Author Archive

State Representative Phil King

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?

Here’s an example: I hear often from sincere, caring people that government should create a universal health care system because health insurance is so terribly expensive. Well, they are right. Health insurance is way too expensive and we do want everyone to have access to affordable health care. But think where their reasoning takes us. Every Texan needs a good salary and house, too, and a car and child care and elder care and on and on and…. Yes, government can raise your taxes (a whole lot) and provide these staples but remember, that’s exactly what socialism is all about. Do we really want to emulate that economic model? It has been a miserable failure in every single instance.

Using government to collect taxes and then redistribute wealth has always promised, but never produced, prosperity. Instead, forced redistribution (which actually punishes success and rewards failure) has always accomplished just the opposite! It pulls the economy and personal wealth down for all. Do we really think socialism will work if we try it just one more time? Believing that reminds me of the clichéd definition of insanity – doing the same thing time and time again, yet expecting a different result.

Now, I’ll agree that the free market (capitalism) is far from perfect, but history has shown time and time again that it’s the best economic system man has found. The free market has its inequities and sometimes they are harsh but that’s where philanthropy and charity and most of all strong families can so wonderfully intervene. People will intervene, given the chance, although it is hard right now with government taking away so much of their money – about 40% for the average family.

Texas can never be a land of guarantees, only a land of opportunities. Government cannot ensure outcomes. Not everyone will succeed but many more will in a land of limited government where citizens are free to earn and accumulate wealth. There the invisible hand of a free market will keep the staples of life available and affordable. Big government isn’t the path to prosperity. Freedom and enterprise, that’s where you’ll find real hope and a lasting opportunity to succeed.

Weatherford Democrat

Phil Riddle

State Representative Phil King has a full slate of issues to carry to Austin when the 81st regular session of the Texas Legislature meets in January.

King’s list of planned legislation is geared heavily toward property tax relief.

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.

Wise County Messenger

State Representative Phil King

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.

While Congress and the president injected Wall Street investment banks with $700 billion in guarantees to cover bad financial practices, homeowners continue to suffer under the crushing weight of a long-simmering property tax crisis that threatens home ownership more directly because all are subject to the onerous and growing tax.

Contact Information:
(817)596-8100

The following letter was sent to the Upper Trinity Groundwater Conservation District by Representative Phil King on October 20, 2008:

Mr. Mike Massey
Chair
Upper Trinity Groundwater Conservation District

Mr. Massey –

It has come to my attention that the proposed 2009 budget for the Upper Trinity Groundwater Conservation District (UTGCD) has a line item of $200,000 for legal services. As you know from my previous letter to the board, I am very concerned with the size of the proposed budget and the manner in which the proposed funding would be generated.

I’m writing this letter to ask the board to substantially decrease the size of the line item for legal services. For a budget of less than $950,000, a $200,000 legal services line item seems gratuitous. That’s more than one fifth of the entire annual budget.

As I expressed in my previous letter, if the board does not take action on substantially reducing the size of its budget and the fees it is proposing, I will be left no choice but to pursue legislative action. I appreciate your serious consideration of this matter and look forward to a prompt response.

Sincerely,

Phil King

Contact Information:
(817)596-8100

Austin – State Representative Phil King (R-Weatherford) was recently recognized as a “Legacy Supporter” Champion of Wind issues by the Texas Wind Coalition for his integral role in establishing Texas as the nation’s leader in wind energy production.

“Wind energy is becoming a major player, not just in the renewable market, but in competition with all energy sources,” said Wind Coalition executive director Paul Sadler. “Our growth wouldn’t be possible without the support of Representative King, who understands that wind energy is a key ingredient in growing our economy and reaching the state’s renewable energy goals.”

“It has been exciting to watch the wind industry in Texas take off and become the nation’s leading market,” King stated. “I’m committed to working hard to ensure that other alternative energy resources enjoy the same success as the wind industry. The solution to lower cost electricity does not lie within one resource alone, but lies in true fuel diversification for Texas.”

King sponsored Senate Bill 20 in 2005, which enabled the wind industry to flourish by putting in place the Competitive Renewable Energy Zones and will be responsible for nearly $5 billion in infrastructure investment in Texas over the next few years.

Contact Information:
(817)596-8100

Weatherford – State Representative Phil King today expressed his concerns over the recent decisions made by the Upper Trinity Groundwater Conservation District.

“I have been contacted by many constituents concerned over the direction taken recently by the Upper Trinity Groundwater Conservation District,” said Rep. King. “I share those concerns particularly with regard to the financial impact the district will have on home owners. The district was never intended to regulate or assess fees upon residential well owners or municipalities.”

A budget for the district has been set by the board at $946,650, including a fee of .22 cents per 1000 gallons of water for residential homeowners. Additionally, the board has decided to place a “registration fee” on all new residential wells.

“I strongly encourage residents to contact the conservation district in order to express their concerns,” said Rep. King. “Furthermore, cities should continue their efforts to protest the district’s decisions by submitting official resolutions passed by their respective city councils to the board as soon as possible.”

“It is my sincere hope that the Upper Trinity Groundwater Conservation District will take a new direction without the need for any legislative action. However, if necessary, I am prepared to pursue a legislative remedy when the legislature reconvenes this January.”

Contact Information:
(817)596-8100

Dear Friend –

Over the past few weeks it has taken me a little longer to respond to your calls, letters and emails and I wanted to let you know why. As you may know, I am a member of the Texas State Guard. The Guard is tasked, among other responsibilities, with disaster relief efforts during times of emergency in Texas.

Unfortunately, we have had three hurricanes make landfall on or near the Texas coast since late July. First was Dolly, which hit around South Padre Island. Gustav was next making landfall just east of Texas. And last week we had Ike which devastated much of southeast Texas. The State Guard activated me for each of these hurricanes to assist with relief efforts. I’m very pleased to inform you that the Texas State Guard and all of the other volunteer and relief organizations are doing an outstanding job in handling these efforts.

In my absence, my staff has done a great job keeping up but there are some communications from constituents that I want to handle myself. I ’ve been doing my best to get back to you on these. Thank you for your understanding and patience during my absence.

Sincerely,

State Representative Phil King

PS: I spent Wednesday afternoon in a fly over with the Chairman of the Public Utility Commission assessing the power outages from Galveston to Beaumont. The devastation is incredible. Some communities are completely gone. Sadly, many of the people who lost homes are the least able to recover from such a loss. Please keep them and all the victims in your prayers.

State Representative Frank Corte

Democrat Jim Dunnam, who supported a competitive electricity market in Texas along with a majority of Democrats, is dead wrong with his historical facts and his view of the current market in his op-ed piece Friday, August 1 (“Utility Customers Pay for Wild West Ride”).

He intentionally misleads the reader by referencing a factually incorrect Wall Street Journal article about electric rates in Texas. Mr. Dunnam then uses the story to falsely conclude that Texas has some of the highest prices in the nation. In reality, the WSJ article was referring to a very small segment of the wholesale market; not the broader wholesale market where the majority of electricity is sold at a significantly lower price.

In fact, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA) in December 2001 (about the time the electric market was opening in Texas) the state ranked 14th in terms of highest rates in the country. The most recent available data from the EIA found that the Texas ranking remains unchanged, and our rates are lower than other industrial states such as California, New York, Massachusetts, and New Jersey.

In addition, among states that depend heavily on natural gas, such as Texas, the Republican leadership has helped our state have the 5th-lowest residential electric price, according to the EIA despite the fact that natural gas prices have quadrupled over the last few years because of the higher-than-average use of natural gas in our state.

Mr. Dunnam also incorrectly claims that Texas uses more coal than any other state to produce electricity. Again, the reality is Texas uses less coal than most other states.

As strong stewards of our environment, the Republican leadership has taken environmental protection steps by reducing emissions every year since 1999. One of the one of the most important bills of the 2007 session was HB 3693, authored by Rep. Straus (R-San Antonio) and it passed almost by unanimous vote.

That bill raised energy efficiency goals for electric utilities from 10% of annual demand growth to 15% in 2008 and 20% in 2009.

When it comes to renewable energy, Texas is #1 in wind power production, with expectations that wind can provide 20 percent of all electricity capacity in coming years. Wind power has been a nonpartisan issue in both chambers of the legislature because of its effect on the environment; the effect being that wind does not pollute the air.

Last session, Chairman Phil King (Regulated Industries Committee) had legislation from his committee that set the stage for the Texas Public Utility Commission to approve a plan to build hundreds of miles of transmission lines from West Texas to the urban areas of Texas to speed wind power across the state.

The competitive market is not the only market being stung by high prices. There are dozens of other examples where non-competitive markets have historically high prices. San Antonio’s municipal electric system raised prices by more than 30 percent this summer. The City of Weatherford has seen city system prices double.

The bottom line in today’s global market-driven process is that thoughtful observers acknowledge that prices are part of a broader trend of rising energy prices everywhere, and not a failure of competition.

I welcome Mr. Dunnam’s suggestions for enhancing the competitive market in the next session. Getting affordable and reliable electricity to Texans in a manner that supports economic growth and job production is a bipartisan issue; not one that leaves divides between political parties.

Frank Corte, Jr.
Chairman, Texas House Republican Caucus

Contact Information:
(817)596-8100

Austin – State Representative Phil King (R-Weatherford) made the following statement today to residents of District 61 due to concerns over recent property tax appraisal increases:

“Many of my constituents have recently contacted me about large increases in their local property tax appraisals. This is deeply disturbing, as the Texas Legislature voted in 2006 to reduce school property taxes by a full one-third. Additionally, we went further by requiring voter approval before certain property taxes could be raised.

I have heard from several local business people, including one gentleman that reported a 300% increase in a 10-acre tract of undeveloped land. This is the exact opposite of what the legislature intended to happen when we ordered property tax reductions.

If you have received notice from your local appraisal district of a large increase in the appraised value of your home or business, I would like to know. Please fax a copy of the notice from your local appraisal district to my office at (817) 596-8375 or my capitol office at (512) 463-5896. If you prefer, a scanned copy may be e-mailed to [email protected] or mailed to Rep. Phil King, P.O. Box 2910, Austin, TX 78768. You can also go to www.philking.com and register to receive email updates from me on legislation and different projects that I am working on.”

Texas House Speaker Tom Craddick (R-Midland) recently appointed King to the Select Committee on Property Tax Relief and Appraisal Reform. King intends to use the appraisals that are sent to his office as evidence that the current appraisal system is broken and must be fixed.

Contact Information:
(817)596-8100

(Austin) – Speaker Tom Craddick (R-Midland), this week, appointed State Representative Phil King (R-Weatherford) to the Select Committee on Property Tax Relief and Appraisal Reform. The committee will oversee all matters related to property tax relief and reforming the property appraisal system.

“The people of House District 61 will benefit from having a reform-minded taxpayer advocate, such as Representative King, on this committee,” Speaker Craddick said. “Representative King is committed to easing the tax burden on property owners, and his experience will be an asset to this committee.”

The committee will review the sections of the Texas Constitution and the tax code that limit or authorize limiting the appraised value or increases in the appraised value of property for tax purposes. It may request assistance from any executive branch agency, and it will issue a report to the House of Representatives before the 81st Legislative Session, which may include draft legislation or recommendations for legislation.

“The property tax system is broken beyond repair,” King said. “It should be methodically phased out through a dedication of state tax surplus and sales tax revenue. It is a barrier to home ownership and propels Texans into foreclosure. Real, permanent cuts in property taxes will put real money into consumer pockets and be a tremendous economic stimulus to Texas.”

King is serving his fifth term as the state representative for House District 61. He is the chair of the House Regulated Industries Committees. Rep. King is also a member of the House Civil Practices Committee and the House Redistricting Committee, and he currently sits on the Select Committee on Electric Generation Capacity and Environmental Effects.