The Texas Public Policy Foundation enjoys a good debate, believing that, in our representative democracy, the more information citizens have, the better informed their decisions will be. During campaign season, clear information, unencumbered by half-truths and distortion, is often at a premium. As a liberty-minded, free enterprise think tank, we create and communicate ideas designed to boost our state’s competiveness. But, with the practical experience of three former legislators on our staff, we understand that good ideas and campaign season sometimes conflict.
On May 3rd, 2012, we were honored to provide testimony to the Texas House Ways and Means Committee on reforming Texas’ tax system and reducing the tax burden on Texans. We provided ideas on how Texans might go about the task of reducing their property taxes, currently the 14th-highest in the nation. In all, we presented ten ideas to simplify taxes, reduce the tax burden, and strengthen protections against tax increases at both the state and local government level.
Only during campaign season can a call for tax reform and tax cuts be construed by some creative campaigns as a call for tax increases. We urge all Texans wishing to serve the public in elected office to stick to the facts, avoid using partial truth as a tool to mislead the voters, and eschew guilt by tenuous association.
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