I heard Sen. Dan Patrick discussing this on his radio show yesterday and now his consultant, Allen Blakemore, has sent over an error free press release!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Contact: Allen Blakemore
Tuesday, August 13, 2013 713-526-3399
Senator Dan Patrick Files AG Opinion Request Against Proposed Tax Increase
HOUSTON – Yesterday, Senator Dan Patrick filed an Attorney General opinion request. The requests seeks to determine whether or not Harris County Judge Ed Emmett has an obligation to accept the petition of Harris County School Readiness Corporation to place an increase in property taxes on the ballot.
“Squeezing $30 million out of Harris County tax-payers and giving it to an unelected nonprofit under a statutory framework that is no longer on the books is bad public policy,” said Dan Patrick. “I am hoping the legal concerns raised by my request for an opinion from the Attorney General give Judge Emmett enough pause to deny putting this issue on the ballot.”
Senator Patrick has asked the Attorney General for an expedited response as Attorney General opinion requests can take as long as six months.
Good to see Sen. Patrick onboard. This farce of a “petition” drive was handled by Texans Together, the same folks that turned in thousands of questionable voter registration cards in 2010.
And for the board members of the Harris County Department of Education, Sen. Patrick gave a preview on his radio show yesterday of what you can expect when Paul Bettencourt takes his place. A full court press to eliminate the department altogether. Can’t say I didn’t warn you: you have to be careful who you get in bed with.
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O.K. here is my question. I would never vote or support a tax increase. That being said I am very sensitive to citizen petition drives. I am only familar with the law concerning home rule municipalities. My question is does the county have to accept it? Whether they have to or not I can already tell you they will not accept the petition. Deny it and make them sue. That strategy is straight out of the Parker play book on the feeding ordinance. (which by the way was a criminalization of one of the tennants of the Christian faith, but who cares?) I am not for a tax increase and I would not vote for it however I sure wish we would have had everybody upset over the the bonds the City, School District, and all those guys put on the ballot. They will all eventually require a tax increase and we didn't hear anybody getting upset about that. Maybe its o.k. to have a tax increase if the government gets to spend it. I don't know but I am pretty angry at politicians right now. I feel a little betrayed. Oh and Big Jolly, reading your blogs just keeps me pissed off. LOL
My budget is tight, but I actually support a tax increase if it means helping to build a stronger, more educated, future generation.
@ Kristina, you mean in the same way the Rain Tax is being spent on infrastructure and flood control issues?
I wish Dan would fight against the bonds, taxing districts, and every other device used to pick our pockets. I guess its just those things that are on the ballot with him that are used to drive Democrats to the polls.