Even as the legislative cheerleaders for raising gas taxes have been sidelined and admit there isn’t the political will to grow government while making travel and transportation more expensive, other big spenders are stepping up efforts to build new avenues draining your wallet. They are seeking support from statewide associations and trade groups, hoping for grassroots support in pushing a big-tax agenda even as the national and state economy struggle to climb out of the worst recession in decades.
The “Transportation Advocates of Texas” is promoting an agenda that includes putting an automatic, annual gasoline tax-increase in place, and giving cities and counties increased taxing authority. No spending reforms, no transparency. These big-tax advocates just want more of your money for more of their boondoggle spending schemes.
Even though they are now operating under this new name, these “Transportation Advocates” are little more than re-tread of the tax-funded lobby coalition of north Texas cities, other taxing entities and patronage-seeking entities that pushed (unsuccessfully) for a tax-hike and big-fee scheme during the last legislative session. They will try this time to appear “independent.”
According to an internal document, “Transportation Advocates of Texas” is going after a long list of organizations, encouraging them to work for higher taxes and unaccountable spending. With whom are the taxers hoping to build alliances?
| Gas-Taxers Targets American Automobile Association Associated General Contractors of Texas Association of Electric Companies of Texas Real Estate Council of Texas National Federation of Independent Business TechAmerica (formerly AEA) Texas Aggregates & Concrete Association Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association Texas Apartment Association Texas Association of Builders Texas Association of Business Texas Association of Manufacturers Texas Association of Realtors Texas Automobile Dealers Association Texas Chemical Council Texas Construction Association Texas Council of Engineering Companies Texas Farm Bureau Texas Good Roads and Transportation Association Texas Motor Transportation Association Texas Oil and Gas Association Texas Petroleum Marketing and Convenience Store Association Texas Restaurant Association Texas Retailers Association Texas Taxpayers and Research Association Texas Association of Counties Texas Conference of Urban Counties Texas Economic Development Council Texas Municipal League |
This is clearly only a partial list of the taxers’ targets. We don’t know which of those groups’ leaderships are considering support for a tax-hike agenda, but you might want to make your voice heard sooner than later. The pro-tax lobby is out making their economically-unsound case right now.
Speaking of lobbying… the “Transportation Advocates of Texas “ are assembling a team of lobbyists and consultants to work against taxpayers this next legislative session. They will do everything they can to convince lawmakers in Austin that you want your taxes raised.
You can expect them to use Washington-style tactics, such as attacking those who believe government already takes enough from productive sector. Expect them to say anyone opposed to new taxes and bigger budgets doesn’t have solutions.
Some facts to consider:
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The gas-taxers will claim there is a cost to doing nothing, implying that that is the only alternative. Too bad for them the right-thinking folks at the Texas Public Policy Foundation have a great report demonstrating how transportation needs can be funded without raising taxes.
Fundamentally, the worst thing anyone can do in a fragile economy is hike taxes and grow the cost of government. By making it more expensive to move people and things – which a gas tax does almost by definition – you literally stall the upward movement of the economy.
NOTE: Several lobbyists names were in an earlier draft.
