No to TSPLOST, No to Davis

Davis Transportation Tax, TSPLOST, is coming up for a vote in July. Readers know I am not for Davis’ potential 14.3% sales tax increase mainly because in 2013 Henry County will vote on its special local optional sales tax (SPLOST) that is set to expire in 2014.

The county SPLOST will raise the exact same revenue the new Davis transportation tax will foster. Every road project on the list Henry would receive from the new Davis tax can be done with the 2013 vote. Why do we need an additional new tax is beyond me.

Davis, the only Henry County Republican incumbent that voted for his potential tax increase TSPLOST said prior to his yes vote commuter rail does not work. We were wasting our money on commuter rail that it won’t work in Georgia -yet his vote will fund commuter rail projects.

PolitiFact of the AJC weighed in on this very issue, did Georgia legislators break their pledge to the Americans for Tax Reform (ATR) when they voted for the Transportation Investment Act. Davis made a huge to do out of being the only candidate to sign the pledge in his mail pieces during the last election cycle. Davis claimed to be a no tax increase advocate and would continue to fight for us. Most likely Davis will continue his rants about cutting taxes and keeping his word, however he might need to read up on what he actually did.

See PolitiFact went to the source, the ATR and asked questions about this very subject.

“We asked Norquist whether Georgia lawmakers who’ve spoken in favor of the referendum have violated the pledge they’ve signed. “It does violate the pledge,” he said. “It’s a rather significant tax increase.” AJC PolitiFact

And

“The problem for lawmakers who signed the pledge is it specifically states “that I will oppose and veto any and all efforts to increase taxes.”

The T-SPLOST is an increase in the sales tax. There are no cuts to make it revenue-neutral. Deal Davis gets a Full Flop.” AJC PolitiFact

Government has an insatiable appetite for tax revenue. We have had some difficult times with the economy of Obama where communities have been hit hard with falling home values. Here in Henry, the Board of Commissioners has a $10 million dollar hole to fix. Not one sitting commissioner other than Brian Preston offered a solution on how to fix the deficit without placing it on the backs of home owners.

The increased county budget Bowman, Holder, and Stamey passed comes with a price and most likely it will cost homeowners another 2 mil increase. None of the commissioners have signed the ATR pledge. Preston would be the only Republican to not to have broken it if they had signed.

With the likelihood of our property taxes going up, Davis putting us in with 9 other counties that can raise our sales taxes, and now we get the new Davis toll road to go to work on, where’s it going to stop? Davis keeps adding new ways to get into our bank accounts.

We cannot think that taxing ourselves out of this mess is the right way to go. The trillions of dollars the Obama administration has put us in debt in has yet to make this economy be healthy. If it is not good for our federal government how can it be good for our local pockets?

Davis broke his pledge not to raise taxes. He tells us we are wasting money on commuter rail but votes for it. Davis brings us his toll road and his transportation tax and wants your vote to continue the charade. We can do better than to return Davis to Atlanta. It is why I volunteer in Dale Rutledge’s campaign and am not going to vote for Davis’ TSPLOST.

 

Davis Brings Two New Transportation Taxes to Henry

42,000 are not greater than 400,000. Steve Davis should have known that before he voted for his transportation tax, TSPLOST. Davis put Henry in the 10 county region and forced Henry to be at the mercy of 358,000 other expected voters who can raise our local sales tax.

Davis continues to be silent on his transportation tax efforts. His “no stance” (Rockdale News) statement rings loud and clear with voters in the 109^th district. Voters know Davis flip flopped from a no to a yes vote passing the Transportation Investment Act and they know he is in favor of increasing the sales tax in Henry County, GA by 14.3%.

What made him change his mind? Was it the need for the Georgia Chamber of Commerce to say he’s a keen guy? Was it going out on $250 dinners or $800 trips?

Davis continues to tell us he has championed the effort of I-75. Back in his last election cycle where he paid his wife thousands of dollars to “organize”, he claimed he had secured $80 million to widen I-75. No dirt has turned since he personally obtained the $80 million two years ago. In his latest efforts he tells the voters he successfully funded I-75 but forgets the details of what he did. He gave us another tax!

“We are not in the condition financially to build interstate projects that are not toll, so it will be some form of toll, so anybody who will be using these lanes will have to pay to use them.” Henry County

This time Davis forgets to inform voters he brought us toll lanes. Davis wants us to pay a tax daily to go to work. Some success, it’s nothing more than new taxes that Davis pledge to oppose.

Every major interstate in the other 9 counties Davis put us in TSPLOST with has their millions in interstate improvements none came with tolls. Some received billions. Davis and his success got us 2 lanes where we will pay daily to use them. Maybe he should have read about the Express lanes up in Gwinnett and how they just loved them so much the governor had to step in and cut how much the state was going to charge.

Davis claims to have the insider track down at the capital and claims he brings us success in the way of $400 million in road projects and a billion dollars in education money (Proof Right May 12, 2012), but his successes are nothing more than new taxes. Does Davis skirt his pledge to not raise taxes with his achievement? The Davis TSPLOST and the Davis Toll Roads are new taxes he needs to answer for.

Just remember when you are paying more taxes on your purchase or ride on his toll road, Steve Davis broke his promise on not supporting new taxes.

Disclosure: I am not voting for Steve Davis or his transportation tax. I volunteer for Dale Rutledge’s campaign. I don’t like liver and onions or new taxes.

Davis’ TSPLOST is big in Dekalb and Fulton, Henry and Rockdale not so hot on it

As we already know, Steve Davis’ Transportation Tax T-SPLOST puts Henry County at the mercy of 9 other counties. Everyone in Henry can vote against the Davis TSPLSOT and we still could have our sales tax increased by 14.3%.

It was noted in back in August 2011 in 3-2, No Soup for You – Henry County, GA! 75% of the Davis TSPLOST vote is within 3 counties outside of Henry:

“You’re looking at Cobb, Gwinnett, Fulton and DeKalb represent 75 percent of the registered voters, just those four,” said Paul Bennecke, who is one of the privately funded strategists for the referendum campaign.  “I think if this executive roundtable and then roundtable deliver a project list that creates jobs, retains jobs, increases quality of life and reduces traffic, that’s something that’s going to sell it in all 10 counties.” AJC

In a poll of 850 likely primary voters we see Dekalb and Fulton counties overwhelmingly support raising Henry County’s sales taxes by a 20% margin. In outlying counties such as Henry it’s the opposite.

Davis has set Henry County up for a sales tax increase with his support of TSPLOST. He’s out of touch on the topic and because he voted for the TSPLOST Henry voters will have a small voice in the matter. Maybe he should have run a poll to see how Henry felt about tax increases before he voted to support it.

I am supporting Dale Rutledge for District 109, I volunteer in his campaign and will be voting against Davis’ TSPLOST.

No Stance on TSPLOST?

Seems Steve Davis cannot think without the gold dome leadership telling him how.

After Davis voted against a bill almost identical to the Transportation Investment Act of 2012 back in 2008 Davis fell in line and voted for the act in 2010. Davis evidently changed his mind for whatever reasons. It most likely had nothing to do with him needing leadership to save his butt in the re-election campaign by financing him. How else would he be able to pay his wife $5000.00 to organize?

Davis was unable to raise funds from individuals to run his re-election campaign. Lobbyist and the gold dome funded 82.5% of his efforts back in 2010. We all know this had nothing to do with influencing his vote on the TIA 2012 but it sure is odd Davis went from a solid no vote in 2008 to a yes vote in 2010.

Davis has been in office for eight years and has fallen in line marching to the beat of what he is told by leadership. Something he was dead set against in his early years at the capital. However, it is why Davis has no stance on the issue of putting Henry County in the position to have 9 other counties raise sales taxes by 14.3%.

“On the upcoming referendum for the regional transportation penny sales tax, or TSPLOST, Davis said he has no stance. “It’s up to the voters to decide.” Rockdale News

The gold dome wants this new tax to pass and Davis does not have permission to go against the new tax increase. Either Davis has to say “Yes, I want to raise your sales tax by 14.3%” or he has to dance around the issue with the standard excuse.

Davis was given a token chairmanship after he fell in line with the other incumbents. Now Davis wants us to believe his ability to get things done is blossoming “I believe I’m sitting in a place that would be in the best interest of all the voters to keep,” he said, “There’s still a lot of work to do. I believe this is not the time to try and retrain someone and give up the experience and leadership.” (Rockdale News.)

Career bureaucrats always think they deserve to be in office and believe we could never do better than sending them back.

Well guess what, Davis does not need to be sent back. No wonder the man won’t give us a stance on TSPLOST; he voted against it before he voted for it. His mind cannot handle that flip-flop. If he says it is not needed people would ask why he voted for it and the gold dome might take that chairmanship from him.

It’s just another reason not send the lifetime bureaucrat back.

(I am supporting Dale Rutledge for the 109^th, I volunteer in his campaign and will be voting against Davis. I am voting against TIA 2012 to raise sales taxes in Henry 14.3%.)

A Little Help for the Unwilling to call out Their Pal

“After reading the actual legislation and watching the politicians debate the bill, I must say that I am stunned that, a year after the formation of the Tea Party that advocates lower taxes and limited government, these Republicans supported a bill that, not only raises taxes, but grows government by creating this regional commission of unelected bureaucrats.”  - Joanie Scott, Proof Right

Some just cannot say it. They still give a pass to the only person in Henry County that voted for demanding the County to participate in the upcoming TSPLOST vote that is still elected.

Let me help them out:

The only Republican from Henry County, GA to cast a vote placing TSPLOST on the ballot making the county participate and is still elected as a Representative is Steve Davis.

Davis voted for this potential tax increase. Davis voted for the possibility to grow government. It was Davis that gave the capacity to create a commission of unelected bureaucrats.

An interesting observation about Davis is he voted against the almost identical bill in 2008. In 2010 he flip-flopped and voted for the TIA. The following year Representative Davis turned into Chairman Davis. Could be just coincidence.

Click for Better View

If you are going to vote against TSPLOST then one has to place the blame at the feet of those who put us in the mix, Steve Davis. Since Davis’ crony bloggers won’t name him thought this might help.

I am supporting Dale Rutledge in his efforts to unseat Davis, www.votedale.com.

Interchange and Campaign Fodder

Once upon a time there was a company by the name of Jonesboro Development Company. This company had a large investment in Henry County, GA. When names of streets occurred the Jonesboro Development Company dubbed their interest Jodeco Road. At least it’s what was told to me some years back.

Finally after years of need Jodeco Road is getting a face lift at the interchange of I-75. Last week GDOT announced a package of $681 million dollar projects of which Jodeco Road interchange will be the largest project. From GDOT:

“The largest single project of the 37 announced today is for the reconstruction of the I-75 interchange at Jodeco Road in Henry. It will consist of bridge construction above the Interstate, widening ramps and relocating two surface roads. The work will be done by E.R. Snell Contractor, Inc., of Snellville, for $15.7 million and is scheduled to be completed by the summer of 2015.”

Before Commissioner Randy Stamey was elected almost eight years ago the plans for the Jodeco Road to be four laned from Highway 42 to the interstate were set in motion. During  Stamey’s terms in office not much has come about to get this done.

Last I heard the road was being designed as a four lane but was only going to be built as a two lane. Years afterwards the county may go back and widen the road to four. It’ll be another 10 years in the making before we see that done. You have to recall the East Lake Extension took over 10 years to become reality as a four lane road to I-75. Henry does nothing swiftly, well when it comes to roads.

This artery to I-75 is needed and it needs to be a four lane road not a two. It’s the last road in the district that is not a four lane road to I-75. Jonesboro Road on the south of the district, Eagles Landing on the north end and Jodeco should be in the center. From what I recall it was budget problems in the last SPLOST. Stamey did not want to spend the majority of the district allocation on the project. Next year we vote on the SPLOST again. This project has not been completed in this SPLOST.

Funny thing about the county SPLOST. It should raise about the same amount as the T-SPLOST we are to vote on in July. If both pass we’ll tax ourselves another $560 million for road projects in Henry. Thanks to Steve Davis for voting to put Henry in the 10 county region where our voices won’t affect the vote. Three counties have 75% of the vote and Henry does not matter. We all can vote no and other counties will raise our sales taxe by 14.3%.

If we had not had the effective leadership of BJ Mathis who made sure Henry was not shorted on having our tax money returned to the county, Steve Davis’ vote of mandating Henry participate could have screwed us again.

I disagree with Candidate Tommy Smith and his website about T-SPLOST. His so called Straight Talk for a Change is a bit crooked.

“Henry County is getting ripped off by the TSPLOST – and our Chairman knows it. If she can’t negotiate better deals for Henry County, she needs to step out of the way.”

I am in no way advocating for the passage of TSPLOST and am on record about voting against it. However, Mathis was placed on the Executive Board by the Governor and made sure Henry did not get short-changed. In fact Mathis brought a higher return back to Henry than some of the larger counties received.

Smith needs to examine the facts and learn about why we are in the taxing problem(Steve Davis), know how much is being taken from us in taxes and then what Henry will be getting back. Henry did not ask to be part of this tax and it was thrust upon the county to be involved. If Smith does his homework he’ll take this campaign fodder down so he’ll not look like he is out of touch.  

Steve Davis a Liberial?

A recent Poll from 11Alive:

“The proposed Transportation Special Local Option Sales Tax has nearly the same number supporters as it does detractors, according to the survey. As of now, 36 percent of likely voters in the July special election say they are certain to vote yes on the TSPLOST, while 38 percent say they will vote no. Another 26 percent say they are not certain how they will vote. The majority of “yes” voters are liberals and younger voters, while conservatives are more likely to vote no, according to the survey.”

Steve Davis voted to include Henry in the TIA 2012 where Henry has no voice in the vote. We know Davis is not young so does that make him a liberal now?

Ok that was tongue and cheek but it does illustrate how wrong he was on this vote. His claim of giving the people a voice in the matter is way off base. Henry’s voters all can vote no and we still might have to participate because other counties mandate it with their huge populations. All Davis did was pass the buck on the 14.3% sales tax increase for Henry so he could stay in the good graces of leadership down at the gold dome.

How are we going to trust a man that puts his alliances not with his County? It’s time for Davis to step down and move along. He’s error could cost Henry $280 million in unneeded tax revenue that comes out of the pockets of his constituents.