Debra Medina, Republican candidate for Governor claims to be the low tax small government candidate yet she is in favor of raising transportation taxes and fees, that according to one voter guide. The Liberty Institute’s guide has Medina as the only GOP gubernatorial candidate in favor of a transportation measure that would raise taxes.
Candidates were asked if they supported, “a law permitting local governments the option of holding an election for a local transportation tax to fund local transportation needs.” Medina was strongly in favor of such a measure.
The local option tax championed by Metroplex lawmakers last session under the guise of “it’s local control” was tagged by taxpayers as a money grab tax hike bill. Taxpayers realized that raising taxes and fees does not translate into infrastructure nor does raising taxes address current misuse of funds generated by gas taxes. Not to mention the disconnect between saying you are for lower taxes and smaller government only to turn around and say it’s okay for those folks to raise taxes.
Ms. Medina must not be advised that a similar measure is being proposed for next session and it is TLOTA on steroids. We don’t give her a pass for not knowing about this or for a lack of information on whether the U.S. government was involved in 9/11.
The other two GOP candidates while they voiced opposition to this measure added comments that should be documented for posterity if nothing else.
Kay Bailey Hutchison commented, “I oppose the local option bill that died during the end of last session.” While she has said during the campaign that she is not in favor of a straight “thin dime” (50%) increase to the gas tax this comment could serve as a nice hedge for future TLOTA efforts.
Rick Perry, also publicly opposed to the gas tax hike, included in his comments a boast about ending $300 million in diversions last session. While this is a step in the right direction it is political gamesmanship to use this in an answer without qualifying that number and how those funds are now being used. That $300 million is 1% of total revenue generated by gas taxes. Half of that 1% money now diverted to rail not needed congestion relieving infrastructure.
Transportation policy is important and there needs to be honest discussion about past, current and future revenue. The problem is political not structural.
Well Medina will bring back most issues to Texas at the local levels at least you know this candidate will listen and make the best decisions for the PEOPLE. Write her a letter or something voting for KBH or Perry means the same few people who got us in the mess to begin with.
I am Debra Medina’s policy response coordinator and I will own the fault for this incorrect answer going out. It does not represent Debra’s position at all. Campaign staff checked the wrong box on this questionnaire after it was discussed internally with Debra and the policy team.
Debra absolutely opposes the local option tax, as she has consistently expressed in interviews throughout the campaign. I also point you to our transportation policy released last week which refers to taxing people multiple times for the same transportation funds as unethical.
Finally, Debra and the campaign are proud to note that several individuals on the core campaign staff worked with the group that defeated TLOTA and gave testimony to the Transportation Committee last San Jacinto Day against it:
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/tlodocs/81R/witlistmtg/html/C4702009042108001.HTM
- Read King is the campaign’s North Texas Field Coordinator
- Chris Howe is responsible for the campaign’s data management
We are working on getting a retraction up on our site and thank you for helping to bring this to our attention.
Jeremy Blosser
jblosser@medinafortexas.com
Medina’s Campaign staff incorrectly checked the “Favored” box. Debra Medina is NOT in favor of a local option gas tax. The Medina Campaign is going to send out an official press release to clarify the issue.
http://transportationblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2010/02/governor-candidates-answer-tra.html
Governor candidates answer transportation questions
3:35 PM Mon, Feb 01, 2010
Q. Do you favor a proposal to allow counties to call elections on local taxes and fees that could be used for transportation projects? If so, how should it differ from the plan that failed in the 2009 legislative session?
Hutchison: If additional revenue resources are recommended by the Select Committee and passed by the legislature, I would not support them unless the people in the affected area agree through an election.
Medina: Allowing local governments to raise and allocate their own transportation funds sounds good in theory, but when those funds are on top of existing misdirected taxes and fees it is too much for the people to bear. Further, allowing local governments to repeat elections until they get the result they desire virtually insures measures will eventually pass.
Perry: I do not favor a plan that would include raising local taxes. Texans already pay a lot of money on a state, local and federal level on taxes that do not go to road construction as they are intended to. Before any other options are considered, we need to end diversions and get more of our money back from Washington D.C.
If you believe Debra Medina wants higher taxes, then I have another one for you to believe, Obama wants capitalism. This Texas woman running for our Texas governor is totally honest, with a high level of integrity and morals. She is truly for the people and our interest and does not want anything less than the best for Texas. I will be voting for her. She is a true Texan. However, Rick Perry is very questionable in doing his best for Texas. Seems like he takes care of big gov and cronies, and if you work hard he thinks little of you and now he has shown his colors at least to me. How much money did he drop (remember others are beholding to him and He can always call for help without his name on anything) on Fox News to get a put down on Debra and hum…is it correct that you have the audacity to back Rick Perry? I thought you wanted to empower the people of Texas. Do some research before you back someone is my thought. JR
Jenell, Ms. Medina’s honesty, integrity, and morals are not being questioned. It is not my intention to back any candidate I have provided information here on all three and in fact was reporting on “research.” Questionnaires are an important part of the election process and time should be spent accurately completing and filing them.
As for the accusation that Perry needed to give Fox money to put Medina down I would say look at the polls. Both Kay and Debra trailed Perry substantially. The Glen Beck fiasco was a gaffe and a big one at that. The mishandling of this voter guide was also a gaffe. Do you believe that Perry infiltrated Medina’s campaign headquarters or paid someone to manipulate the form? The truth is campaigns don’t need any help fouling up they are more than capable of accomplishing that task on their own.