Rep. Pena Raymond Calls Abbott's Bluff
A bold proposal by senior Democratic State Representative Richard Peña Raymond (HD42 – Laredo) exposes Greg Abbott as the counterfeit fiscal conservative he has turned out to be. Over more than six years as Texas Governor, Abbott has talked a big game on tax cuts but in net value has failed to deliver a dime to middle-class Texans.
Most famously, Abbott promised property tax cuts in 2019. However, instead of property taxes going down, Abbott just attacked local counties, cities, and school districts — shifting the blame for high tax rates to local officials. It was political sleight of hand designed to serve up red meat rhetoric to Abbott’s Trump Republican Party base while stiffing normal Texas homeowners.
Calling Abbott’s Tax Cut Bluff
In a letter delivered to Abbott yesterday, Rep. Raymond informed the Governor that he will introduce a bill during the upcoming special legislative session directing $5 billion from the bloated Texas Rainy Day Fund to be used for property tax cuts to Texas homeowners. Raymond’s straight-forward proposal will leave over $6.5 billion in the Rainy Day Fund while giving a big tax break to homeowners without threatening local school funding or other local priorities. It is exactly what Abbott could have called for at any time but instead chose dishonesty and empty promises.
Abbott’s incompetence leaves him owing relief to Texas homeowners
In a press release announcing his letter, Representative Raymond properly reminded Abbott that Texans have suffered badly from damage done by the deadly Texas winter storm and COVID-19, saying “People need and deserve a break. They need some help. A $5 billion property tax cut would help homeowners in Laredo and all across the state of Texas.” Rep. Raymond tactfully, however, resisted laying the blame for the extreme hardships suffered by Texans where it belongs – directly in Greg Abbott’s lap:
Read more: https://lonestarproject.net/2021/07/02/raymond-calls-abbotts-bluff/
