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Hearing on freedom issues
August 26, 2008
“Man is not free unless government is limited.
As government expands, liberty contracts” and
“Freedom is a fragile thing and is never more than one generation away from extinction.” are two of Ronald Reagan's quotes which are relevant to today's hearing.
The Senate Health and Human Services Committee held a hearing and one issue on the agenda was a smoking ban. We at AFP believe in consumer choice and in individual rights and personal responsibility. We believe that government-instituted smoking bans are anti-freedom.
Consumer choice should prevail, and individuals must be allowed choose whether to frequently only smoke-free business establishments or businesses which allow smoking. If enough individuals choose smoke-free establishments, those businesses will proliferate and prosper.
Individuals, not government, should dictate the marketplace.
For instance, we could decide here today that we’d like every Texan to eat the recommended daily serving of fruits and vegetables, but most of us would agree it isn’t the government’s responsibility to police that.
To protect freedom we must provide consumer choice.
Smoking bans are an affront to personal responsibility and freedom and if we deny consumer choice, we start down a very slippery slope denies individuals a right to choose and which limits freedom.
We must resist the impulse to interfere in the marketplace and deny citizens the right to exercise freedom in use of a legal product.
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Choice in Education Improves Public Education
August 20, 2008
It's been studied and now the Friedman Foundation folks have more information worth a read -- providing parents whith a choice (and students with a chance to succeed) helps all schools.
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Venable Testifies on Revenue Caps for Local Governments in Texas
August 20, 2008
The Senate Finance Commissee's subcommittee on revenue and appraisal caps met in Austin to hear invited and public testimony. Peggy Venable and two AFP taxpayer representated testified. Local government spending is growing four times faster than Texans' paychecks and local government debt is growing five times faster. Local government debt interest payments annually equal what all local governments spend on police and fire protection combined. Taxpayer protections are long overdue!
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Austin- Tired of the Vicious Cycle of Property Appraisal and Tax Increases?
August 19, 2008
The Senate Finance Committee, subcommittee on Property Appraisal and Revenue Caps, is slated to meet Wednesday, Aug 20 at 9 am in Austin at the Capitol, E1.028. Peggy Venable will be there to testify for spending caps. Public testimony is welcomed and encouraged!
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Tired of Renting Your Home from the Government? Attend the Property Tax Relief Hearing in Houston on Tuesday.
August 14, 2008
The House Select Committee on Property Tax Relief and Appraisal Reform chaired by Representative John Otto will meet on Tuesday August l9, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. at the North Harris College Performing Arts Theatre located at 2700 W Thorne (north of the Bush Continental Airport) in Houston.
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Funding Other Post Employment Benefits (OPEB)
August 12, 2008
This is a difficult time for taxpayers considering the great instability in the markets. State and local tax burdens are at an all time high--governments are capturing a larger share of personal income than at any other time in the nation's history. This is due to unconstrained growth in state and local spending. Taxpayers are asking the obvious: if we must tighten our belts, why can't state and local governments learn to live with a leaner budget?
Texas should consider takind a business approach to state and local government health care benefits. First, address the problem of unfunded liabilities which simply shift the burden of payment to future generations. Second, stop the bleeding--reduce the cost to government of pension and health care plans. Introduce a cap on costs via a defined contribution plan. This can end the accumulation of unfunded liability, with obvious benefits to taxpayers who must ultimately foot the bill.
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Congress is On Recess and Home - and Needs to Hear from You
August 8, 2008
Congress is in summer recess, so you liberty is safe for a few weeks - but it's your opportunity to let them know that you don't want tax increases. Any climate change legislation would result in huge tax increaes, lost jobs and higher prices at the gas pump. You can make sure that doesn't happen.
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Lamar County to Host “Prosperity in Texas” Event, August 5
August 5, 2008
AUSTIN – On Tuesday evening, Americans for Prosperity Foundation (AFPF) will show interested citizens of Lamar County how they as taxpayers can gain control of government spending. The public is invited to attend this free event. Peggy Venable, Director of AFPF- Texas, will present crucial pocketbook issues that impact all taxpayers.
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Where's My Property Tax Cut?
July 31, 2008
Most taxpayers didn't get meaningful property tax cuts, though the legislature promised a 30% school property tax cut? Why, and what can you do about it?
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Congressman John Carter Signs No Climate Tax Pledge
July 28, 2008
The Texas chapter of the free-market grassroots group Americans for Prosperity (AFP-TX) today applauded U.S. House of Representatives John Carter (TX-31st) for signing the group’s “No Climate Tax Pledge.” By doing so, Carter pledges to “oppose legislation relating to climate change that includes a net increase in federal revenue.”
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