Tax Troubles for Transient Texans

Imagine for a moment that you own commercial lease space. You know the current economic conditions are pressuring your tenants. How will you maintain cash flow to keep from going under yourself? You have three basic choices: 1) maintain the status-quo and pray for the best, 2) raise the lease rate on expiring contracts to help offset potential tenant losses, or 3) re-negotiate the current leases at a lower rate and lock the tenants in through the downturn?

Smart property owners in Austin, Texas are choosing option three; Not so with the 81st Texas Legislature. The 81st is pursuing the failed policies of big gov'ment liberals; they like option number two. Milk transient Texans for all you can as they die off one-by-one.

Let me explain. I'm not talking about destitute Texans; it's those that use gasoline that are in danger. State Legislators are considering bills that would immediately raise the gasoline tax by fifty percent!! The gas tax could easily go from twenty cents to thirty cents, and over time it could reach forty-five cents or one-hundred twenty five percent of the current amount.

There are a number of transportation related bills that you need to pay attention to. A coalition of Texas conservatives says,

"The transportation tax package (HB 9, HJR 9, and SB 855) passed by the House
Transportation Committee contains the wrong ideas at the worst possible time." - http://www.texaspolicy.com/

This transportation package has traction in the 81st Texas Legislature. You better get out of the car and go see your elected officials on this issue or buckle up your wallet! Stay on top of these bills and contact your representative at www.politicalhope.com/resources

God Save Texas

Government Empowerment?

Some say the title of this blog is oxymoronic. How about "government empowerment"?

In John Maxwell's Twenty-One Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, The Law of Empowerment is a key measure of great leadership. As a leader we must hand over trust, resources, and opportunity to those we lead in order to grow an organization or business. This begs the question, "Has government ever empowered anyone?"

As Texas law making passes before our eyes, I ask, "Where is empowerment?" "Who is being empowered?"

The witness list for a bill is a tell-tale sign. For instance, take SB-855 debated in a Texas Senate Committee yesterday. The For list was largely city, county and Regional Mobility Authority type folks. They seek to raise taxes to fund transportation projects. The taxpayer organizations were on the Nay side of the argument. Need I say more?

Yes, roads must be funded. What about empowering people to run their businesses to generate more revenue for roads? What about cutting wasteful state programs? Where's the budget cut list? Where are the reductions in spending on extraneous programs? Where's the budget priority on essential government services?

Let our laws empowerment the people. Government tends towards regulation and taxation; not empowerment. The 81st Texas Legislature is beginning to show its true colors. In the House it's 76 red, 74 blue. In the Senate there are 20 red, and 12 blue, and now more than ever, the Texas Legislature has plenty of purple in the middle. Wait 'till you hear about the other topics they've debated this week...

God Save Texas