Patrick’s Pact: A Contract for the Future of Tx

1 | Reduce the appraisal cap to 5% per year on all residential property

Texans are being taxed out of their homes. We must end the stealth 8–10% annual tax increase on homeowners that occurred before the economic downturn and will return again when the economy improves. If local governments feel a need to raise revenue, they should do so by raising the tax rate, not by using an automatic appraisal increase. Voters can then determine if the increase is necessary and if those elected officials are worthy of re-election.

2 | Property Taxes – move to a Sales Tax Model

We need to lower property taxes on both home and business owners by moving to a sales tax model featuring either a dedicated sales tax to education, with an offset to property taxes, or by expanding the base, with a similar offset to property taxes. We must find long term solutions to funding education growth in our state. We need to remove the major burden off the backs of home and business property owners by sharing the load with all Texans through sales tax.

3 | Illegal immigration − secure our borders now

The Federal Government has failed to protect our borders as constitutionally required. We must continue to increase our Texas resources on our side of the border to protect our citizens. We must prohibit those here illegally from receiving state and federal benefits to which they are not entitled. Law enforcement must focus attention on those companies who knowingly hire illegal workers, pay them wages under market and under the table while not paying taxes, and create an unfair labor field for legitimate businesses who do their best to compete while complying with our laws. We must pass legislation to prohibit “Sanctuary City” policies.

4 | Reduce government spending now

We are a fast growing state. Over 1200 people move here every day to live the “Texas Dream”. Our legislature, led by Republicans, must provide funding for our most needed programs and services making sure they are efficient and successful. We must also eliminate waste, fraud, unneeded and duplicate programs as much as possible. Our Rainy Day Fund (RDF) must be protected and used for only two purposes: paying state obligations in a given year if funds are short in that year and for emergencies in our state arising from time to time. RDF monies should not be used for future budgets simply to continue or to add new programs.

5 | Insist on responsible education funding

School budgets and administrative positions have increased faster than student enrollment and classroom teacher positions. The legislature must find long term funding solutions for education finance and, at the same time, require that the focus of school spending be dedicated to the classroom and teachers.

6 | Reduce the Cost of Higher Education

Texas must find solutions to reduce the cost of higher education. We need to pay based on successful outcomes and graduation rates, not simply on students in seats. We need to reduce graduation time to five years while continuing to strive for four. We must require universities and colleges to focus on their first mission: to teach our students with the best professors available while not allowing high-priced professors to perform research on projects that have little or no benefit to the school or our state. Research is important only if it yields results for the school, the state and the nation.

7 | Long term solutions – water, energy and transportation

We must find adequate funding sources for our transportation systems in Texas as well as solutions for the long term for water and energy supplies.

8 | Pro-Life and Pro-Family Values

We must continue to support pro-life and pro-family values.

9 | Fight for States’ Rights

We must continue to fight for states’ rights by upholding the Constitution and to defend our Second Amendment rights.

10 | Committment to funding essential programs

We must insist on funding programs to take care of seniors in need who have no family safety net, our veterans who come home seriously wounded, the physically and mentally disabled who cannot take care of themselves, and young children in need because young children should not be held responsible for having irresponsible parents. However, if people don’t fit into one of those categories, we must insist they get an education and get a job. The taxpayers cannot and should not pick up the tab for their lifestyle.

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