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Monday, January 19, 2009

Property tax vs. state income tax, and questioning Gov. Perry's truthfulness


Texans were promised that if they voted for this proposal, they soon would see a reduction in the costs of health care and medical related services


Send your comments to online.editor@valleyspringcomm.net
or pstern@austin.rr.com

Contact your representatives here:
Governor Rick Perry: http://www2.governor.state.tx.us/contact/
Senate (State Sen. Jeff Wentworth): http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/senate/Members.htm

House of Representatives (State Rep. Patrick Rose): http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/welcome.php


By Peter Stern

In response to all those Texans who believe that it is "time for a state income tax . . ." unfortunately, many Texans have been deceived by the propaganda pushed upon them by various legislators and special interests.

Contrary to popular belief, a state income tax is NOT the "penicillin" many people believe it is. For example, most states already have had a state income tax in place for many years; however, those states share similar economic problems that Texas has --- including, inadequate school financing and the sky-high property taxes that most of us keep complaining about.


Furthermore, one look at how our legislators use the tax dollars currently mandated, e.g., those tax dollars slated via lottery for public education, the gas tax to build and maintain roadways, and money supposed to go to various social services, one observes how our legislators and various special interests divert those mandated dollars to other venues. An example is that a large percentage of collected gas taxes goes to higher education, even after legislation permitted the deregulation of tuition costs. Why? It's time to stop diverting our tax dollars to other interests.


Consequently, instead of resolving urgent issues and problems a state income tax merely increases the total tax dollars that would be available for the further diversions of legislators and their special interests. Forget about a state income tax. It is a placebo dream.


It's like every other idea on paper: it looks good, but the reality is that it would NOT cure our ills – in fact, it may add to them considerably.

Reviewing Gov. Perry's claims of tax relief through Constitutional Amendments yields tax increases instead.

Amendments 15 & 12 not bearing fruit as promised

Once a liar, always a liar!

Almost half a decade ago Texas Gov. Rick Perry put on his ten-gallon Stetson, saddled-up his tax-paid plane and rode all over the state lobbying to eliminate what he and his special interest health care industry called "frivolous medical malpractice lawsuits."


Texans were promised that if they voted for this proposal, they soon would see a reduction in the costs of health care and medical related services.


Well, just as in the most recent proposed amendment election where only 8 percent of all registered voters approved ALL 16 amendments, back in 2005 Perry and his good ol' boys got what they wanted. Proposition 12 was approved and Texans were duped.


Looking at it 4 years later you don't have to be an Einstein or brain surgeon to see that Perry was touting another pack of lies, just as he did this time re: Proposed Amendment 15, a.k.a., "the cure for cancer."


Also 4 years ago Perry lobbied to deregulate higher education tuition, promising Texans that doing so would decrease the cost of a college education while making institutions more competitive in associated learning costs. That proposition was approved also. After 4 successive tuition increases since the proposal was accepted, tuition costs are the highest ever in the state.


Texans already have seen what a load of buffalo chips their governor REALLY is regarding Prop. 15.


By the way, I just got another letter from Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Texas telling me that they have to increase my family's premium again and another notice from the University of Texas stating it regrets having to increase my children's tuition!

Peter Stern of Driftwood, Texas, a former Director of Information Services, university professor and public school administrator, is a political writer published frequently throughout the Texas community and nationwide. Mr. Stern is a Disabled Vietnam Veteran. He holds three post-graduate degrees.

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