Press Release

For Immediate Release – February 14, 2007
Contact: Peggy Venable at 512/423-2947 or
             Michele Connole at 512/914-2363 or 512/476-5905

Citizen Group Tour Highlights Taxpayer Trust Issues
AFP Releases Paper on Local Government Spending and Debt

Houston, TX – Houston leaders were taken to the woodshed on Valentine’s Day as Americans for Prosperity joined local citizens in highlighting a betrayal of taxpayer trust by city leaders who failed to enact the Taxpayer Bill of Rights passed by Houston voters in 2004.

“Houston is the poster child for local government betrayal of taxpayers’ trust.  A Houston Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR) was approved in November 2004.  But Houston Mayor Bill White and city leaders have refused to enact the taxpayer protections.  That is a betrayal of a quarter million Houston voters’ trust,” said Peggy Venable, AFP-Texas director. 

AFP is traveling the state on a Texas Taxpayer Trust Tour highlighting the need for taxpayer protections. Houston is the third stop on the tour, followed by Texas City on Thursday, Feb.15. 

Bruce Hotze, Houston civic leader and taxpayer advocate, said, “Mayor White never has published Prop 2;  Mayor White has never complied with Prop 2; Mayor White and the City of Houston have lost in District Court fighting Prop 2 but he still is in court, fighting the will of the people.  The voters of Houston can not have rejected a City Charter that the Mayor did not enact or enforce.”

“Houston leaders betray the voters when they ignore the will of the people at the election box over 2 years ago.  Ignoring the outcome of an election is what despots do in third world countries,” said Hotze.

Bob Lemer, architect of the Houston TABOR, said: During the 1980s and 1990s, the cost of operating the City of Houston grew at about twice the combined rate of growth in population and inflation and the City's debt at about four times.”  He said the City is planning more fee increases and taxpayers need to regain control of City government. 

AFP-Texas released a paper this week revealing the rapid growth of local government spending and debt.  Research revealed if Texas local governments had adhered to a spending growth equal to no more than inflation plus population since 1980, they would have spent roughly $58 billion less in 2004 alone. At this rate, a family of four would currently have over $10,000 each year to keep in their pockets. (click here to read AFP’s  paper titled  Local Government Spending and Debt in Texas)

While spending is increasing faster than the increase in population and inflation, local government debt is growing more rapidly.  In 2004, interest payments on local debt totaled more than what local governments spent on police protection and fire protection combined. 

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Americans for Prosperity (AFP) is a nationwide organization of citizen leaders committed to advancing every individual’s right to economic freedom and opportunity. AFP believes reducing the size and scope of government is the best safeguard to ensuring individual productivity and prosperity for all Americans. AFP educates and engages citizens in support of restraining state and federal government growth, and returning government to its constitutional limits. For more information, visit www.americansforprosperity.org