Tax cuts do not have to be “paid for”

November 5, 2017

There has been considerable discussion recently in the media outlets about the potential tax reform measures that congress is considering.

When the topic of tax-cuts or reductions comes up we are told that one of the problems is in finding ways to pay for the cuts.  The implication is that some other set of taxes will have to go up.

Not necessary

We don’t need to pay for tax cuts.

The government needs to cut spending so that it is aligned with tax revenue.

They don’t have a guaranteed amount of income.  If congress decides to cut taxes the loss of revenue should be accompanied by a cut in spending.

We deserve better

Brutus

3 Comments | Federal Government | Permalink
Posted by Brutus

Killing initiative

November 4, 2017

Our city charter gives citizens the ability to propose ordinances.

A petition must be signed by at least five percent of the number of voters in the last city general election.  City council then considers the item and either kills the proposal or proceeds with the proposal as though it was a regular ordinance.

A qualifying petition relating to the proposed site of the performing arts center was rejected by council in June.

As allowed by our city charter a second petition with at least five percent of the number of voters in the last city general election was then circulated and signed.

The second petition was turned over to the city clerk.  The city clerk found that the signatures were valid and that the petition qualified for the second step in the process, which would have been for the city clerk to put the item on the next city general election ballot.  From the city charter:

 and that official (the City Clerk) shall have twenty working days in which to authenticate the signatures and thereafter must place the reproposed ordinance on the ballot at the next general election specified in State law, if the proposal received the favorable vote of a majority of those voting in that election it shall thereupon become a City ordinance.

Not possible

Recently a lawyer for the city convinced council not to put the item on the ballot.  His claim is that Texas law does not give the City Clerk the authority to put something on the ballot.

Thus, according to this lawyer our right of initiative is inoperative because the city charter is poorly worded.

Could it be that the lawyer is wrong?  Stay tuned.

We deserve better

Brutus

6 Comments | City government, State Government | Permalink
Posted by Brutus

A school district facing reality

November 3, 2017

School districts in New Mexico are having to do some belt tightening.

This slide came from a presentation that the Las Cruces public school superintendent made:

Bullet point three caught our attention.

We deserve better

Brutus

9 Comments | Uncategorized | Permalink
Posted by Brutus

A suggestion about transparency

November 2, 2017

A good friend made a novel suggestion the other day.

He pointed out how professional golfers wear the logos of their sponsors, and how race car drivers have sponsor patches all over their jumpsuits.

His suggestion?

Require all members of congress to wear patches identifying their major contributors.

That way we would know whose ax they were grinding.

We deserve better

Brutus

1 Comment | Federal Government | Permalink
Posted by Brutus

No lefties on Stanton

November 1, 2017

That almost sounds like a joke.

We need to point out that city council haD an item on its Tuesday, October 31, 2017 agenda that would “include converting the existing center-turning lane to a dedicated transit lane and where feasible limiting left-turns thereby reducing the number of conflict points”.

It probably makes sense that they should keep automobiles from turning in front of the street cars.

It would have been nice if they had informed the public before the project was authorized.

Whether you support the street car project or not, this is yet another example of how our local government people take things from us one step at a time.

We deserve better

Brutus

18 Comments | Uncategorized | Permalink
Posted by Brutus

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