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Legislators working to reduce spending have strong re-election support from voters in both parties, while tax-hikers are strongly opposed. The results underscore November’s election, in which voters demanded fiscal responsibility.

“While some pundits are trying feverishly to ignore the message sent by voters, the fact of the matter is citizens are demanding that legislators act prudently,” said Michael Quinn Sullivan, president of Texans for Fiscal Responsibility. “More important, voters will be watching lawmakers closely with an eye toward 2012.”

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The following statement may be attributed to Representative Phil King regarding power outages:

“Several years ago the state designed a system for rolling blackouts when electricity demand reached critical levels. The idea was to prevent any one area of the state from having an extended period without electricity by simply rolling the blackout neighborhood to neighborhood. This appears to have worked very well. The question is, why was it necessary? And will it occur again tonight?

The answer to the first question is, we’re not sure yet. Over the next couple of weeks the Public Utility Commission and ERCOT will conduct a post-mortem to determine if the blackouts were due to a systems failure or if this was simply the equivalent of our “five hundred year flood”. My guess is we’ll find it was a little bit of both. We’ll find some problems in the system, which we will correct. We’ll also find that it was the result of an historic cold front, which was difficult to ever fully prepare for.

What’s next? Conservation is the key. You’d be amazed at how much it will help if every home simply lowers their thermostat, turns off unnecessary appliances, outside lights, etc. Even just lowering residential demand 3 or 4% is a tremendous benefit when we’re bumping peak electric capacity. I expect that there will be some additional problems tonight or early tomorrow, but hopefully not as widespread.

I will keep you posted as I get new information.”

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817-381-8282

Last week State Representative Phil King (R-Weatherford) joint authored House Joint Resolution (HJR) 51 to protect Texans from the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as Obamacare. A federal district court has recognized serious issues with the health care law, and further stated that all states have the right to challenge the health care law.

“When Congress and the Obama Administration passed Obamacare, they essentially threw our Constitution out of the window,” King stated, “Enacting this legislation was a clear and brazen violation of the Constitution and I’m proud to sign on to legislation that will work to counter it and protect Texans from this most intrusive act of the federal government.”

HJR 51 will help buttress Attorney General Greg Abbott’s lawsuit against the federal government and be one more tool for Texans in their fight against Obamacare. If passed, HJR 51 will then go to the voters of Texas for approval in the November 2011 general election to amend the Texas Constitution and help prevent Texans from having to purchase government-approved health insurance under the threat of penalty.

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817-381-8282

The following letter was sent from Rep. King to all school districts located within House District 61 to explain legislation he filed last week:

Last week I filed HB 780 and HJR 73 – nearly identical to legislation I filed last legislative session. This legislation, if passed by 2/3 of both chambers of the legislature and ratified by Texas voters would constitutionally abolish the maintenance and operation portion of the school property tax effective January 1, 2016. I’ve already received several questions from school administrators about this legislation and I wanted to share with you why I feel this issue is important.

Relieving the property tax burden on Texas families has been a priority of mine and many other legislators over the past several years. 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 goes to property taxes. M&O taxes are the largest portion of Texan’s property tax bills – usually around half of their total bill. As you know, school district maintenance and operation ad valorem taxes have created a complicated and unfair system that depends on the mechanisms of “robin hood” or recapture to fund schools across our state. This 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.

This legislation does not suggest any particular alternative revenue source. We are dedicated to replacing our broken system with a funding mechanism that is appropriately designed to fund the Texas public school systems adequately AND fairly. We chose a date 5 years down the road so that the legislature will have several years to work with school administrators and all Texans to find the proper alternative. Hopefully, when all is said and done – Texans will have lower property taxes, and the mechanism for funding schools will be much more fair.

Please do not hesitate to call or email with me any other questions you may have. Thank you.

Phil King

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817-381-8282

Austin – Last week State Representative Phil King (R-Weatherford) cast a vote to cut all State Representatives’ office operating budgets immediately by 10% and 14% effective in June of 2011. King’s vote helped HR 3, the Housekeeping Resolution for the House of Representatives pass. The vote came in light of the Texas Comptroller’s announcement last week that the state would face an estimated $27 Billion budget shortfall for the 2012-2013 biennium.

“The Governor and the legislature have asked all state agencies to find areas where they can cut the fat out of their budgets to help meet the shortfall,” King stated, “It would be utter hypocrisy for us to ask other agencies to cut their budgets and not do the same for ourselves. We must all work together and do our part to help slash the budget in order to meet the shortfall and not raise taxes.”

Springtown Epigraph

Edwin Newton

From using a cell phone while driving to border security and public education financing – there is plenty to talk about as Texas legislators begin their 140-day biennial journey this week.

But first they must slay the monster – a $26.8 billion revenue shortfall the Texas comptroller has forecast over the next two years.

Phil King, state representative for District 61, which includes Parker and Wise counties, says that’s where the discussion will begin and end.

“Everything is going to be completely defined by the budget,” he said.

King is quick to point out that the state of Texas isn’t operating in the red. In fact, the constitution mandates that legislators come up with a balanced budget over a two year cycle.

“We’re not California,” he said. “In 2009 we were one of only six states to be operating in the black.”

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State Representative Phil King (R-Weatherford) this week filed HB 476, a bill that will protect small businesses in Texas by permanently extending the small business franchise tax exemption.

“Protecting small business in Texas is essential to ensuring Texas remains the number one place in the United States to do business,” King explained, “Failing to permanently extend this tax exemption for small businesses would stifle the pro-business climate of the state and discourage investment.”

HB 476 will make permanent the franchise tax exemption for businesses that have $1 million in total revenue or less. This exemption is set to expire on December 31, 2011. King was a co-author of the original legislation, HB 4765 in 2009. The Texas Legislature will convene for its 82nd Legislative Session on January 11, 2011.

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Dear Friend,

Thank you for the honor of allowing me to serve House District 61 again. I am truly humbled and grateful for this opportunity to serve at a time when there are so many tough issues facing Texas.

We had an enormous victory on Tuesday night when we picked up 22 new seats for conservative Republicans in the Texas House! A reporter asked me yesterday what the election means – I told him, first and foremost, it means Texans want smaller government and a government that spends much, much less. We will need your help in making sure that message is not ignored in Austin.

On a personal note – I would very much appreciate your prayers for all the members of the Texas Legislature as we have a daunting task ahead of us. Thank you again for your support. It is a pleasure to serve you in the Texas Legislature.

Sincerely,

Phil King

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817-381-8282

The Texas Association of Realtors today announced its decision to endorse Phil King in his election to the Texas House to represent District 61. Making the statement last week, Chairman Bill Jones commended King’s commitment to the interests of Texas homeowners.

“When lawmakers return to work in 2011, they will be faced with many difficult decisions,” said Jones. “That’s why we need lawmakers like Phil King who understand the critical role homeowners play in keeping our state’s economy strong, which is why we’ve pledged our full support.”

Currently, Texas ranks 44th out of 50 states in homeownership. Electing lawmakers who understand homeowners’ concerns and act accordingly to bolster homeownership in Texas is the association’s top priority this election season. As a member of the Texas House for more than ten years, King has supported policies and initiatives that are in the best interests of property rights and homeownership throughout the state.

“I am honored to have the endorsement of the Texas Association of Realtors,” King said. “As small business owners, Texas Realtors make the dream of homeownership more affordable for all Texans and I will strive to help support this important goal.”

As one of the largest professional membership associations in the state, the Texas Association of Realtors expects to be a considerable grassroots force for Phil King.

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817-381-8282

Weatherford – Today State Representative Phil King announced that a joint effort between his office, Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), and Parker County would lead to increased safety for drivers on FM 1884 (Bethel Road) in Parker County.

King laid out a three-pronged plan that will be implemented this month to increase the safety of Bethel Road. The first two parts of the plan are short-term measures. King sent requests to local law enforcement offices including the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) requesting increased patrolling and enforcement of the dangerous road. DPS has already responded that they are stepping up patrols immediately. Additionally, the Texas Transportation Commission will vote later this month to decrease the speed limit on Bethel Road from 60 miles per hour to 50 miles per hour.

The third phase of the plan is a long-term solution. With the cooperation of Parker County, TxDOT plans to install 8-foot shoulders along Bethel Road along with turn lanes in a couple of places.

King explained, “I’m very pleased with the cooperative effort between the state and county to come together to develop a solution to keep drivers safe on Bethel Road. The narrowness of Bethel Road combined with the high speeds many travel on it with has made the road dangerous. I’m confident that this comprehensive solution will force drivers to slow down and create a safer environment for everyone traveling the road.”

TxDOT will begin the next step in implementing long-term improvements on Bethel Road by developing the detail design. Improvements to the 6.5 miles of Bethel Road from B.B. Fielder Drive to the end of Bethel will cost approximately $6.3 million. The project is anticipated to be awarded to a contractor by late 2011.