» News
Gov. Perry proposes returning excess taxes
ABC 13
AUSTIN, TX – Gov. Rick Perry on Tuesday credited spending restraint for igniting the Texas economy but also proposed digging into the state’s cash reserves to pay for $3.7 billion in water and road improvements while returning any excess revenue directly to taxpayers.
Perry used his State of the State address to argue that Texas’ economic outlook is bright enough that it can afford to cut taxes while spending a major chunk of the $12 billion in the so-called “Rainy Day Fund.” Doing so answers calls from the business community to improve the state’s infrastructure but signals a dramatic departure for Perry, who spent years building tea party support by imploring the Legislature not to touch the fund.
“Our bank balance is healthy, our economy is growing, our future is limitless,” Perry told a joint session of the Legislature.
The longest-serving governor in state history, Perry also ignored calls from Democrats to use the fund to restore $5.4 billion in cuts to public education passed in 2011 amid a $27 billion budget shortfall sparked by a then-sluggish economy.
With unemployment down, state sales tax receipts up and the economy humming, Perry urged lawmakers to cut taxes, saying “providing at least $1.8 billion” over the next two years “is a good place to start.”
He also wants to amend the Texas Constitution to allow the state to return tax money it collects but doesn’t spend.
“Today, I’m calling for a mechanism to be put in place so when we do bring in more than we need, we’ll have the option of returning tax money directly to the people who paid it,” Perry said. “Currently, that’s not something our constitution allows. We need to fix that.”
Poonces
January 29th, 2013
Hey Rick, just lower my property taxes.
And yeah, you’d probably better start thinking alot about water.
? everything
January 29th, 2013
colorado has TABOR, tax payer bill of rights. the politicos are always trying to bust it by circumveningt it by asking voters to keep excess funds for pet projects usually in the name of the kiddies or cops, BUT since Colorado has not any excess nobody has seen any refunds since I think 97. as well, Colorado has gone from Red to blue, thank you californication…..
Johnny Freedom
January 29th, 2013
This is great and all, but a ton of state employees haven’t seen a COLA increase in 5 years. I’m no fan of big government waste, but I am a fan of paying people properly to do a good job and a lot of people are even getting pay cuts right now.
Bizarro
January 29th, 2013
A government official that wants to give money back to the taxpayer.
Obamas’ head would xplode.
? everything
January 29th, 2013
too bad Perry wasn’t Presidential enuff eh?
Bad Brad
January 29th, 2013
I think I’m going to Wyoming. They don’t need to refund you anything because the tax rate is so low to begin with. Plus, they like guns.
Dagney
January 29th, 2013
Someone told me that the State of Wyoming said they will arrest any Federal agent trying to enforce unconstitutional gun laws.
I dunno if it’s true.
KF
January 29th, 2013
Dagney the law reads as follows:
Wyoming’s Firearms Protection Act, is “an act relating to firearms; providing that any federal law which attempts to ban a semi-automatic firearm or to limit the size of a magazine of a firearm or other limitation on in this state shall be unenforceable in Wyoming; providing a penalty; and providing for an effective date.” This act nullifies all federal laws made after Jan. 1, 2013.
http://blog.tenthamendmentcenter.com/2013/01/wyoming-to-preserve-the-second-amendment/
Dagney
January 29th, 2013
Wow.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=hY2JR92Scmk
Double wow.
Alxandro
January 29th, 2013
Refresh my memory.
Didn’t he also inherit a Bush economy?
Yeah!
Bad Brad
January 29th, 2013
Dagney, Lot of like minded people and easily defensible space. When your home in Canada you can come down and eat some Elk.
Boobie the Rocket Dog
January 30th, 2013
I say again:
PERRY 2016
bitterclinger
January 30th, 2013
I dunno, Boobie. I have a feeling I’m still going to have a “heart of stone” where welcoming illegals is concerned. That’s where I parted ways with him.
FreeMan & Sarah Intend to Defend
January 30th, 2013
loading up and moving to Texas at once