Rep. Taylor responds to CLOUT lawsuit : Lone Star Times

Rep. Taylor responds to CLOUT lawsuit

by David Benzion · 06/29/2006 9:18 am

As we’ve noted previously, in an attempt to get elected officials on the record as to where they stand regarding the taxpayer watchdog group’s lawsuit to enforce the spending limitations of the Texas constitution, CLOUT has launched "Operation Accountability."

You can get a copy of the lawsuit, an executive summary, or read responses to frequently asked questions by clicking on the previous links.

CLOUT member and LST reader Steven Daniel kindly forwaded us this email he received from Rep. Taylor’s office on June 26th, which we reproduce below in full [emphasis in bold added by LST]:

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Daniel,

Thank you for contacting Rep. Taylor regarding the CLOUT lawsuit claiming the state violated the constitutional spending limit during the recent legislative special session in May of this year. Rep. Taylor is aware of the lawsuit and its claims.

During the special session, many legislative and budget experts from the Governor, Lt. Governor, Speaker and Legislative Budget Board office’s provided fiscal details to all Legislator’s. Rep. Taylor does not believe the Legislature’s actions violate the constitutional spending cap and therefore believes the court will find the case without merit.

To provide you with a historical aspect of the constitutional spending cap amendment, passed in 1978 and known as the Texas Tax Relief Act, I’ve attached the Texas Public Policy Foundation’s (TPPF) Policy Brief for you. The TPPF is a well respected conservative think tank that works diligently to promote free market principles, lower taxes and less government.

Rep. Taylor believes property taxes are at an all time high and recent legislative action will help curb skyrocketing property taxes for all Texas homeowners. As a conservative, he has consistently supported legislative measures to reduce the current 10% appraisal cap.

Should you have any additional questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Rep. Taylor’s office again.

Thank you,

Cari L. Christman
Chief of Staff
Representative Larry Taylor

Thank you Steve, and thank you Ms. Christman and Rep. Taylor.

If anyone from Rep. Taylor’s office wishes to update this statement further, they can contact CLOUT directly at clouttexas-at-gmail.com, or us at lsteditors-at-gmail.com

CLOUT is encouraging its members to continue to contact Rep. Taylor and politely communicate your position on their lawsuit to him directly.

Here’s the contact info for Rep. Taylor:

Austin Office:
Room EXT E2.714
P.O. Box 2910
Austin, TX 78768
(512) 463-0729
(512) 474-2398 Fax

District Office:
174 Calder Road, Ste 116
League City, TX 77573
(281) 338-0924
(281) 554-9240 Fax

Filed Under Uncategorized ·

Comments

11 Responses to “Rep. Taylor responds to CLOUT lawsuit”

OdinsAcolyte on June 29th, 2006 at 9:54 am

Anytime the state provides property tax relief the tax assessors adjust the values. I should say, EVERYTIME. There is no relief from or within government. There is a cure for that. Nobody wants to hear it yet. The government will die when it kills its host, parasite that it is. It is a shame the citizens of this great state have let it come to this.
RTG on June 29th, 2006 at 10:07 am

Another RINO bites the dust.
bweldon on June 29th, 2006 at 10:13 am

This sounds like he is talking out of both sides of his mouth….
No Higher Tax on June 29th, 2006 at 11:24 am

He is like perry, dewhurst, ogden, williams, janek and hill - consevative when it suits him and ALWAYS A RINO.
JOCKPEDDLER on June 29th, 2006 at 11:25 am

lets just clean house on all of them.. lets start at the top with perry!!! go kinki!!!
No Higher Tax on June 29th, 2006 at 12:23 pm

Want something to get PO’ed about LOOK at this bucket of S _ _ T. YOUR LOCAL SOCIAL SECURITY OFFICE’S ADDRESS IN MEXICO - THANKS TO bush. This thing is going bankrupt and what is bushy doing along with all the other RINOs.

MEXICO
The office below that
is nearest to you:
Federal Benefits Unit
American Consulate General
Chihuahua
Avenue Lopez Mateos 924 Norte
32000 Ciudad Juarez
Mexico
phone: 52-656-613-1512
fax: 52-656-613-4698

Federal Benefits Unit
American Consulate General
Progreso 175
44100 Guadalajara, Jalisco
Mexico
phone: 52-33-3268-2139
fax: 52-33-3825-7942

Federal Benefits Unit
American Embassy
Paseo de la Reforma 305
06500 Mexico D. F.
Mexico
phone: 52-55-5080-2900
fax: 52-55-5080-2171
Price Triton on June 29th, 2006 at 1:50 pm

I sent something like the following to Perry’s camp prior to his signing the new tax plan and it is now on his head - ‘My wife, a teacher, feels you have done nothing of substance to support the public education of this state, particularly the teachers. She’s seen first hand the abuse of the bilingual program and the waste of taxpayer funds. The lack of leadership in getting past the court-mandated change in taxation is deplorable. As such, she will not be voting for your re-election in November. As for me, I am 100% against the business tax you and your politicos have developed and if you sign it, I will opt to vote for “Grandma”. Also, know that I have two 19-yr old children who rely on Dad’s recommendation since they know I follow politics much more closely than they do. That’s four votes against you if you sign the bill and at least one against you even if you don’t.’ I received a generic reply from the staff. They were not impressed.
bweldon on June 29th, 2006 at 2:29 pm

More double speak…..
sounds about like they all got lessons in talking like he is doing
KRogers on June 29th, 2006 at 5:14 pm

Note to #1 Acolyte,

Just to let you know, Assessors don’t set the rates, they just COLLECT. The unelected, and, therefore, unaccountable APPRAISAL DISTRICTS, set the values. Well, they’re accountable to someone (the School Districts and City Councils who appoint them, as we have seen the “magic” that happens because those politicos don’t get their appraised values raised).

Just call me a Johnson/Bettencourt Acolyte
Phil_M on June 29th, 2006 at 7:25 pm

Re. #9 -

IIRC, way back in the old days the Tax Assessor’s office actually did do the assessments as well as collecting. Since these Tax Assessors also knew that they were accountable to the voters they made sure the property assessments didn’t go up too fast - even during real estate booms. Otherwise they were out of a job next election. The voters had a direct check on the tax power - as it should be.

I don’t recall exactly when it changed to the current unelected appraisal board system, but I was always told that it was engineered by some corrupt Democrat state reps out of Beaumont who wanted more money to spend.
Maximus on June 29th, 2006 at 8:57 pm

What a guy, outstanding leader and all around man’s man.

That was really…good? Decisive…?

The kind of leadership we need….? Right…? I think so…?

Yea, right…?

“They” (read here INCUMBENTS) always seem to try sooooo hard, but just can’t seem to get anything good for the common voters done, passed, or accomplished! But they sure do try sooo hard, that’s what count’s right…? We need to remove the CANCER of incumbent control from our government, and if takes Kinky to make the point and start the operation, THEN SO BE IT!!

Kinky for CHANGE, not for Kinky, Just for a change!!!
E.D.