Taxes, Spending & Accountability

Texans should be able to expect two things from state government: responsible use of their tax dollars and an honest explanation of who pays for new policies.

My standard is simple: identify the funding, protect taxpayers, and do not pass the bill otherwise.

Provide Meaningful Property-Tax Relief

I support meaningful property-tax relief for homeowners, seniors, working families, farmers, ranchers, and small-business owners.

But tax relief should not come by starving public schools or essential local services.

The state should assume a larger share of public-education costs so school property-tax rates can be reduced while districts are fully compensated for the revenue they lose.

I also support improving appraisal transparency so property owners can better understand how values are determined and challenge mistakes when they occur.

Renters are affected too because housing costs can reflect increases in property taxes.

Do Not Replace Property Taxes With Higher Sales Taxes

I do not support shifting property-tax relief onto working families through sharply higher state sales taxes.

Reducing one tax only to increase another household tax is not meaningful relief.

Identify the Funding Before Passing the Bill

Before supporting a major new state program or obligation, I want to know:

• What will it cost?

• Where will the money come from?

• Is the funding recurring and sustainable?

• Does the proposal require higher property or sales taxes on working families?

• Does it cut public education, public safety, or other essential obligations?

• What happens if expected federal funding or other revenue changes?

If those questions do not have responsible answers, I will not pretend they do.

Do Not Pass Unfunded Costs Down to Local Taxpayers

The Legislature should not pass a bill, take credit for it in Austin, and then leave counties, cities, schools, or local taxpayers scrambling to pay for it.

State mandates should come with the resources necessary to carry them out.

Public Money Should Produce Public Benefit

Tax incentives and public spending should come with measurable results.

I oppose corporate giveaways that provide no enforceable public benefit.

When a corporation receives a tax incentive or other public support, taxpayers should be able to see:

• What benefit was promised.

• What the public gave up in return.

• Whether the company delivered.

• What happens if those promises are not kept.

Transparency should come before the deal, not after taxpayers discover what they agreed to pay.

Make Major Developments Pay Their Own Costs

A promise not to raise taxes on working families does not mean giving large developments a free pass.

When a major data center or other intensive development creates documented costs for roads, utilities, emergency services, or other public infrastructure, the developer should pay the proportionate costs attributable to its project.

A project-specific impact fee on a multibillion-dollar development is not the same thing as raising the sales tax on a family buying groceries or school clothes.

Require Honest Fiscal Analysis

I will not invent numbers because they sound good in a speech.

Major proposals should be based on current data, transparent assumptions, and an official fiscal analysis when appropriate.

If the numbers change, the policy should be reevaluated.

Make Government Spending Traceable

Taxpayers deserve to know where their money goes.

• Greater transparency in state spending.

• Stronger oversight of public contracts and taxpayer-funded projects.

• Independent audits where appropriate.

• Clear reporting of results.

• Accountability when public money is wasted or promised benefits are not delivered.

Accountability Applies to Me Too

I will publish my major positions, explain the principles and fiscal conditions guiding my votes, and correct factual mistakes when they are identified.

No party leader, caucus, donor, or interest group gets an automatic vote from me.

If a proposal fails a responsible fiscal analysis or materially harms the people of House District 2, I will vote against it regardless of which party introduced it.

Bottom line: Provide meaningful property-tax relief without cutting public schools. Do not replace property taxes with higher sales taxes on working families. Identify the funding before passing the bill. Do not send unfunded mandates to local taxpayers. Require measurable public benefit from tax incentives. Make large developments pay the costs they create. Make public spending transparent and accountable.