Rep. Jessica Farrar: What Being a Fiscal Conservative Really Means
Rep. Jessica Farrar: What Being a Fiscal Conservative Really Means
Posted on February 20, 2012 by txhousedems
A few weeks ago, I wrote Governor Perry a letter in which I confessed that I am a fiscal conservative. I explained to the Governor that I believe government is supposed to be a wise steward of tax dollars. If the government must spend money, it should do so only for essential public services, like education, infrastructure, health services for the young and elderly, and disaster relief. Tax dollars do not belong to the government or elected officials; tax dollars belong to taxpayers.
I mention my letter because being a fiscal conservative also means providing full financial transparency.
If the Governor squanders $2.6 million in taxpayer dollars on a failed nationwide campaign, or starts collecting a $97,000 annual pension without actually retiring, he should publically disclose that fact without having to be cajoled.
If the Legislature gives thriving insurance and mutual fund companies a combined tax break totaling $2.5 billion over six years (which they have), that information should be easily accessible for anyone who wants to look not tucked away in an obscure report handed out to legislators once every two years, as is currently the practice.
more>
http://www.txhousedems.com/2012/02/rep-jessica-farrar-what-being-a-fiscal-conservative-really-means/