Taxes

Property taxes in much of Texas and particularly in Austin and Travis County are too high. I believe that property owners in Texas need immediate relief from high property taxes, and that this relief must go beyond tinkering with the appraisal process. I will introduce one or more bills in the legislature that will require cities and counties and taxing authorities to hold a referendum—that is, get approval from the voters—in order to raise property tax revenues beyond what is justified by inflation plus population growth on a yearly basis.

Read more…

Nutshells

My positions, in just a few words:

Government Spending: Reduce it.
Taxes: Lower them.
Businesses and Jobs: Don’t over-tax and micro-manage.
Schools: Allow parents to choose.
Gun Rights & Second Amendment: Protect them.
Property Tax: Provide relief now, eliminate eventually.
Death Penalty: Yes.
Federal Intrusion: Fight it.
Medical Care: Return to free choice, free market.
Immigration: A large, permanent, illegal class is good for no one.
Borders & Shores: First, control and protect.
Voter Fraud: Prevent it.
Public Religious Expression: Protect, especially in schools.
Voter Referendum: Use more often.
Term Limits: No.
Historic Zoning: No.
Criminalizing Business: No.
Over-Regulation: Repeal it.
Roads & Cars: Stop gas tax diversions
Light Rail: Costs too much, does too little.
Tort Reform: Judicial reform is what’s needed.
Insurance & Premiums: Deregulation will help consumers.

Where I Stand

Politicians should say what they stand for. Here is what I believe:

The purpose of politics and law-making is to promote freedom, dignity, and ownership of property. Freedom means the right to make choices without interference from politicians. Dignity means being treated as responsible for yourself, not treated as a victim, an incompetent, as a person who is unable to make good decisions. The right of property means controlling the outcome of your labor and ideas.

Read more…

Serafine on Border Security

I support policies to increase legal immigration. The purpose of border security is not to stop immigration but to save lives, preserve the rule of law, and provide for orderly, legal immigration. It is a necessary step in resolving the issues surrounding immigration itself and the problem of an ever-enlarging sub-group of residents without legal status.
I support our Texas Attorney General in demanding that the Obama Administration provide border security. This is the responsibility of the federal government. Below is a portion of the letter sent yesterday by Attorney General Abbott to President Obama:

Read more…

Questions from a Journalist

Candidate Mary Lou Serafine answers questions from an Austin journalist, Greg Gosdin.

1. If the majority of the District 14 population is liberal, how will they
be better served by electing you instead of Kirk Watson?

Serafine: There is a new wave in Austin that recognizes the danger of authoritarian politicians taking money from the people and spending it on bad projects. I am the new wave. Kirk Watson is the old-style, sitting on a throne, telling other people how to live and taking their money through high taxes, high fees, and high energy costs, then wasting the money on projects he happens to choose. The private sector—-private businesses and charities—-would do a better job of spending money for good purposes than politicians such as Kirk Watson.

Read more…