Rep. Phil King, R-Weatherford, has filed a bill offering up to $300 million in tax credits to companies interested in building so-called clean coal plants in Texas. The plants, the first of their kind in the nation, would be designed to sequester at least 60 percent of the carbon dioxide they produce. Under those guidelines, the plants would meet the emission standards of California and Washington, according to supporters.

Why can't government fix the economy? Well, to be honest, much of our economic woe is the fault of government. Ronald Reagan was right when he said that "government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem." And after all, who does it make more sense to trust - the power of the individual, the strength of the family, the free enterprise system? Or should we put our trust in politicians, bureaucrats and government agencies to meet our needs and manage our lives?

According to the District 61 representative, he will file legislation to pass a constitutional amendment to require any state budget surplus to be used to buy down property taxes. Additionally he plans to propose reform to the current appraisal system.

It is time to abolish the property tax and replace it with a fairer, simpler, broad-based consumption tax that will give homeowners the promise of one day owning their home free and clear of banks and the government.