El Pasonans & Texans are tired of over taxation!
I believe the following reforms need to be instituted to correct previous wrongs.
1. To control government spending at the state and local level, Texas should institute a spending limit equal to either the sum of inflation-plus-population-growth or the increase in the gross state product.
The spending limit may only be exceeded at the state level by a 3/4th super majority, recorded vote of both bodies, the signature of the governor, and a fiscal impact statement clearly outlining why the increase is necessary
The spending limit may only be exceeded at the local level through a majority vote in an election held on one of the state-mandated uniform election dates.
2. All state agencies should begin their budgets from a “zero” base rather than additional growth over the previous year. Additionally, every expenditure must include a clear taxpayer impact statement that includes the intended outcomes expected to be attained; and when those goals are not met, then the legislature must eliminate those expenditures.
3. An independent commission should be established to identify and eliminate waste, fraud and abuse in government spending. Both the House and Senate must give each proposal a recorded vote, without amendment, within the first 30 days of the legislative session.
4. Texas’ economy has produced surpluses in all but one of the last 10 biennia, with those funds used almost exclusively to grow government rather than for immediate tax relief. A constitutional amendment should be adopted that requires surplus revenues to be used for tax relief, after ensuring a full, constitutionally-dedicated, Rainy Day fund.
5. The state’s Rainy Day fund has been used to grow the size of government by creating new programs and expanding old ones. A constitutional amendment is needed to restrict use of money deposited in the current Rainy Fund only to balancing the budget in times of revenue shortfall.
6. While governors in Texas have long had the “line-item” veto as a way to control pork spending, the Legislature has developed a process to circumvent this important “check” on spending. The budget should be presented in a way that ensures future governors can fully exercise the line-item veto.
7. The 2008-09 budget includes many earmarks, such as a $50,000 subsidy for a particular Texas wine vineyard and hundreds of thousands of dollars for projects like a city park in Houston and a zoo in Brownsville. While government should provide a healthy business environment through low taxes and deregulation, it is not the role of state government to subsidize private business and selectively fund purely local projects. Accordingly, these kinds of earmarks should be eliminated from future budgets.
