Monday, June 14, 2010

www.TexasBudgetBusters.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: June 11, 2010
Contact: Sheacy Thompson (817) 683-8639

Texas Budget Busters Lets Texans Tell State Lawmakers
How to Control Government Spending



Texas State Representative Ken Paxton (R-McKinney) has launched TexasBudgetBusters.com to expose the wasteful spending in Texas’ budget and to offer solutions for promoting government transparency and efficiency.


“Like many Texas families, the State of Texas is feeling the impact of the economic recession. When individuals, families and businesses face economic hardships, the solution is to cut spending. Just as families must prioritize and stick to a budget when there is a downturn in the economy, our State government must also control its spending,” says State Representative Ken Paxton.


“The State is facing an approximate $15 - $18 billion shortfall for the upcoming 2012 – 2013 biennium,” Representative Ken Paxton continued. “As we prepare for the 82nd Legislative Session, Texas lawmakers must act responsibly in order to balance the Texas budget. Additionally, the Legislature must remain cautious this session when passing legislation that could affect our State’s economy and work to maintain our business-friendly policies in order to encourage business and job growth while keeping taxes low to help struggling families.”


Using TexasBudgetBusters.com, Texas taxpayers will have an opportunity before the 82nd Session of the Legislature convenes in January to voice their opinions and work to convince their State Representatives and Senators to cut unnecessary government spending, eliminate inefficiency and keep taxes low. Texans are encouraged to log on and vote on proposed budget cuts and other cost-saving proposals, post ideas for balancing the budget and become involved in the state budget process.


“The time has come for Texans to tell their representatives how their state budget should look. After all, Texas taxpayers know best regarding how government should spend their tax dollars,” Representative Paxton concludes.


State Representative Ken Paxton is currently serving his fourth term in office. His district includes Allen, Celina, Frisco, McKinney, and Prosper in Collin County. Representative Paxton currently resides in McKinney, Texas with his wife Angela and their four children.






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Pol. adv. paid for by Ken Paxton Campaign; Bill Bates, Treasurer; 5613 S. Woodcreek Circle, McKinney, Texas 75071

Monday, April 12, 2010

Independent Conservative Republicans of Texas

CONSERVATIVE TEXAS LEGISLATORS BAND TOGETHER TO START NEW ORGANIZATION; PUT PEOPLE BEFORE PARTY

Pledges to 5 core principals and to unite conservatives



AUSTIN – On the eve of the “Tea Party” movement’s anniversary, conservative legislators in Texas have banded together to form a new organization – the Independent Conservative Republicans of Texas. With conservative voters organizing like never before to protest the unprecedented overreaching intrusion of the federal government, voters need to know there are Republican legislators who share their beliefs and will uphold their principals.

The group was founded on five core principles each member has committed to uphold:

• Stand for conservative principals and to put people before Party.
• Fiscally accountable, limit the size of government, and fight for free market principles.
• Protect our borders and to support a strong military.
• Protect life, support strong family values, and uphold the Judeo-Christian beliefs our nation was founded upon.
• Honor the Constitution and protect the sovereign rights of Texas.

“We are all proud members of the Republican Party and will remain so. However, this organization provides us with accountability outside of our political party,” the group’s founder Sen. Dan Patrick (R-Houston) remarked. “We recognize we are first and foremost accountable to the people who elected us. We have dedicated ourselves to these core principals and have said ‘this is who we are and this is how we will legislate,’” Sen. Patrick concluded.

“We're joining together to say test us, try us, hold us accountable. We mean it when we pledge to defend limited government, individual liberties and free enterprise,” remarked Rep. Phil King (R-Weatherford).

“The voters placed their trust in us because we share their values and priorities, and we have a responsibility to govern according to those principles,” Sen. Jane Nelson (R-Lewisville) added.

"With increased awareness of the citizens expressing their desire to be involved, it is exciting to be a part of this movement to accept the challenge of bringing our state and nation back to the conservative, godly heritage of our founding fathers,” Rep. Dan Flynn (R-Van) offered.

"I am proud of our State's efforts over the past few years that have led to financial stability, budget surpluses and limited government spending. Unfortunately, Washington, D.C. has not demonstrated this type of fiscal restraint. What is worse is that fact that our U.S. Congress has passed many laws to coerce the states to comply with federal laws and regulations, which I believe is in violation of the 10th Amendment. The Independent Conservative Republicans will fight to uphold state's rights to keep Congress from forcing its problematic policies on us and encourage Washington to look to Texas as an example and follow our lead," Rep. Ken Paxton (R-McKinney) remarked.

"The Tenth Amendment is the foundation of the Constitution."
- Thomas Jefferson

Additional information may be found on the group’s website at www.ICRepublicans.com


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Editor’s Note: Mike Huckabee will dedicate part of his nationally syndicated radio program to this subject on Monday morning. Station info here: http://radio.mikehuckabee.com/.

Founding Members

Texas Senators
Sen. Bob Deuell
Sen. Robert Duncan
Sen. Kevin Eltife
Sen. Craig Estes
Sen. Troy Fraser
Sen. Chris Harris
Sen. Glenn Hegar
Sen. Joan Huffman
Sen. Mike Jackson
Sen. Jane Nelson
Sen. Robert Nichols
Sen. Dan Patrick
Sen. Kel Seliger
Sen. Florence Shapiro

Texas Representatives
Rep. Doc Anderson
Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock
Rep. Leo Berman
Rep. Bill Callegari
Rep. Warren Chisum
Rep. Wayne Christian
Rep. Tom Craddick
Rep. Brandon Creighton
Rep. Myra Crownover
Rep. Drew Darby
Rep. John Davis
Rep. Rob Eissler
Rep. Gary Elkins
Rep. Allen Fletcher
Rep. Dan Flynn
Rep. Kelly Hancock
Rep. Rick Hardcastle
Rep. Linda Harper-Brown
Rep. Will Hartnett
Rep. Charlie Howard
Rep. Bryan Hughes
Rep. Todd Hunter
Rep. Jim Jackson
Rep. Phil King
Rep. Tim Kleinschmidt
Rep. Lois Kolkhorst
Rep. Jodie Laubenberg
Rep. Ken Legler
Rep. Tyron Lewis
Rep. Jerry Madden
Rep. Sid Miller
Rep. Geanie Morrison
Rep. Rob Orr
Rep. John Otto
Rep. Tan Parker
Rep. Ken Paxton
Rep. Larry Phillips
Rep. Debbie Riddle
Rep. Ralph Sheffield
Rep. Larry Taylor
Rep. Randy Weber
Rep. Beverly Woolley
Rep. John Zerwas


PD POL AD INDEPENDENT CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICANS OF TEXAS

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Call to Action

March 16, 2010

Contact: Sheacy Thompson

Phone: (469) 742-0100



Call to Action: Stop Health Care Reform

It Could Pass This Week



The U.S. House of Representatives is planning to vote on President Obama’s nearly $1 trillion health care reform plan by the end of this week. However, if there are not enough votes to actually pass the bill, then Speaker Nancy Pelosi has suggested that she will consider using a tactic known as the “self-executing rule” to pass legislation to radically overhaul our health care system without an actual vote in the House.

According to the Library of Congress’ Congressional Research Service, the self-executing rule is a two-for-one procedure, meaning that when the House adopts a rule, it also simultaneously agrees to a separate matter, which is specified in the rule itself. For instance, self-executing rules may stipulate that a policy proposal, such as the health care reform plan, is deemed to have passed the House, albeit discretely, and been incorporated in the bill to be considered. House lawmakers would not have the opportunity to amend or vote separately on the self-executed provision, as it would automatically be agreed to when the House passed the rule.



Originally, the self-executing rule was used to expedite House action by accepting all Senate amendments to House-passed bills. However, Speaker Pelosi could exploit this procedure to allow House members to approve the Senate health care reform bill without actually voting on it, thus keeping those members who support the bill from having to accept responsibility for its passing.



A decision by the House to use the self-executing rule to pass health care reform bill faces Constitutional problems and will most assuredly be challenged in the Courts. And so, the Administration and congressional leaders who support the overreaching health care legislation continue to strong arm members into voting for the plan, as they fortunately do not currently have the numbers to pass this legislation outright.



While there is broad agreement that our current health care system is in-need of change, the recent proposals considered in Congress would dramatically increase health care costs while removing the patient from the decision-making process. Big government programs continue to fail, and I am not at all comfortable with putting my health and the health of my family into the hands of bureaucrats and agenda-driven politicians.



As concerned citizens, we have an obligation to contact the members who are sitting on the fence and encourage them to find solutions for improving the quality, accessibility and affordability of health care, rather than shoving through an outrageously expensive health care reform bill that lacks meaningful changes. Therefore, I encourage you to join me in contacting the handful of congressmen who are currently undecided and have the opportunity to do what is right for America.



Below is a list of Democrat congressmen who are pro-life but supported Obama’s 2009 health care plan as well as a list of moderate Democrats who are currently undecided. This list is provided by the Republican Party of Texas. Please contact as many members on this list as possible to make your voice heard.



Call the 12 Pro-Life Members who supported the pro-life Stupak Amendment but voted for Obama’s Health Care plan in 2009, and tell them to stand up for life and oppose ObamaCare:



Ahn "Joseph" Cao (Republican)
http://josephcao.house.gov
Phone: (202) 225-6636
Louisiana's 2nd Congressional District
======================
Jerry Costello
http://costello.house.gov/
(202) 225-5661
Illinois 12th Congressional District
=======================
Kathy Dahlkemper
http://www.dahlkemper.house.gov/
Phone: (202) 225-5406
Pennsylvania's 3rd Congressional District
=========================
Joe Donnelly
http://donnelly.house.gov/
Phone: (202) 225-3915
Indiana's 2nd Congressional District
============================
Steve Driehaus
http://driehaus.house.gov/
Phone: (202) 225-2216
Ohio's 1st Congressional District
===============================
Brad Ellsworth
http://www.ellsworth.house.gov
phone: (202) 225-4636
8th Congressional District of Indiana
======================================
Marcy Kaptur
http://www.kaptur.house.gov/
Phone: (202) 225-4146
9th Congressional District of Ohio
======================================
Dale E. Kildee
http://www.house.gov/kildee/
Phone: 202-225-3611
5th Congressional District of Illinois
=======================================
Daniel Lipinski
http://www.lipinski.house.gov/
Phone: (202) 225-5701
3rd Congressional District of Illinois
================================================
James Oberstar
http://oberstar.house.gov/
Phone: (202) 225-6211
8th Congressional District of Minnesota
===================================================
Bart Stupak
http://www.house.gov/stupak/
Phone: (202) 225 4735
1st Congressional District of Michigan
====================================================
Charlie Wilson
http://www.charliewilson.house.gov/
Phone: (202) 225-5705
6th Congressional District of Ohio

Call these moderate Democrats who were called to the White House to be pressured to vote for Obama’s health care plan and tell them that voting “yes” will cost them their jobs:
John Adler
http://adler.house.gov/
Phone: (202) 225-4765
3rd District of New Jersey
=================================
Jason Altmire
http://altmire.house.gov/
Phone: 202-225-2565
4th Congressional District of Pennsylvania
==============================
Melissa Bean
Phone: 202-225-3711
http://www.house.gov/bean/
8th Congressional District of Illinois
==============================
Lois Capps
http://capps.house.gov/
Phone: (202) 225-3601
23rd Congressional District of California
===============================
Joseph Crowley
http://crowley.house.gov/
Phone: 202-225-3965
7th Congressional District of New York
===============================
Ron Kind
http://www.kind.house.gov/
Phone: (202) 225-5506
3rd Congressional District of Wisconsin
==============================
Allyson Schwartz
http://schwartz.house.gov/
phone: (202) 225-6111
13th Congressional District of Pennsylvania

==============================

Other potential “no vote”:

Solomon Ortiz
http://www.house.gov/formortiz/issue.htm

Phone: (202) 225-7742

Texas’ 27th Congressional District

Pol. Ad. Paid for by Ken Paxton Campaign; 5316 S. Woodcreek Circle, McKinney, Texas 75071

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Ken Paxton Appointed to House Select Committee

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: January 12, 2010

Contacts: Randy Samuelson (512) 463.0356



State Representative Ken Paxton Appointed to the

House Select Committee on Fiscal Stability



(Austin) - This week, Representative Ken Paxton was appointed to the newly created House Select Committee on Fiscal Stability by Texas Speaker of the House Joe Straus. The Committee will assess Texas' ability to meet its current and future budget obligations and analyze whether the shortfall is due to the current recession alone or more systemic problems. Representative Paxton is one of 15 House members appointed to serve on the Select Committee on Fiscal Stability.



In response to the appointment, Representative Ken Paxton said, "I am honored to have the opportunity to serve on this important committee. Taxpayers have elected us to set the state budget, which is the most important function of the State Legislature. Given the recent downturn in our economy, we must serve our constituents by working to ensure prudent spending of taxpayer dollars to fund core government responsibilities while sparing taxpayers from additional financial burdens."



While Texas has fared better than most states, our declining revenue is cause for concern. Major budgetary demands coupled with declining revenues and increased population growth will substantially strain the State's budget next cycle. In order to address this problem next legislative session, this committee will evaluate the root cause of these shortfalls to determine if the recent and anticipated shortfalls are simply the product of the ongoing recession or whether state resources simply cannot keep pace with increasing demands. Additionally, the Committee will offer solutions to address our growing economic problem.



"Texas is currently one of the few states in the nation that did not experience a budget deficit in 2009. With continued fiscal discipline, limited government growth, and low taxes, Texas can remain a leader and an example for the rest of the country to follow. I look forward to promoting these conservative principles next legislative session," concluded Paxton.




Pol. Adv paid for by Ken Paxton Campaign, 5613 S. Woodcreek Circle, McKinney, Texas 75071