News

Weatherford Telegram

State Representative Phil King

The Barnett Shale is responsible for over 100,000 jobs in North Texas and produced over $11 billion in annual output in 2011 alone. Barnett Shale activity accounted for 38.5 percent of the incremental growth in our local economy over the past decade. While our communities continue to benefit from the oil and gas industry, Barnett Shale activity has declined dramatically, primarily due to low natural gas prices and the high cost of drilling in our urban and suburban areas. This is why it was so disturbing when I read about a local city’s recent decision to implement a new local tax on each gas well on top of very high permitting and other fees already in place.

It concerns me that a municipality would attempt to raise revenues with a tax focused on a single industry, particularly an industry that has provided tremendous economic benefit for the residents of North Texas and the entire state of Texas. This sector of our economy drives job growth and provides billions of dollars in revenue for state and local municipalities. The oil and gas industry paid $9.3 billion in taxes and royalties to the State of Texas in 2011. Cumulative economic benefits in the Barnett Shale region from 2001-2011 include $65.4 billion in output and 596,648 person years of employment.

Contact Information:
(817) 381-8282

AUSTIN – State Representative Phil King (R-Weatherford) today expressed his frustration with the federal Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) decision to include Wise County in its DFW non-attainment area. Yesterday the EPA announced their designation of Wise County to the non-attainment area, citing their belief that pollution levels had increased in the county due to natural gas exploration activities in the Barnett Shale.

This announcement comes in the wake of extremely controversial comments that surfaced last week made by the EPA Administrator over Texas, Al Armendariz, regarding the oil and gas industry. Armendariz’s comments that the EPA was out to “crucify” the oil and gas industry were made in 2010, but just released days ago, and led to his resignation last week.

“I’m very concerned that these new regulations are based on bad science and divisive politics,” King stated, “It is highly suspect that days after the head EPA official in Texas proves that the agency has animosity towards the most important economic driver in our state, that these job killing regulations are put forward by that same agency. It is nothing short of shameful that the Obama Administration continues to target and harm hardworking Texans to further their petty political games.”

King further explained that this attempt to add new air regulations seems to be the latest attempt of the federal government to encroach on Texas’ sovereignty. Over the past couple of years, the EPA has assumed control of regulating certain manufacturing and processing plants in Texas by invalidating Texas’ own successful Flexible Permits Program; devised a regulatory scheme for “cross-state emissions,” resulting in many Texas electric generation plants planning to shut down operations; injected themselves in local oil and gas production issues; and launched a study on Texas natural gas producers’ fracking procedures. All of these functions have been previously under the authority of the state of Texas. King noted that federal courts have ruled against the EPA in at least two of these instances recently, showing that the EPA has overstepped its authority.

King joined dozens of local, state, and federal officials earlier this year in calling for the EPA to reconsider their pending designation of Wise County, among other counties in Texas, into the non-attainment area.

Contact Information:
(817) 381-8282

AUSTIN – Today State Representative Phil King (R-Weatherford) announced that the Texas Transportation Commission has approved an almost $10 million expenditure for maintenance and safety improvement projects on roads impacted by the energy sector in the Barnett Shale area. King has worked tirelessly since the Barnett Shale boom began to ensure that adequate resources are allocated for this area to maintain the safety of the roads.

“I’m very pleased that the Commission has taken this action in light of the damage local roads have sustained over the years from the heavy Barnett Shale related truck traffic,” King stated, “The energy industry has been such an important driver for our local economy, but it does come with the reality of road damage. The decision by the Commission to move forward with these improvement projects in our area is a good step in the right direction to address this reality.”

The Texas Department of Transportation is expected to begin work this summer on these safety improvement projects.

Contact Information:
(817) 381–8282

AUSTIN – Today, State Representative Phil King (R- Weatherford) pledged support for the Texas Budget Compact, a set of five key principles for a stronger Texas outlined by Governor Rick Perry to keep Texas on the path to prosperity.

“In the shadow of the Obama Administration’s out-of-control tax and spend policies, Texas must stand strong and fight to keep our budget as lean as possible,” King explained, “Texans are already taxed enough at every turn and cannot afford for government to take even more of their hard earned money. By adopting strong, conservative policies now, we can ensure that Texas remains the number one place in the country to do business. That’s why I am pledging my support for the Texas Budget Compact.”

With increasing pressure on the Texas budget, particularly due to the skyrocketing cost of Medicaid mandated by the federal government, Texans expect their leaders to commit now to the polices and discipline that are required for Texas to maintain a strong economy and to remain the top job-producer in the nation. Looking ahead to the next legislative session in 2013, the Texas Budget Compact is an effort to unite state leaders to keep Texas on solid financial ground by following its guiding principles:

1. Practice truth in budgeting.
2. Support a Constitutional limit of spending to the growth of population and inflation.
3. Make the small business tax exemption permanent, and oppose any new taxes or tax increases.
4. Preserve a strong Rainy Day Fund.
5. Cut unnecessary and duplicative government programs and agencies.

According to USA Today, Texas has moved past New York as the nation’s second largest economy, and the Wall Street Journal has credited Texas’ low taxes and employer-friendly environment with helping make Texas the job creation capital of the nation. Additionally, Texas consistently ranks among the top states for Fortune 500 headquarters.

Contact Information:
(817) 381-8282

AUSTIN – State Representative Phil King (R-Weatherford) today lauded the organization Texans for a Conservative Budget for their hard work in laying out a conservative roadmap for the next Texas budget. King announced his intention to work toward achieving many of the measures included in the plan during the next legislative session.

Revamping the public education system in Texas by ending expensive, unnecessary mandates on school districts; reducing welfare entitlement spending; cutting over-regulation, and unnecessary state programs; and implementing spending and taxing limits, are just a few of the measures included in the plan.

“Heading into the next legislative session Texas is facing a deficit of several billion dollars, which will only be a portion of the deficit created by increased expenditures Texas will be responsible for under Obamacare. This proposal is a bold, strategic template for the Legislature to use when considering how to address the challenges facing our state,” King explained, “Although there is room for debate over the details of this budget plan, I strongly endorse the principles and concepts behind this roadmap. I would like to thank all of the organizations that worked so hard to put this plan together and look forward to working closely with them next session to pass the most responsible and effective budget we can for Texas.”

Texans for a Conservative Budget is an organization comprised of several grassroots groups that rolled out a comprehensive budget proposal yesterday at the Texas Capitol. A summary of the plan may be found at the following link: http://www.texaspolicy.com/pdf/2012-03-RealTexasBudgetSolutions-2013andBeyond-TCB.pdf.

Contact Information:
(817) 381-8282

The Texas Department of Public Safety is again urging Spring Breakers to avoid traveling to Mexico as a result of continued violence throughout the country.

According to published information from the U.S. Department of State: *

• 12,903 narcotics-related homicides were reported the first nine months of 2011 alone.
• The number of U.S. citizens reported as murdered in Mexico increased from 35 in 2007 to 120 in 2011.
• U.S. citizens have fallen victim to transnational criminal activity, including homicide, gun battles, kidnapping, carjacking and highway robbery.
• Rape and sexual assault continue to be serious problems in resort areas.
• Some bars and nightclubs, especially in resort cities such as Cancun, Acapulco, Mazatlan, Cabo San Lucas, and Tijuana can be havens for drug dealers and petty criminals.
• Crime and violence are serious problems throughout the country and can occur anywhere.
• The State Department now urges U.S. travelers to defer non-essential travel to all or parts of 14 Mexican states, four more than 2011.

The situation in Mexico today is significantly different than it was just a decade ago,” said McCraw. “Many crimes against Americans in Mexico go unpunished, and we have a responsibility to inform the public about safety and travel risks and threats. Based on the unpredictable nature of cartel violence and other criminal elements, we are urging individuals to avoid travel to Mexico at this time.”

DPS acknowledges that many travel to Mexico without incident, but the risks cannot be ignored. Travelers are encouraged to carefully research any planned trips.

Travelers should always check the U.S. Department of State website for the most up-to-date information related to security issues in Mexico. (See *http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_970.html.)

U.S. citizens living or traveling in Mexico are urged to register with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate at https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/.

Dear Friend,

Heading into this year’s election cycle with all of the confusion surrounding redistricting in Texas, it is extremely important that we focus on what this election is truly about. Here are a few facts that should help shed some light on what we are facing:

• According to the 2010 Census data, almost half of all Americans live in households that receive government benefits.
• This last fact is most disturbing given that 49.5% of Americans pay NO income tax. In other words, 50% of Americans are paying for the other 50%.
• The federal government now borrows 43 cents for every dollar it spends – in 2007 the government only borrowed 5 cents for every dollar it spent!
• The federal debt grows by over 4 billion dollars a day!
• In the next state budget, under Obamacare, Medicaid is slated to cost Texas taxpayers $30.7 billion – this budget $17.1 billion was appropriated for the same program. (Please note this is Medicaid, not Medicare.)
• Projections under Obamacare show that Texas’ Medicaid caseload could be up to 8.4 million by 2014, an 88 percent increase from today! 2.2 million Texans are currently on Medicaid.

This course is clearly not sustainable. As you can see, the stakes are higher than ever that we defeat the Obama Administration in November and get a handle on our spending at the national and state level. As Texans, we must not only stand up to the out-of-control federal government, but also look at innovative ways of reforming our own system. As a conservative, I believe it is our duty to get our fiscal house in order so that Texans have more money in their own pockets to help their families and businesses prosper. Economic freedom is key to a prosperous Texas and a prosperous America. Our fight against Washington begins in Austin. I appreciate your support in this fight for our future. It is a pleasure to serve you in the Texas Legislature.

Sincerely,

Phil King

Sources: Legislative Budget Board, Texas Public Policy Foundation, New York Times, Heritage Alliance, Mercatus Center, US National Debt Clock

Contact Information:
(817)381-8282

The following statement may be attributed to State Representative Phil King (R-Weatherford):

“I read yesterday’s Fort Worth Star-Telegram editorial piece: “End-of-course exams in Texas schools raise a furor” with dismay. The piece discusses the impending “end-of-course” exams in Texas public high schools, which will count for 15% of the student’s final grade.”

“Much controversy surrounds this “latest” iteration of standardized testing in public schools. Once again, parents, teachers, school administrators (and many legislators) have voiced concern and yet, here we go again. Standardized testing is not in and of itself the problem, but is symptomatic of the real problem: the idea that state and federal authorities are better equipped to manage education than our local communities.”

“I wonder, whatever happened to local, independent school districts? Every year state and federal authorities encroach more into the operation of local schools. The end result is more often bureaucracy than better schools. The Texas Education Agency itself has a budget of over $279 million.”

“No one disagrees with testing and accountability, but we have gone from well- intended state and federal assistance to micro-managing the local classroom. Standards on top of standards, report after report, mandates upon mandates have done little more than dramatically add to our school districts’ cost of doing business. It has forced schools to shift money and focus out of the classroom and into administrative functions.”

“As conservatives we are supposed to believe in local control. We also believe that over-regulation of the private sector hurts business productivity, kills jobs, and lowers profits. Why, then, do we believe it is different for public schools? Last legislative session we fought to give local school districts more control of the classroom. We must continue the battle to give local school districts more autonomy next legislative session.”

“After all, who do we really trust with our children’s education? Centralized state and federal agencies, or parents, local teachers, and locally elected school boards? I’ll trust local control over big government every time. It is time we return to the time-tested model of independent school districts and local control.”

The Star-Telegram piece can be found at the following link: http://www.star-telegram.com/2012/02/15/3738232/end-of-course-exams-in-texas-schools.html

Contact Information:
(817) 381-8282

AUSTIN – State Representatives Jim Keffer (R-Eastland) and Phil King (R-Weatherford) today called for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to provide scientific evidence to show why it is necessary that the EPA add Hood and Wise counties to the DFW nonattainment area. Late last week the EPA notified Texas officials that they planned to add the two counties to the current 9-county nonattainment area of: Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Johnson, Kaufman, Parker, Rockwall and Tarrant counties based on the fact that Hood and Wise counties were part of the region being developed for natural gas in the Barnett Shale region. The EPA stated that due to increased ozone and air pollution in these areas, they believed the counties should be added.

Keffer and King stated that their concerns were based on the fact that new regulations will hurt the local economies of communities that they represent in the Texas House of Representatives, very possibly killing jobs in those areas when the regulations seem to be based on incomplete information and the desire of the federal government to further encroach on Texas’ sovereignty. They also added that it would be highly irresponsible for the EPA to implement any new regulations prior to fully considering any and all costs and economic impacts on the communities in question.

“The EPA refuses to work with local and state officials and has become a rogue federal agency that continues to attack Texas’ economy,” Keffer said, “That the EPA would blame oil and gas drilling as the reason for including Hood County in the nonattainment area when drilling in this county has declined significantly is just one example where EPA’s rhetoric doesn’t match reality.”

“I’m very concerned that these new regulations are based on bad science,” King stated, “For instance, the EPA must consider the unprecedented wildfires, heat, and drought that our area has gone through during 2010 and 2011. All of these can be contributing factors to increased ozone, and I believe the EPA has overlooked these issues. The way the EPA has been operating has most Texans concerned that their motivations are much more about political gamesmanship than they are about real science and protecting Texans.”

The representatives further explained that this attempt to add new air regulations seems to be the latest attempt of the federal government to encroach on Texas’ sovereignty. Over the past couple of years, the EPA has assumed control of regulating certain manufacturing and processing plants in Texas by invalidating Texas’ own successful Flexible Permits Program; devised a regulatory scheme for “cross-state emissions,” resulting in many Texas electric generation plants planning to shut down operations; injected themselves in local oil and gas production issues; and launched a study on Texas natural gas producers’ fracking procedures. All of these functions have been previously under the authority of the state of Texas.

The EPA said in its announcement that Texas has until Feb. 29 to submit additional information it wants considered regarding the nonattainment designations.

Contact Information:
(817)381-8282

AUSTIN – State Representative Phil King (R-Weatherford) yesterday filed his papers with the Republican Party of Texas to run for re-election as State Representative for Texas House District 61.

“It has been the honor of my life to serve the people of District 61 in the Texas House of Representatives,” King stated, “I would be humbled to be chosen to go to Austin again to fight for their interests. I have spent my tenure in office fighting for lower taxes, smaller government, and family values and will continue to fight for these principles that are so important to District 61 and Texas as a whole.”

King will appear as a candidate on the 2012 Republican Primary ballot. The Texas primary election date is currently set for March 6, 2012.