Thursday, October 16, 2008

League of Women Voters election survey: Jim Renfro, candidate for Texas State Senate - District 23

By Staff of League of Women Voters

The League of Women Voters of Dallas sent a questionnaire to every candidate running for public office in Dallas County. The election on November 4th features a number of local races to decide state and national Senate and House of Representatives seats.

The responses of Jim Renfro (L), who is running for the Texas State Senate - District 23 seat, appear below. Renfro is running against the incumbent, Sen. Royce West (D). (Editor's note: Renfro also sent in answers to a Pegasus News candidate survey)

Jim Renfro

LWV: Please describe the training and experience that qualify you for this office.

Renfro: I am not a career politician, but a Texas citizen. Government should be run by the people and not the elite. Sometimes I feel that Libertarians are not taken seriously because those in power view us as common folk and therefore unfit for public office.

LWV: The Texas Legislature in 2007 overhauled business taxes to provide property tax relief for homeowners, but many small business owners in Texas now claim that their property tax decrease was far less than their business tax increase. What measures should be taken to maintain adequate state tax revenues without unduly burdening individual taxpayers or small business?

Renfro: Tax revenues are more than adequate, they are excessive. Cutbacks of unneccesary or wasteful bureaucracies should enable the essential functions of state government to remain adequately funded.

LWV: Texas deregulated electricity rates with the promise that competition between suppliers would lower consumers’ electric rates, yet rates in Texas remain well above the national average. What measures should be taken to ensure electric power reliability and affordability in Texas?

Renfro: Prices would be even higher without deregulation. The development of new energy production facilities is necessary to meet rising demand, including clean-coal, nuclear, wind, and other renewable sources, however, energy development should not be subsidized by the taxpayers.

LWV: According to the most recent published data of the Texas Office of Public Insurance Counsel, insurance industry losses in Texas have decreased by 85%, yet homeowners’ rates have fallen by only 4%. What reforms would you support to lower homeowners’ rates in Texas?

Renfro: Insurance companies have a right to earn a profit. Further deregulation will result in lower prices for homeowners.

LWV: The Texas legislature has not increased the gas tax since 1991, and also diverts millions of dollars of transportation funds to other areas of the state budget such as education and the Department of Public Safety. The public has voiced much disapproval of toll roads and public/private partnerships to build new roads. How would you fund construction of new roads and maintenance of existing roads and bridges?

Renfro: Using toll roads to enhance our existing infrastructure is a valid option only after gasoline taxes have been eliminated. While gas taxes remain in effect, their revenues should be applied to their intended purposes.

LWV: If diversions from the State’s transportation fund are stopped, how would you pay for those items that are currently funded by gas tax monies?

Renfro: Cutbacks in unnecessary programs and streamlining of others will free funds to apply to the necessary functions of state government. New taxes are not the answer.

LWV: Currently, sales prices of most residential property are disclosed while those of commercial property are not. Do you support public disclosure of commercial real estate sales prices so as to ensure fair and accurate appraisals?

Renfro: Rather than support requirements for disclosing sale prices of commercial real estate, I support the elimination of such requirements for residential property sales. The sale of property is a private matter between the seller and the buyer, to be disclosed at the discretion of the parties involved in the transaction.

Pegasus News content partner - League of Women Voters

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