Less waste, not more revenues

Texas voters have overwhelmingly voted for restrained spending and budget cuts, a frustrating trend for crony capitalists who rely on the government to survive.

Last month, we wrote about the Texas Association of Business backing a $1 billion tax increase. This call for increased revenue follows the TAB intervening on behalf of moderate candidates this election cycle.

State Representative Drew Darby believes there is an appetite for the proposed vehicle registration tax increase. Last session, Darby tried to pass a new fee on all electric bills. The added cost to taxpayers would have been used to subsidize private sector green energy companies.

Darby isn’t looking for more revenue on his own. His leader (House Speaker Joe Straus) mimicking Barack Obama, told a crowd that Texas can’t cut our way to prosperity. When a politician says this he is usually implying that new revenues are needed.

As others have before him, Darby is using a sacred cow program to raise taxes. Education, transportation and water always carry the budget expansion argument despite inefficiency at every level of government. Effective scrutiny on government agency and program efficiency is almost completely absent.

For instance, contrary to the recent drumbeat of educrats, taxpayers in Texas have been increasing spending to public education during the last decade. In fact, increases in spending have drastically outpaced increases in enrollment and inflation.

During the last legislative session budget decisions characterized as cuts were not actually cuts. They were the legislature growing the budget less than teacher and administrative unions were demanding.

Lawmakers will enter the 2013 session faced with the same pressure from the lobby to increase revenue. Voters are pressuring for budget scrutiny and waste cutting.

SA Express News article – Drew Darby entertains tax increase