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Weatherford Democrat

State Representative Phil King

The global warming debate continues. The Copenhagen Global Warming Summit is being held this week in Denmark and while world-renowned scientists still disagree on the effects, liberal extremists in Washington are working harder than ever to advance their own political agendas in its name.

Capitol Hill Democrats are now touting the federal “Cap and Tax” legislation as the newest solution to global warming. When you boil it down, “cap and tax” simply amounts to a federal energy tax. Since Texas produces and consumes more energy than any other state, our economy will be hit the hardest. As Texans, we need to remain vigilant to ensure that this legislation does not pass.

A June 26, 2009 opinion editorial in the Wall Street Journal titled, “The Cap and Tax Fiction,” explains: “As the cap is tightened (in future years) … the price of permits will skyrocket … and the costs of buying these expensive permits will be passed to consumers … The whole point of “cap and tax” is to hike the price of electricity and gas so that Americans will use less. These higher prices will show up not just in electricity bills or at the gas station, but in every manufactured good, from food to cars. Consumers will cut back on spending, which in turn will cut back on production, which results in fewer jobs created or higher unemployment. Some companies will instead move their operations overseas, with the same result.”

Weatherford Democrat

Staff and Wire Reports

Against the backdrop of the recent White House Jobs Summit, State Representative Phil King (R-Weatherford) called for a smarter, limited government approach to job creation that he says is a proven alternative to federal stimulus spending and intervention in the private sector economy.

In a late-week release, King said although Texas remains better off economically than the rest of the nation, the most recent unemployment figures illustrate the imperative for a targeted and responsible state-level plan to grow the economy and create jobs.

“We know that the federal stimulus package has failed,” King said. “The national unemployment rate now stands above 10 percent and each job purportedly ‘saved or created’ has cost taxpayers $250,000. If President Obama wants ideas on how to get the economy back on a sound footing, he should look to Texas.”

Contact Information:
(817)596-8100

Against the backdrop of the White House Jobs Summit being held today, State Representative Phil King (R-Weatherford) called for a smarter, limited government approach to job creation that is a proven alternative to federal “stimulus” spending and intervention in the private sector economy.

Although Texas remains better off economically than the rest of the nation, the most recent unemployment figures illustrate the imperative for a targeted and responsible state-level plan to grow the economy and create jobs.

King stated, “We know that the federal stimulus package has failed. The national unemployment rate now stands above 10 percent and each job purportedly ‘saved or created’ has cost taxpayers $250,000. If President Obama wants ideas on how to get the economy back on a sound footing, he should look to Texas.”

Texas’ unemployment rate of 8.3 percent is too high, but remains lower than the national rate of 10.2 percent and the 12.5 percent rate in California. Texas remains relatively strong in large part because taxes are comparatively low, lawsuit reform has been a success, insurance reforms have worked and sensible state spending has allowed the state to put a sizeable deposit in the Rainy Day Fund.

King pledged, “Over the next year, I will continue to build support for policies that are proven to work: cutting taxes and letting the free market work. The Obama way is the wrong way.”

“So far, Texas has weathered the current economic crisis relatively well thanks to sound tax policies and targeted job growth programs put in place over the last six years,” noted King. He continued, “We must engage in a vigorous debate about state fiscal and economic policy. Washington must hear that there is a better way to create jobs: the Texas way.”

King concluded, “We know tax cuts and workforce development programs work. My job is to make sure that before the next session begins we develop a plan to help Texas remain the economic leader nationally.”

Contact Information:
(817)596-8100

Representative Phil King (R-Weatherford) announced today that Texas Transportation Commission has approved two new highway projects significantly impacting Parker County. King stated, “Our support of Proposition 12 in the 2007 Bond Referendum has resulted in two projects that will immediately benefit the residents of my district.”

The Texas Transportation Commission recently approved roughly $2 billion in highway projects throughout the state, aimed at increasing safety, rehabilitating pavement, expanding highway corridors of statewide significance and reducing traffic congestion in cities across the state.

“Fortunately, the commission has allotted over $40 million dollars of the Proposition 12 bond funds to make improvements for Parker County’s roadways,” King said, “The two projects encompass major sections of the I-20 corridor both east and west of Weatherford.”

To select projects, Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) staff utilized a collaborative approach. TxDOT districts and Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) were asked to develop a list of all needed projects that fit the bond program’s requirements and criteria to evaluate them.

“We work with our partners around the state to establish a prioritization process that would help meet transportation needs statewide as agreed upon by this group of experts,” said Deidre Delisi, Texas Transportation Commission chair.

More information, including a complete list of projects selected from Proposition 12 funding, can be found on TxDOT’s website, www.txdot.gov.

Contact Information:
(817)596-8100

Against the backdrop of a bleak fiscal picture in California, the Texas Conservative Coalition Research Institute (TCCRI) announced nine issue-specific Task Forces to examine the unfolding disaster in California and to build on the success of state polices in Texas. State Representative Phil King (R-Weatherford) has been named as the Co-Chair of the School Finance Task Force.

King, who also sits on the board of the Texas Conservative Coalition, the Conservative Caucus of the Texas House of Representatives, explained, “The School Finance Task Force will focus on the current school finance structure in Texas and how to improve the current system. We will specifically be looking at the property tax system which is the main source of funding for our public schools and how to make the system better.”

“The property tax system has led to three decades of school finance litigation in which the Supreme Court has repeatedly declared the system unconstitutional and has urged the legislature to ‘choose a new path’ of revenue for public schools,” King stated, “Our current property tax system cannot properly fund public schools, and it is overly burdensome on property owners – 17 percent of an average home mortgage is paid to property tax. Our task force is committed to coming up with a feasible and workable solution to this huge issue that faces Texas.”

Task Forces are the backbone of the Institute’s research and education efforts. Based on the conservative principles that underpin TCCRI, the Task Forces will develop legislative leaders and sound public policy ideas to assist the Legislature in keeping Texas an example of success for the rest of the nation to follow. The 2009-2010 TCCRI Task Forces include: State Budget, Property Tax & School Finance, Economic & Workforce Development, and Insurance. Each Task Force will be co-chaired by Senators and Representatives who have the insight and leadership skills in their respective areas of expertise to keep Texas on the right path.

State Representative Phil King

I wanted to bring something important to your attention that may potentially save your family thousands of dollars for your children’s education.

Nine years ago my father bought each of his grandchildren a Texas Tomorrow Fund grant. Since it’s beginning in 1995 as the Texas Tomorrow Fund, the Texas Guaranteed Tuition Plan has been an important educational resource for many Texans, including my family. On August 24, 2009, I received a letter, as did the thousands of other families regarding the Texas Prepaid Higher Education Tuition Board’s decision to change the refund rule for unused tuition hours when a contract with the fund is canceled or a refund is requested.

The board’s decision has triggered two possible options for all plan purchasers in Texas:

1) Keep the contract in the Texas Tomorrow Fund, and plan benefits may be used 10 years after high school, and unused credit hours to apply to a graduate or professional degree if used within the 10-year period.

2) Determine the value of your current contract and decide whether or not to cancel it before the cancellation deadline under the current refund rule. This ultimately means that if you cancel your contract before the November 30, 2009 deadline, you will be able to withdraw the funds with the interest accrued. There are federal income tax implications for the refund payments with earnings and a tax advisor should be consulted. There is also the possibility to roll the funds over into a private 529 account.

The Texas Tomorrow Fund is still constitutionally guaranteed and payment of the tuition and required fees is not subject to change under any decision. A constitutional amendment was passed in 1997 to ensure the fund is fully funded and protected.

Let me encourage you to take the time to run the numbers if you have invested in the Texas Tomorrow Fund. Every situation is different, and it is key as to whether your students will end up attending a state or private university.

Specific questions about your individual situation can be addressed by visiting the Texas Guaranteed Tuition Plan Web site at www.tgtp.org or by calling their support line at (800) 445-4723.

State Representatives Phil King, Dan Flynn, Aaron Pena and Ryan Guillen

The purpose of Proposition 7 is simply to conform the Texas Constitution to the current structure of the Texas Military Forces: the Texas Army National Guard, the Texas Air National Guard and the Texas State Guard.

The Texas State Guard is a volunteer force of about 1,800 guardsmen from all across the State of Texas and is a “first responder” to natural disasters and other emergencies. Over the past two years members of the Texas State Guard have volunteered over 42,000 working days supporting local and state authorities responding to hurricanes, fires, floods and other state declared emergencies.

Article 16, Section 40 of the Texas Constitution was originally written to prohibit civil servants (elected officials and government employees) from holding two different positions with the government at the same time. However, the Constitution also provides several exceptions to this rule – most notably for military service. For instance, if a school teacher, city councilman or police officer serves in the Texas National Guard or the Naval Reserves, there are exceptions for that military service.

The role of the Texas State Guard, first organized during WWII, has grown dramatically over the last eight years and it has become vital to emergency response in Texas. Guardsmen, among other functions, provide shelter management, medical support, assist in evacuations, communications and damage assessment. Most recently, an engineering detachment was organized to assist small communities in reestablishing critical services, such as water and wastewater, after natural disasters such as a hurricane or flood. Recruitment efforts are underway to reflect the fast growing missions of the Texas State Guard.

Many of our guardsmen have jobs with various local, state and even federal government entities. They are teachers, judges, police officers, firefighters who are committed to the State Guard’s motto of Texans Serving Texans. Proposition 7 is simply clean up language to clarify that all Texans are eligible to serve regardless of their employment.

Please join us in supporting the Texas State Guard in its vital service to our state by voting YES on Proposition 7.

Learn more about the Texas State Guard at www.txsg.state.tx.us Rep. Phil King (R-Weatherford) represents House District 61, Rep. Dan Flynn (R-Van) represents House District 2, Rep. Aaron Pena (D-Edinburg) represents House District 40, and Rep. Ryan Guillen (D-Rio Grande City) represents District 31 in the Texas House of Representatives. All are officers in the Texas State Guard.

KVUE News Austin

Quita Culpepper

The Texas State Guard is there to deal with hurricanes, floods and other natural disasters. The all-volunteer force helps fire and rescue crews in the field and take care of natural disaster victims. KVUE’s Quita Culpepper reports.

Click here to watch the news clip.

Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Jack Z. Smith

Retail electric providers in Texas’ deregulated market are offering residential rates that in many instances are lower than those of some municipal power companies, electric cooperatives and investor-owned utilities that are still under rate regulation, a Star-Telegram survey shows.

A decade after the Texas Legislature passed a law authorizing deregulation, retail electric providers compete intensely to win new customers. They have sharply lowered rates in response to a plunge in prices for natural gas, which is burned to generate much of the electricity produced in Texas.

Deregulation critics have frequently noted in the past that residential electric rates in the deregulated market were considerably higher than those charged by municipal power companies, called “munis,” rural and suburban electric cooperatives and investor-owned utilities, or IOUs, in areas such as the Texas Panhandle and East Texas that are outside the deregulated market. But that price gap appears to be narrowing, the Star-Telegram analysis shows.

San Antonio Express-News

Arlene Wohlgemuth

As Congress continues its health care debate, the American public is focused squarely on the implications that current federal proposals will have on our nation’s economy, health-care system and fiscal future.

“The Prognosis for National Health Insurance: A Texas Perspective,” the recent report by internationally renowned economist Arthur Laffer for the Texas Public Policy Foundation, concluded that a reform based on President Barack Obama’s principles — including an estimated $1 trillion increase in federal government health subsidies over 10 years — will accelerate health-care inflation; slow our economy, cost every Texas resident an additional $4,265, and still leave about 30 million Americans uninsured.

But Laffer’s report also addresses a critical angle that has been largely missing from the debate so far: what effect these proposals would have on the various states. As his research found, a larger government role in health care would impose a huge budget burden on Texas.