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Taxation with misrepresentation and unnecessary increase in government spending

Apr 05, 2013 @ 02:35:33

Yesterday the Texas House passed a budget with a $10 billion or 5.3% increase in spending over the current biennium continuing the growth of government.

It also continues the longstanding practice of taxation with misrepresentation - collecting fees, surcharges, and taxes for one purpose and then using these dedicated funds to authorize other spending.

I sought to amend the budget to reduce this egregious practice, but was unsuccessful. Much has been said about reforming this practice, but this budget continues its use without any substantial reform. We are counting on future legislatures to do what we should have done ourselves.

Moreover, we again gave preference to corporate welfare and subsidies to industries such as Hollywood movie production over our schools, emergency services, and other core or constitutionally-mandated functions of government.

Because of this unnecessary and substantial increase in government spending with wrong priorities I voted against the budget.

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Important Votes on Water and Education

Apr 01, 2013 @ 03:12:16

State Representative David Simpson, District 7
I hope that you enjoyed time with your families this past weekend as we celebrated the resurrection of Jesus Christ!

We are now over half-way through the 83rd Legislature, and the activity is increasing substantially.

This past week we took two important votes on education and water policy and I want to let you know how I voted and why.

On Tuesday, the education reform bill (HB 5) relating to to public school accountability was laid out before the House. It passed with a vote of 145 to 2 after 9 hours of debate where we considered 165 amendments. I voted in favor. This bill is a step in the right direction, giving more freedom and flexibility for students, parents, teachers, and administrators. It reduces state-mandated, one-size-fits-all testing requirements and grants more flexibility in curriculum paths to students. From my numerous communications with constituents, it is obvious that this reform bill is a significant improvement over the status quo.

And, on the topic of education, it was good to see my friends from Big Sandy and White Oak ISDs this week at the Capitol! I appreciate your thoughtful input on how education policy affects our children in East Texas. (L to R: Scott Beene, Machelle Robbins, and Michael Gilbert)

Then on Wednesday we debated House Bill 4, which creates a state water infrastructure bank. In my view, this bill unnecessarily increases the size and scope of state government. Capital for long-term water projects is already available at attractive rates from private sources. As evidence, in 2012 bonded indebtedness for water in Texas increased $4.7 billion.

This new government bank will also facilitate substantial and ongoing increases in local and regional indebtedness without having to obtain authority from the voters each time to issue the debt, which is dangerous when our state is already the third most-indebted state in the nation. Texas water districts are currently almost $50 billion in debt, according to the Texas Bond Review Board. For these reasons I voted against the bill.

Recently we also took up the "sunset bill" for the Public Utilities Commission, HB 1660. I voted “nay” on final passage of the bill because new authority was given to the PUC to issue cease and desist orders. It is a violation of due process to delegate such authority to a bureaucracy rather than keeping it in the judicial process, maintaining checks and balances against abuse of unilateral power.

And, among other things, in the County Affairs Committee we've dealt with local hospital districts, zoning and building regulations, and water rate policy.

Beside working in the Legislature, I am grateful for recent opportunities to meet with constituents in the district, including attending the annual Chamber of Commerce banquet in Gladewater, honoring MSgt. Travis Watkins at the Medal of Honor Ceremony at the Gladewater Memorial Cemetery, hosting a townhall in Gilmer, and speaking at the We The People Second Amendment Rally in Longview and the quarterly meeting of the Upshur County Republican Party.

Thank you to the ladies from Upshur Manor who came to visit, too! (On left is Shari Richey and right is Beverly Anderson. Both are part of Texas Health Care Association.)

My staff and I very much appreciate your continued prayers and input. As always, I will seek to represent you and to fight for your liberty here in Austin as the second half of the session progresses.

For Texas and Liberty,
David Simpson

www.DavidSimpson.com
David.Simpson@house.state.tx.us



Thanks to the members of the Tyler and Longview chapters of the Texas Association of Builders who came by to visit!
Capitol Office
E1.416
P.O. Box 2910, Austin, TX 78768-2910
TEL 512.463.0750 • FAX 512.463.9085
District Office
1705 Judson Rd., Suite D2, Longview, TX 75601
TEL 903.553.9226

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The week in review. Plus, upcoming townhall in Gilmer!

Mar 18, 2013 @ 10:30:30

You're invited! Gilmer Town Hall next Saturday from 3:30 to 4:30 at the Upshur REA Building (map)


"How strangely will the Tools of a Tyrant pervert the plain Meaning of Words!"
--Samuel Adams, 1776

Despite the duplicity that inevitably accompanies politics, I have been much encouraged this session with many of the legislators. In Texas, we still have men and women willing to fight for their convictions!

Pictured at right: Kenny and Barbara Corbell came to visit with their granddaughter, Allyah Preston, and we got to go on a tour of the Capitol.

While the floor debates have yet to begin, it is really the calm before what will certainly be a very busy next two months! So, my staff and I have been working to build support on a number of measures, analyzing bills, and meeting with constituents and other lawmakers to prepare for the big debates coming up.

Discussions have included bills regarding health care freedom and choice; the impact of legislation on electrical service in unincorporated areas of counties; a measure to increase freedom for counties in how they organize themselves; the budget; constituent work; and a bill I'm carrying with Rep. Hughes regarding the composition of the Upshur County Juvenile Board.

Here are a few other recent happenings...

On March 12, the Texas House passed HR 773 to honor and congratulate the Kilgore Police Department for achieving a recognized status in the Texas Best Practices Recognition Program. Well done Mayor Spradlin, City Council, Chief Hunter and the whole Kilgore Police Department!

I was glad to file HB 3070 recently that would designate a stretch of Highway 80 as a Texas historic highway for its contribution to our district's growth and economic vitality. Along with Go West Longview, I hope that the designation would encourage reinvestment in that portion of the road and revitalize some areas. See the Longview News-Journal article on the bill for more details.

We also had a committee hearing on HB 79, which would designate a portion of Highway 80 in District 7 as Sgt. Travis E. Watkins Memorial Highway. For his service to our country, Sgt. Watkins was awarded the Bronze Star during WWII and then the Congressional Medal of Honor (posthumously) for "sustained personal bravery and noble self-sacrifice" during the Korean War. A special thanks to Linda Reed, 1st Division Commander of American Legion Post 281, for her help in preparing this bill. Click here to see my bill overview with more details on HB 79.
 
And on Saturday March 18, I was very glad to get to watch as the White Oak boys basketball team successfully defended their state championship again this year! Congratulations on a very successful season! You can watch a short video clip I recorded of the team scoring at one of their games here.
 

Thanks to the Boy Scouts Troop 618 from Longview for coming to visit. I enjoyed speaking with you about our state government and appreciate your dedication to fulfill our civic responsibilities.

For Texas and Liberty,
David Simpson

www.DavidSimpson.com
David.Simpson@house.state.tx.us
Capitol Office
E1.416
P.O. Box 2910, Austin, TX 78768-2910
TEL 512.463.0750 • FAX 512.463.9085
District Office
1705 Judson Rd., Suite D2, Longview, TX 75601
TEL 903.553.9226

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