AFP-Texas’ over 30,000 members are committed to strengthening our constitutional government spending limits and giving taxpayers greater control over how much government we want and are willing to pay for.

Tax dollars are taxpayer dollars. AFP supports programs that promote self-reliance and minimize the role of government in our lives and our livelihoods. To regain control of government, AFP has identified our “Defending the American Dream” Agenda with taxpayer protections as the cornerstone and the rule of law as our guiding principle. A government that has respect for the rule of law behaves in a predictable manner, allowing businesses and families to plan for and take economic risks without fear of undue interference.

Put taxpayers in control of government growth
• Revise the current constitutional amendment to limit growth in state and local government to the increase in population plus inflation. – HB 994, SB 928
• Provide for surplus revenue allocation and returning surpluses to the taxpayer.
• Require voter approval to bust the spending cap and voter ID – SB 362
• Oppose tax increases. – HB 9, SB 855 (could result in tax hike by biggest counties)
• Expose government waste, fraud and abuse and promote transparency measures.

Put taxpayers in control over property tax growth, local government spending
• As state dollars are allocated to school districts to offset property taxes, local spending limits are needed to protect those property tax savings.
• End “property tax creep” which allows local governments to raise additional revenue without raising tax rates, and enact stronger truth in taxation measures – HB 2
• Provide automatic tax rate roll-back elections at 4% as another way to put taxpayers in control over government growth. – SB 700, HB 1575

Prevent tax dollars from being used to lobby for more taxpayer dollars - HB 2268
• Eliminate lobbying and advocacy financed with taxpayer dollars. (Use of taxpayers' dollars to lobby is a betrayal of the taxpayers' trust.)
• Prohibit tax dollars being used to sue the state for more tax dollars.

Promote “more education for our dollars” initiatives
• Give parents a choice and children a chance. Fund students and their education, not institutions. Provide parents the opportunity to choose the educational environment where their children have the greatest opportunity to learn.
• Direct state dollars to the classroom and find ways to enhance both fiscal management performance ratings and student outcomes.
Support consumer choice initiatives
• Support cost-effective, economically viable energy policies

Protect property rights
• Support property rights as a cornerstone of a free market.
• Oppose state-wide smoking ban as anti-freedom, anti-property rights - HB5, SB544 OPPOSE

Featured Links

Midwest Clarity: http://maddente.blogspot.com/
Center for Freedom and Prosperity's Market Center Blog: http://www.freedomandprosperity.org/blog/blog.shtml
The Corner: http://corner.nationalreview.com/
Real Clear Politics Blog: http://www.time-blog.com/real_clear_politics/
Tax Foundation: Tax Foundation: http://www.taxfoundation.org/blog/
Wizbang: http://www.wizbangblog.com/