Now Sanchez copycats WorldPeace's no tax agenda

Now Sanchez has taken on my no taxes agenda which I have had for about 6 months. 

Sanchez and Morales have taken their campaigns from my web page and the press continues to report it like it is something new. 

I have said that I am an accountant and I know how to read a budget. That I do not believe the projected deficit is real. That I will cut expenses to balance the budget. That I will allow casino gambling on the Indian Reservations to pay for an increase in teachers salaries of $2,500. That there will be no new taxes in the 2003 legislative session.

Oh well, since the press continues to give Sanchez my issues, I will set the record straight on TV Thursday and Friday night while the little man sits home and watches. 

John WorldPeace
The next governor of Texas
No more corruption. No more Monicas.
God Bless Texas

February 20, 2002

__________________

Read his lips: Sanchez pledges to 'take new taxes off the table' 
Democrat says he'll cut expenses, use federal funds efficiently instead 

02/20/2002 

Associated Press 

AUSTIN – Democrat Tony Sanchez said Tuesday that if he's elected governor he would "take new taxes off the table," though he had said in the past that he wouldn't rule out a tax increase to better fund education. 

Mr. Sanchez, campaigning in Laredo, lashed out at rival Dan Morales for saying a tax increase might be needed to pay for the state's health care and schools. 

Texas' budget problems can be handled by cutting expenses and taking better advantage of federal dollars, Mr. Sanchez said. 

"I will take new taxes off the table," he said Tuesday, according to a statement issued by his campaign. "Dan Morales has not only put new taxes on the table, he's made them the first course." 

But on Feb. 8 in Lubbock, Mr. Sanchez spoke differently. 

"I'm not going to rule in or rule out" a tax increase, he told The Associated Press. "I'm not even going to discuss it with anybody until I scrub the budget." 

The Sanchez statements more than a week ago and Tuesday are "perfectly consistent," said his campaign manager, Glenn Smith. 

"We're only talking about a matter of emphasis in a particular sentence. I don't know how it could be much clearer." 

The Sanchez statement covers the imposition of new types of taxes and raising existing taxes, Mr. Smith said. 

He said Mr. Sanchez, a Laredo banker and oilman, intended to work to make sure that the state government operates within its existing money. 

Mr. Morales, a former attorney general, has said he would consider "all options," including a tax increase if necessary, to pay for education and health care. 

"No one likes taxes," Mr. Morales said Monday. "I believe there are far worse things than taxes." 

Mr. Morales said he agreed with the attempts made by former Gov. George W. Bush, a Republican, to try to shift the school finance tax burden from local property taxpayers to other areas. 

For instance, he said, some exemptions to the franchise tax for businesses might need to be removed. Mr. Morales also said he would consider whatever proposals are made by an interim legislative committee studying ways to improve school finance. 

Comptroller Carole Keeton Rylander, a Republican, has said state lawmakers are expected to enter the 2003 legislative session facing a $5 billion shortfall. 

Mr. Sanchez criticized Republican Gov. Rick Perry for vetoing a Medicaid reform bill that cost Texas $400 million in federal money. 

"That mistake should not be corrected by making hard-working Texans pay higher taxes," Mr. Sanchez said. 

Perry spokeswoman Kathy Walt said the governor instructed that those savings be achieved by trimming elsewhere in the budget. 

Mr. Perry has said he would not advocate new taxes when lawmakers meet in 2003. 

"The governor is not carrying the banner for tax increases. He believes the roughly $120 billion that Texas has should be enough for Texas to live on," Ms. Walt said.