong thi=
ng.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These folks did the rig=
ht thing yesterday.</p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"color: #3c4144; =
font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; marg=
in: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; marg=
in-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;"><strong>Taxpayer Funded Lobbying Upd=
ate:</strong></p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-f=
amily: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0;=
Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bot=
tom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;">Chairman of the House State Affairs Commit=
tee, Ken King, is still ignoring grassroots demands for a hearing on SB13 a=
nd/or HB186 (identical bills).<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </s=
pan>Even though the house bill now has over 70 co-authors, Mr. King refuses=
to hold a hearing or advance the bills.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;">=
</span><a href=3D"[link removed]
ink/ZPxVHbQxIQ0Vyd7hrPbS-RX0kjMGOka_lEnCqW70jq0=3D/NtugvqTLF-LRbd1D-T1AWIIi=
XBdVREX2cxbavJ0rzR4=3D" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: none; fon=
t-weight: inherit; padding: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;">Michael=
Quinn Sullivan</a> has written a great article about how King is blocking =
this Republican priority - again.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> =
</span>We=E2=80=99ve had grassroots supporters calling and emailing King, t=
he Governor, and the Speaker of the House for months.<span style=3D"mso-spa=
cerun: yes;"> </span>But it looks like this issue is going to die onc=
e again this session on the trash heap of the State Affairs Committee.<span=
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Will the Governor call a third =
to address it?<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope so, b=
ut not holding my breath.</p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"color: #3c=
4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0=
; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5=
; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;">Thanks for staying engaged!</p=
> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,hel=
vetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text=
-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margi=
n-bottom: 10px;">Fran Rhodes, President</p></th>=20
</tr>=20
</tbody>
</table>=20
<table class=3D"row end-row-footer" style=3D"border-spacing: 0; =
border-collapse: collapse; vertical-align: top; text-align: left; padding: =
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ackground-color: #ffffff; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">=20
<tbody>
<tr style=3D"padding: 0; vertical-align: top; text-align: left=
;">=20
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yle=3D"vertical-align: top; color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sa=
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verflow-wrap: break-word; width: 564px; padding-left: 24px; padding-right: =
24px; border-collapse: collapse; padding-top: 12px; padding-bottom: 24px;">=
<p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-w=
eight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; font-size: 12pt; line-height:=
1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px; text-align: center;"><span =
style=3D"font-size: 14px;"> </span></p> <p style=3D"color: #3c4144; fo=
nt-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin=
: 0; Margin: 0; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Mar=
gin-bottom: 10px; text-align: center;"><strong><span style=3D"color: #cc000=
0;">True Texas Project works hard to train and engage activists.<br>Can you=
help?<br>We are 100% donation-based.</span><br><span style=3D"color: #0000=
55;">Click </span><a href=3D"[link removed]
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Giving Fake Republicans a dose of their own medicine – vote with Democrats!
Yesterday I posted on social media about SB10, an alleged property tax relief bill, and shared Bill Peacock’s article about it. Bill and I were urging Republicans in the House to vote with Democrats to reject the conference committee report for SB10. And guess what? THEY DID!
SB10 was supposed to be the answer to the Governor’s special session call for “Legislation reducing the property tax burden on Texans and legislation imposing spending limits on entities authorized to impose property taxes.”. However, the bill can barely be called relief, and barely limits some entities. SB10 as written would have only slowed the growth of property taxes, by lowering the increase in revenue that taxing entities are allowed from 3.5 to 2.5 percent year over year. But the bill only applied to large cities and counties. Rep. Mitch Little calculates that the savings for people in his district would be about $12 per year with this legislation. Some call that relief, but I call it insulting.
The biggest problem with this bill, as we see it, is a statement from Committee Chair Morgan Meyer: “This is an agreed to bill. We have reached agreement, we have worked with the governor’s office, we worked with the Senate. This is where the agreement landed."
So apparently the Governor, the Speaker of the House, and Lt. Governor all agreed that this bill constitutes “reducing property taxes and limiting taxing entities”. We agree to disagree!
During House debate on the bill, 3 amendments were added that at least made the bill better, increasing coverage to all municipalities and reducing the allowed percentage of revenue increase to 1%. The Senate refused to accept the House version so it went to conference committee. The conference committee removed all three of the amendments and sent it back to the House in its original form.
Fortunately, 24 members of the House decided that the “agreed” upon bill was just not agreeable, and they voted with Democrats to reject the conference committee report. Sometimes voting with Democrats is the right thing to do.
While SB10 is not a great bill, as amended, it would have at least been a small step towards limiting local government spending. But without the amendments, it’s practically worthless for taxpayers.
Please contact these Republican House Members and thank them for doing the right thing, standing up to leadership, and supporting all taxpayers (not just some).
Daniel Alders: 512-463-0584, [email protected]
Ben Bumgarner: 512-463-0688, [email protected]
Drew Darby: 512-463-0331, [email protected]
Mark Dorazio: 512-463-0646, [email protected]
Brian Harrison: 512-463-0516, [email protected]
Andy Hopper: 512-463-0582, [email protected]
Marc LaHood: 512-463-0686, [email protected]
Mitch Little: 512-463-0478, [email protected]
AJ Louderback: 512-463-0456, [email protected]
David Lowe: 512-463-0599, [email protected]
Shelley Luther: 512-463-0297, [email protected]
Don McGlaughlin: 512-463-0194, [email protected]
Brent Money: 512-463-0880, [email protected]
Matt Morgan: 512-463-0710, [email protected]
Mike Olcott: 512-463-0656, [email protected]
Katrina Pierson: 512-463-0484, [email protected]
Keresa Richardson: 512-463-0738, [email protected]
Nate Schatzline: 512-463-0562, [email protected]
Alan Schoolcraft: 512-463-0602, [email protected]
Joanne Shofner: 512-463-0592, [email protected]
John Smithee: 512-463-0702, [email protected]
Tony Tinderholt: 512-43-0624, [email protected]
Steve Toth: 512-463-0797, [email protected]
Wes Virdell: 512-463-0536, [email protected]
The most important takeaway from this experience is not whether or not SB10 is a good bill, a bad bill, or whether the amendments were important. The thing you should remember is that it was leadership that got together and “agreed” upon how this requirement to hold taxing entities accountable would work. Long before the bill was debated in either chamber, leadership decided what was going to happen, and completely ignored the opinions of our duly elected representatives in the House and Senate. This happens more often than you might think. It's part of the games that are played in the legislature, and it’s refreshing to see people pushing back, at least in some small fashion.
It’s just as important to shower with praise for doing the right thing as it is to shower with criticism for doing the wrong thing. These folks did the right thing yesterday.
Taxpayer Funded Lobbying Update:
Chairman of the House State Affairs Committee, Ken King, is still ignoring grassroots demands for a hearing on SB13 and/or HB186 (identical bills). Even though the house bill now has over 70 co-authors, Mr. King refuses to hold a hearing or advance the bills. Michael Quinn Sullivan has written a great article about how King is blocking this Republican priority - again. We’ve had grassroots supporters calling and emailing King, the Governor, and the Speaker of the House for months. But it looks like this issue is going to die once again this session on the trash heap of the State Affairs Committee. Will the Governor call a third to address it? I hope so, but not holding my breath.
Thanks for staying engaged!
Fran Rhodes, President
True Texas Project works hard to train and engage activists.
Can you help?
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Giving Fake Republicans a dose of their own medicine =E2=80=93 vote with De=
mocrats!
Yesterday I posted on social media about SB10, an alleged property tax reli=
ef bill, and shared Bill Peacock=E2=80=99s article about it. Bill and I we=
re urging Republicans in the House to vote with Democrats to reject the con=
ference committee report for SB10. And guess what? THEY DID!
SB10 was supposed to be the answer to the Governor=E2=80=99s special sessio=
n call for =E2=80=9CLegislation reducing the property tax burden on Texans =
and legislation imposing spending limits on entities authorized to impose p=
roperty taxes.=E2=80=9D. However, the bill can barely be called relief, an=
d barely limits some entities. SB10 as written would have only slowed the =
growth of property taxes, by lowering the increase in revenue that taxing e=
ntities are allowed from 3.5 to 2.5 percent year over year. But the bill o=
nly applied to large cities and counties. Rep. Mitch Little calculates tha=
t the savings for people in his district would be about $12 per year with t=
his legislation. Some call that relief, but I call it insulting. =20
The biggest problem with this bill, as we see it, is a statement from Commi=
ttee Chair Morgan Meyer: =E2=80=9CThis is an agreed to bill. We have reache=
d agreement, we have worked with the governor=E2=80=99s office, we worked w=
ith the Senate. This is where the agreement landed."
So apparently the Governor, the Speaker of the House, and Lt. Governor all =
agreed that this bill constitutes =E2=80=9Creducing property taxes and limi=
ting taxing entities=E2=80=9D. We agree to disagree!
During House debate on the bill, 3 amendments were added that at least made=
the bill better, increasing coverage to all municipalities and reducing th=
e allowed percentage of revenue increase to 1%. The Senate refused to acce=
pt the House version so it went to conference committee. The conference co=
mmittee removed all three of the amendments and sent it back to the House i=
n its original form.
Fortunately, 24 members of the House decided that the =E2=80=9Cagreed=E2=80=
=9D upon bill was just not agreeable, and they voted with Democrats to reje=
ct the conference committee report. Sometimes voting with Democrats is the=
right thing to do.
While SB10 is not a great bill, as amended, it would have at least been a s=
mall step towards limiting local government spending. But without the amen=
dments, it=E2=80=99s practically worthless for taxpayers.
Please contact these Republican House Members and thank them for doing the =
right thing, standing up to leadership, and supporting all taxpayers (not j=
ust some).
Daniel Alders: 512-463-0584, [email protected]
Ben Bumgarner: 512-463-0688, [email protected]
Drew Darby: 512-463-0331, [email protected]
Mark Dorazio: 512-463-0646, [email protected]
Brian Harrison: 512-463-0516, [email protected]
Andy Hopper: 512-463-0582, [email protected]
Marc LaHood: 512-463-0686, [email protected]
Mitch Little: 512-463-0478, [email protected]
AJ Louderback: 512-463-0456, [email protected]
David Lowe: 512-463-0599, [email protected]
Shelley Luther: 512-463-0297, [email protected]
Don McGlaughlin: 512-463-0194, [email protected]
Brent Money: 512-463-0880, [email protected]
Matt Morgan: 512-463-0710, [email protected]
Mike Olcott: 512-463-0656, [email protected]
Katrina Pierson: 512-463-0484, [email protected]
Keresa Richardson: 512-463-0738, [email protected]
Nate Schatzline: 512-463-0562, [email protected]
Alan Schoolcraft: 512-463-0602, [email protected]
Joanne Shofner: 512-463-0592, [email protected]
John Smithee: 512-463-0702, [email protected]
Tony Tinderholt: 512-43-0624, [email protected]
Steve Toth: 512-463-0797, [email protected]
Wes Virdell: 512-463-0536, [email protected]
The most important takeaway from this experience is not whether or not SB10=
is a good bill, a bad bill, or whether the amendments were important. The=
thing you should remember is that it was leadership that got together and =
=E2=80=9Cagreed=E2=80=9D upon how this requirement to hold taxing entities =
accountable would work. Long before the bill was debated in either chamber=
, leadership decided what was going to happen, and completely ignored the o=
pinions of our duly elected representatives in the House and Senate. This =
happens more often than you might think. It's part of the games that are p=
layed in the legislature, and it=E2=80=99s refreshing to see people pushing=
back, at least in some small fashion.
It=E2=80=99s just as important to shower with praise for doing the right th=
ing as it is to shower with criticism for doing the wrong thing. These fol=
ks did the right thing yesterday.
Taxpayer Funded Lobbying Update:
Chairman of the House State Affairs Committee, Ken King, is still ignoring =
grassroots demands for a hearing on SB13 and/or HB186 (identical bills). E=
ven though the house bill now has over 70 co-authors, Mr. King refuses to h=
old a hearing or advance the bills. Michael Quinn Sullivan has written a g=
reat article about how King is blocking this Republican priority - again. =
We=E2=80=99ve had grassroots supporters calling and emailing King, the Gove=
rnor, and the Speaker of the House for months. But it looks like this issu=
e is going to die once again this session on the trash heap of the State Af=
fairs Committee. Will the Governor call a third to address it? I hope so,=
but not holding my breath.
Thanks for staying engaged!
Fran Rhodes, President
=20
True Texas Project works hard to train and engage activists.
Can you help?
We are 100% donation-based.
Click here to donate to our movement. =20
TrueTexasProject.com
=20
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BONUS TIP: remove the "unsubscribe" line at the bottom of your email before=
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Q0Vyd7hrPbS-RX0kjMGOka_lEnCqW70jq0=3D/NtugvqTLF-LRbd1D-T1AWLvPPZhozArFq8lmJ=
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; background-color: #ffffff;">=20
<th class=3D"columns small-12 large-12 first last default" st=
yle=3D"vertical-align: top; color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sa=
ns-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; =
line-height: 1.5; margin: 0 auto; Margin: 0 auto; word-break: break-word; o=
verflow-wrap: break-word; width: 564px; padding-left: 24px; padding-right: =
24px; border-collapse: collapse; padding-top: 12px; padding-bottom: 12px;">=
<p class=3D"MsoNormal align-center" style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: a=
rial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin:=
0; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: =
10px; text-align: center;"><strong>Giving Fake Republicans a dose of their =
own medicine =E2=80=93 vote with Democrats!</strong></p> <p class=3D"MsoNoS=
pacing" style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; f=
ont-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-s=
ize: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;">Yes=
terday I posted on <a href=3D"[link removed]
ick-link/ZPxVHbQxIQ0Vyd7hrPbS-RX0kjMGOka_lEnCqW70jq0=3D/NtugvqTLF-LRbd1D-T1=
AWGMvGrVsGvn_BTgh_vUESJQ=3D" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: none=
; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;">so=
cial media</a> about SB10, an alleged property tax relief bill, and shared =
<a title=3D"Bill Peacock=E2=80=99s article" href=3D"[link removed]
com/emails/tracking/click-link/ZPxVHbQxIQ0Vyd7hrPbS-RX0kjMGOka_lEnCqW70jq0=
=3D/NtugvqTLF-LRbd1D-T1AWC5yDIehwZlt-5VVueeSDgw=3D" target=3D"_blank" rel=
=3D"noopener" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: none; font-weight: =
inherit; padding: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;">Bill Peacock=E2=
=80=99s article</a> about it.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </sp=
an>Bill and I were urging Republicans in the House to vote with Democrats t=
o reject the conference committee report for SB10.<span style=3D"mso-spacer=
un: yes;"> </span>And guess what?<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;">&=
nbsp; </span><strong>THEY DID</strong>!</p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=
=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 4=
00; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; li=
ne-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;">SB10 was suppose=
d to be the answer to the Governor=E2=80=99s special session call for <em>=
=E2=80=9CLegislation reducing the property tax burden on Texans and legisla=
tion imposing spending limits on entities authorized to impose property tax=
es.=E2=80=9D</em>.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However,=
the bill can barely be called relief, and barely limits <u>some</u> entiti=
es.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>SB10 as written would h=
ave only slowed the growth of property taxes, by lowering the increase in r=
evenue that taxing entities are allowed from 3.5 to 2.5 percent year over y=
ear.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the bill only appl=
ied to large cities and counties.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> =
</span>Rep. Mitch Little calculates that the savings for people in his dist=
rict would be about $12 per year with this legislation.<span style=3D"mso-s=
pacerun: yes;"> </span>Some call that relief, but I call it insulting=
.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpa=
cing" style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; fon=
t-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-siz=
e: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;">The b=
iggest problem with this bill, as we see it, is a statement from Committee =
Chair Morgan Meyer: =E2=80=9C<span class=3D"x193iq5w"><strong>This is an ag=
reed to bill. We have reached agreement, we have worked with the governor=
=E2=80=99s office, we worked with the Senate. This is where the agreement l=
anded."</strong></span></p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"color: #3c41=
44; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; =
margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; =
margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;"><span class=3D"x193iq5w">So appa=
rently the Governor, the Speaker of the House, and Lt. Governor all agreed =
that this bill constitutes =E2=80=9Creducing property taxes and limiting ta=
xing entities=E2=80=9D.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We =
agree to disagree!</span></p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"color: #3c=
4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0=
; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5=
; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;"><span class=3D"x193iq5w">Durin=
g House debate on the bill, 3 amendments were added that at least made the =
bill better, increasing coverage to all municipalities and reducing the all=
owed percentage of revenue increase to 1%.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;=
"> </span>The Senate refused to accept the House version so it went t=
o conference committee.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The=
conference committee removed all three of the amendments and sent it back =
to the House in its original form.</span></p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" sty=
le=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight:=
400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; =
line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;"><span class=3D=
"x193iq5w">Fortunately, <strong>24 members of the House decided that the =
=E2=80=9Cagreed=E2=80=9D upon bill was just not agreeable, and they voted w=
ith Democrats to reject the conference committee report</strong>.<span styl=
e=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes voting with Democrats is t=
he right thing to do.</span></p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"color: =
#3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding=
: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: =
1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;"><span class=3D"x193iq5w">Wh=
ile SB10 is not a great bill, as amended, it would have at least been a sma=
ll step towards limiting local government spending.<span style=3D"mso-space=
run: yes;"> </span>But without the amendments, it=E2=80=99s practical=
ly worthless for taxpayers.</span></p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"c=
olor: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; p=
adding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-he=
ight: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;"><span class=3D"x193iq=
5w">Please contact these Republican House Members and thank them for doing =
the right thing, standing up to leadership, and supporting all taxpayers (n=
ot just some).</span></p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"color: #3c4144=
; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; ma=
rgin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; ma=
rgin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;"><span class=3D"x193iq5w">Daniel Al=
ders:<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>512-463-0584,<span st=
yle=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href=3D"mailto:Daniel.alders@ho=
use.texas.gov" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: none; font-weight:=
inherit; padding: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;">Daniel.alders@ho=
use.texas.gov</a></span></p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"color: #3c4=
144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0;=
margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5;=
margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;"><span class=3D"x193iq5w">Ben Bu=
mgarner:<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>512-463-0688, <a h=
ref=3D"mailto:[email protected]" style=3D"color: #0074d9; =
text-decoration: none; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0; text-align: left; =
line-height: 1.5;">[email protected]</a></span></p> <p cla=
ss=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,s=
ans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: =
left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom=
: 10px;"><span class=3D"x193iq5w">Drew Darby:<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: y=
es;"> </span>512-463-0331, <a href=3D"mailto:[email protected]=
ov" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: none; font-weight: inherit; p=
adding: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;">[email protected]<=
/a></span></p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-fami=
ly: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Ma=
rgin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom=
: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;"><span class=3D"x193iq5w">Mark Dorazio:<span s=
tyle=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>512-463-0646, <a href=3D"mailto:m=
[email protected]" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: none=
; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;">ma=
[email protected]</a></span></p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=
=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 4=
00; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; li=
ne-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;"><span class=3D"x=
193iq5w">Brian Harrison:<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>51=
2-463-0516, <a href=3D"mailto:[email protected]" style=3D"colo=
r: #0074d9; text-decoration: none; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0; text-a=
lign: left; line-height: 1.5;">[email protected]</a></span></p=
> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,hel=
vetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text=
-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margi=
n-bottom: 10px;"><span class=3D"x193iq5w">Andy Hopper:<span style=3D"mso-sp=
acerun: yes;"> </span>512-463-0582, <a href=3D"mailto:andy.hopper@hou=
se.texas.gov" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: none; font-weight: =
inherit; padding: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;">andy.hopper@house=
.texas.gov</a></span></p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"color: #3c4144=
; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; ma=
rgin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; ma=
rgin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;"><span class=3D"x193iq5w">Marc LaHo=
od:<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>512-463-0686, <a href=
=3D"mailto:[email protected]" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decor=
ation: none; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0; text-align: left; line-heigh=
t: 1.5;">[email protected]</a></span></p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacin=
g" style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-w=
eight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: =
12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;"><span cl=
ass=3D"x193iq5w">Mitch Little:<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </s=
pan>512-463-0478, <a href=3D"mailto:[email protected]" style=3D"=
color: #0074d9; text-decoration: none; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0; te=
xt-align: left; line-height: 1.5;">[email protected]</a></span><=
/p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,h=
elvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; te=
xt-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Mar=
gin-bottom: 10px;"><span class=3D"x193iq5w">AJ Louderback:<span style=3D"ms=
o-spacerun: yes;"> </span>512-463-0456, <a href=3D"mailto:aj.louderba=
[email protected]" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: none; font-we=
ight: inherit; padding: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;">aj.louderba=
[email protected]</a></span></p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"color:=
#3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; paddin=
g: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height:=
1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;"><span class=3D"x193iq5w">D=
avid Lowe:<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>512-463-0599, <a=
href=3D"mailto:[email protected]" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-d=
ecoration: none; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0; text-align: left; line-h=
eight: 1.5;">[email protected]</a></span></p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpa=
cing" style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; fon=
t-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-siz=
e: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;"><span=
class=3D"x193iq5w">Shelley Luther:<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> =
; </span>512-463-0297, <a href=3D"mailto:[email protected]" st=
yle=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: none; font-weight: inherit; padding=
: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;">[email protected]</a=
></span></p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family=
: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Marg=
in: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: =
10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;"><span class=3D"x193iq5w">Don McGlaughlin:<span =
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>512-463-0194, <a href=3D"mailto:=
[email protected]" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: n=
one; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;"=
>[email protected]</a></span></p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" st=
yle=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight=
: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt;=
line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;"><span class=
=3D"x193iq5w">Brent Money:<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>=
512-463-0880, <a href=3D"mailto:[email protected]" style=3D"color=
: #0074d9; text-decoration: none; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0; text-al=
ign: left; line-height: 1.5;">[email protected]</a></span></p> <p=
class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helveti=
ca,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-ali=
gn: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bo=
ttom: 10px;"><span class=3D"x193iq5w">Matt Morgan:<span style=3D"mso-spacer=
un: yes;"> </span>512-463-0710, <a href=3D"mailto:[email protected]=
exas.gov" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: none; font-weight: inhe=
rit; padding: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;">[email protected]=
as.gov</a></span></p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"color: #3c4144; fo=
nt-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin=
: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin=
-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;"><span class=3D"x193iq5w">Mike Olcott:<=
span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>512-463-0656, <a href=3D"ma=
ilto:[email protected]" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration:=
none; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5=
;">[email protected]</a></span></p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" sty=
le=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight:=
400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; =
line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;"><span class=3D=
"x193iq5w">Katrina Pierson:<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span=
>512-463-0484, <a href=3D"mailto:[email protected]" style=3D"=
color: #0074d9; text-decoration: none; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0; te=
xt-align: left; line-height: 1.5;">[email protected]</a></spa=
n></p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: aria=
l,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0;=
text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; =
Margin-bottom: 10px;"><span class=3D"x193iq5w">Keresa Richardson:<span styl=
e=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>512-463-0738, <a href=3D"mailto:kere=
[email protected]" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: no=
ne; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;">=
[email protected]</a></span></p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" =
style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weig=
ht: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12p=
t; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;"><span class=
=3D"x193iq5w">Nate Schatzline:<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </s=
pan>512-463-0562, <a href=3D"mailto:[email protected]" style=
=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: none; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0=
; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;">[email protected]</a><=
/span></p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: =
arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin=
: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10=
px; Margin-bottom: 10px;"><span class=3D"x193iq5w">Alan Schoolcraft:<span s=
tyle=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>512-463-0602, <a href=3D"mailto:a=
[email protected]" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: =
none; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;=
">[email protected]</a></span></p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing"=
style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-wei=
ght: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12=
pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;"><span clas=
s=3D"x193iq5w">Joanne Shofner:<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </s=
pan>512-463-0592, <a href=3D"mailto:[email protected]" style=
=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: none; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0=
; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;">[email protected]</a></=
span></p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: a=
rial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin:=
0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10p=
x; Margin-bottom: 10px;"><span class=3D"x193iq5w">John Smithee:<span style=
=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>512-463-0702, <a href=3D"mailto:john.=
[email protected]" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: none; fo=
nt-weight: inherit; padding: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;">john.s=
[email protected]</a></span></p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"co=
lor: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; pa=
dding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-hei=
ght: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;"><span class=3D"x193iq5=
w">Tony Tinderholt:<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>512-43-=
0624, <a href=3D"mailto:[email protected]" style=3D"color: #0=
074d9; text-decoration: none; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0; text-align:=
left; line-height: 1.5;">[email protected]</a></span></p> <p=
class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helveti=
ca,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-ali=
gn: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bo=
ttom: 10px;"><span class=3D"x193iq5w">Steve Toth:<span style=3D"mso-spaceru=
n: yes;"> </span>512-463-0797, <a href=3D"mailto:[email protected]=
as.gov" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: none; font-weight: inheri=
t; padding: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;">[email protected].=
gov</a></span></p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-=
family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0=
; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bo=
ttom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;"><span class=3D"x193iq5w">Wes Virdell:<spa=
n style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>512-463-0536, <a href=3D"mailt=
o:[email protected]" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: no=
ne; font-weight: inherit; padding: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;">=
[email protected]</a></span></p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=
=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 4=
00; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; li=
ne-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;">The most importa=
nt takeaway from this experience is not whether or not SB10 is a good bill,=
a bad bill, or whether the amendments were important.<span style=3D"mso-sp=
acerun: yes;"> </span>The thing you should remember is that it was <s=
pan style=3D"text-decoration: underline;">leadership that got together and =
=E2=80=9Cagreed=E2=80=9D</span> upon how this requirement to hold taxing en=
tities accountable would work.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </s=
pan>Long before the bill was debated in either chamber, leadership decided =
what was going to happen, and completely ignored the opinions of our duly e=
lected representatives in the House and Senate.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun:=
yes;"> </span>This happens more often than you might think. It=
's part of the games that are played in the legislature, and it=E2=80=99s r=
efreshing to see people pushing back, at least in some small fashion.</p> <=
p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvet=
ica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-al=
ign: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-b=
ottom: 10px;">It=E2=80=99s just as important to shower with praise for doin=
g the right thing as it is to shower with criticism for doing the wrong thi=
ng.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These folks did the rig=
ht thing yesterday.</p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"color: #3c4144; =
font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; marg=
in: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; marg=
in-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;"><strong>Taxpayer Funded Lobbying Upd=
ate:</strong></p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-f=
amily: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0;=
Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bot=
tom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;">Chairman of the House State Affairs Commit=
tee, Ken King, is still ignoring grassroots demands for a hearing on SB13 a=
nd/or HB186 (identical bills).<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </s=
pan>Even though the house bill now has over 70 co-authors, Mr. King refuses=
to hold a hearing or advance the bills.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;">=
</span><a href=3D"[link removed]
ink/ZPxVHbQxIQ0Vyd7hrPbS-RX0kjMGOka_lEnCqW70jq0=3D/NtugvqTLF-LRbd1D-T1AWIIi=
XBdVREX2cxbavJ0rzR4=3D" style=3D"color: #0074d9; text-decoration: none; fon=
t-weight: inherit; padding: 0; text-align: left; line-height: 1.5;">Michael=
Quinn Sullivan</a> has written a great article about how King is blocking =
this Republican priority - again.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> =
</span>We=E2=80=99ve had grassroots supporters calling and emailing King, t=
he Governor, and the Speaker of the House for months.<span style=3D"mso-spa=
cerun: yes;"> </span>But it looks like this issue is going to die onc=
e again this session on the trash heap of the State Affairs Committee.<span=
style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Will the Governor call a third =
to address it?<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope so, b=
ut not holding my breath.</p> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"color: #3c=
4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0=
; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5=
; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px;">Thanks for staying engaged!</p=
> <p class=3D"MsoNoSpacing" style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,hel=
vetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; text=
-align: left; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margi=
n-bottom: 10px;">Fran Rhodes, President</p></th>=20
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verflow-wrap: break-word; width: 564px; padding-left: 24px; padding-right: =
24px; border-collapse: collapse; padding-top: 12px; padding-bottom: 24px;">=
<p style=3D"color: #3c4144; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-w=
eight: 400; padding: 0; margin: 0; Margin: 0; font-size: 12pt; line-height:=
1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Margin-bottom: 10px; text-align: center;"><span =
style=3D"font-size: 14px;"> </span></p> <p style=3D"color: #3c4144; fo=
nt-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: 400; padding: 0; margin=
: 0; Margin: 0; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 10px; Mar=
gin-bottom: 10px; text-align: center;"><strong><span style=3D"color: #cc000=
0;">True Texas Project works hard to train and engage activists.<br>Can you=
help?<br>We are 100% donation-based.</span><br><span style=3D"color: #0000=
55;">Click </span><a href=3D"[link removed]
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Giving Fake Republicans a dose of their own medicine – vote with Democrats!
Yesterday I posted on social media about SB10, an alleged property tax relief bill, and shared Bill Peacock’s article about it. Bill and I were urging Republicans in the House to vote with Democrats to reject the conference committee report for SB10. And guess what? THEY DID!
SB10 was supposed to be the answer to the Governor’s special session call for “Legislation reducing the property tax burden on Texans and legislation imposing spending limits on entities authorized to impose property taxes.”. However, the bill can barely be called relief, and barely limits some entities. SB10 as written would have only slowed the growth of property taxes, by lowering the increase in revenue that taxing entities are allowed from 3.5 to 2.5 percent year over year. But the bill only applied to large cities and counties. Rep. Mitch Little calculates that the savings for people in his district would be about $12 per year with this legislation. Some call that relief, but I call it insulting.
The biggest problem with this bill, as we see it, is a statement from Committee Chair Morgan Meyer: “This is an agreed to bill. We have reached agreement, we have worked with the governor’s office, we worked with the Senate. This is where the agreement landed."
So apparently the Governor, the Speaker of the House, and Lt. Governor all agreed that this bill constitutes “reducing property taxes and limiting taxing entities”. We agree to disagree!
During House debate on the bill, 3 amendments were added that at least made the bill better, increasing coverage to all municipalities and reducing the allowed percentage of revenue increase to 1%. The Senate refused to accept the House version so it went to conference committee. The conference committee removed all three of the amendments and sent it back to the House in its original form.
Fortunately, 24 members of the House decided that the “agreed” upon bill was just not agreeable, and they voted with Democrats to reject the conference committee report. Sometimes voting with Democrats is the right thing to do.
While SB10 is not a great bill, as amended, it would have at least been a small step towards limiting local government spending. But without the amendments, it’s practically worthless for taxpayers.
Please contact these Republican House Members and thank them for doing the right thing, standing up to leadership, and supporting all taxpayers (not just some).
Daniel Alders: 512-463-0584, [email protected]
Ben Bumgarner: 512-463-0688, [email protected]
Drew Darby: 512-463-0331, [email protected]
Mark Dorazio: 512-463-0646, [email protected]
Brian Harrison: 512-463-0516, [email protected]
Andy Hopper: 512-463-0582, [email protected]
Marc LaHood: 512-463-0686, [email protected]
Mitch Little: 512-463-0478, [email protected]
AJ Louderback: 512-463-0456, [email protected]
David Lowe: 512-463-0599, [email protected]
Shelley Luther: 512-463-0297, [email protected]
Don McGlaughlin: 512-463-0194, [email protected]
Brent Money: 512-463-0880, [email protected]
Matt Morgan: 512-463-0710, [email protected]
Mike Olcott: 512-463-0656, [email protected]
Katrina Pierson: 512-463-0484, [email protected]
Keresa Richardson: 512-463-0738, [email protected]
Nate Schatzline: 512-463-0562, [email protected]
Alan Schoolcraft: 512-463-0602, [email protected]
Joanne Shofner: 512-463-0592, [email protected]
John Smithee: 512-463-0702, [email protected]
Tony Tinderholt: 512-43-0624, [email protected]
Steve Toth: 512-463-0797, [email protected]
Wes Virdell: 512-463-0536, [email protected]
The most important takeaway from this experience is not whether or not SB10 is a good bill, a bad bill, or whether the amendments were important. The thing you should remember is that it was leadership that got together and “agreed” upon how this requirement to hold taxing entities accountable would work. Long before the bill was debated in either chamber, leadership decided what was going to happen, and completely ignored the opinions of our duly elected representatives in the House and Senate. This happens more often than you might think. It's part of the games that are played in the legislature, and it’s refreshing to see people pushing back, at least in some small fashion.
It’s just as important to shower with praise for doing the right thing as it is to shower with criticism for doing the wrong thing. These folks did the right thing yesterday.
Taxpayer Funded Lobbying Update:
Chairman of the House State Affairs Committee, Ken King, is still ignoring grassroots demands for a hearing on SB13 and/or HB186 (identical bills). Even though the house bill now has over 70 co-authors, Mr. King refuses to hold a hearing or advance the bills. Michael Quinn Sullivan has written a great article about how King is blocking this Republican priority - again. We’ve had grassroots supporters calling and emailing King, the Governor, and the Speaker of the House for months. But it looks like this issue is going to die once again this session on the trash heap of the State Affairs Committee. Will the Governor call a third to address it? I hope so, but not holding my breath.
Thanks for staying engaged!
Fran Rhodes, President
True Texas Project works hard to train and engage activists.
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