Fwd: [DemocraticResearch] State Republicans should never have left Federal money on the table - it's ours, we paid it

State Republicans should never have left Federal money on the table. It's ours, we paid it.  It seems Mr. Perry and Mr. Dewhurst are just too slow to catch on to these realities.  State taxes are often REGRESSIVE taxes.  It seems in this case the Republicans have made us pay twice.  Federal money that should have been spent here was not, and the State taxpayers experienced increases in taxes and fees.
 

DONNA HOWARD URGES SHARP COMMISSION TO EXPLORE OPTIONS FOR LEVERAGING MORE FEDERAL FUNDS

(AUSTIN) -- State representative candidate Donna Howard today urged special tax reform panel chairman John Sharp to explore options for improving Texas' performance in drawing down available federal funds to pay for vital state programs.

"Texas is leaving untold millions on the
table in Washington," Howard said. "Let's make it our business to find every available federal dollar so that we can free up state resources for property tax relief, teacher health benefits, and other top priorities."

Howard said Texas fails to maximize federal funding year after year in a variety of program areas, especially Title IV-E preventive health services. Overly bureaucratic federal guidelines make it difficult for the state to keep up with these federal funds, which could help pay for or reimburse the costs of children's health insurance, foster care, elder care, pre-natal care, mental health care, programs, and other vital services families depend on.

Sharp was recently appointed by the Governor to head up a special tax reform panel that will make recommendations to state lawmakers during a special legislative session on school finance next spring.

"Stabilizing our tax system is the first step toward delivering meaningful property tax
relief and increasing equity in our public schools," Howard wrote Sharp in a letter today. "Federal revenue maximization should play a central role in our strategies."

Howard is running in next month's special election in House District 48. A former Eanes ISD board member and longtime community leader, Howard was a co-founder of Advocates for Eanes Schools, a parent organization, helped start the Texas Education Crisis Coalition, a grassroots group of parents and community leaders, and is certified as a Master School Trustee by the Texas Association of School Boards.
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Click here:

http://www.votedonna.com/
 

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          Regards, TOM BLACKWELL, PO Box 25403, Dallas, Texas 75225

                  http://pages.sbcglobal.net/tom.blackwell/
 

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