Issue Position: Taxes/Economy

Issue Position

I am a strong fiscal conservative who believes in empowering communities, not government -- and I know the difference between the two. It is the hard-working families of Williamson County who create our jobs, not government. It's the small businessman looking to expand or the national corporation looking to open a franchise who are the true engines of the economy. Efficient government provides needed services then gets out of the way to let the free market work its magic.

I believe in keeping taxes low in order to keep opportunity high, cutting red tape so that communities can cut ribbons, rolling back mandates and empowering entrepreneurship. I know that true job security is not a government program paying people to work (or not to), but the economic security businesses need to create the jobs themselves.

On the Cedar Park City Council, I voted against raising taxes in the 2010-2011 budget and voted to keep the tax rate flat in 2011-2012. I led the effort to pay down and refinance the city's debt in order to reduce the tax burden on future taxpayers. I changed city investment policy to prohibit investment of taxpayer dollars in mortgage-backed securities.

Williamson County is the fastest-growing county in the Lone Star State, and it didn't happen by chance. The conservative, free-market solutions which have made our home so successful are models for Texas and the nation. I have seen them at work first hand, and will take them with me to Austin.

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