Allen Vaught

Current roles

• Local Democratic Party: Member
• Local State House of Representatives: Texas State Representative
• Local State House of Representatives: Texas State House of Reps candidate

League of Women Voters 2008 candidate survey

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

Vaught: As a captain in the U.S. Army Reserve during Operation Iraqi Freedom, I worked with tribal leaders, NGOs and local mayors to rebuild schools and hospitals in Fallujah. I took that same determination to Austin where I put partisanship aside in an effort to accomplish common-sense goals for Texas.

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?

Vaught: In 2006 the Legislature faced a court mandate to restructure our school finance system, they (I took office in 2007) choose to implement a “margins tax.” Its goal was to bring businesses who didn’t pay franchise taxes into the system and give Texans property tax relief. The tax negatively impacted many small businesses, that’s why we increased their exemption last session. Next session, we will again have to address the way we fund public schools.

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?

Vaught: We need to expand our use of renewable energy sources, add more nuclear power to the grid, and increase efficiency. We need to adjust spot market pricing to reflect the cost of fuels. Currently, spot market pricing pays equally for coal, nuclear, and natural gas power - energy sources with production costs which vary considerably. The Provider of Last Resort model needs rules adjustments to protect consumers from unexpected high prices when retail providers fail.

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?

Vaught: The Department of Insurance should adopt a prior approval process to protect consumers from rate overcharges. Policy holders would not pay increases until rates are reviewed and approved. Currently, rates can be raised, charged, and eventually overruled. Meanwhile, homeowners' dollars are in the hands of the insurance companies. Require standardized homeowner policies so that areas of coverage are clear and consumers can make wise decisions. Elect the Insurance Commissioner to ensure accountability to all Texans.

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?

Vaught: There should be transparently in taxation – tax dollars should go where we say they’re going. That said, the gas tax cannot fully fund our transportation needs. We need to lobby Washington for more highway funds. Toll roads should be locally controlled and able to be paid off.

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?

Vaught: Priority in the state budget should be given to the basics of state government – education, infrastructure, criminal justice and healthcare. The key to funding the basics is finding a viable way to fund our public schools and state colleges and universities.

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?

Vaught: I support changes to the appraisal process that will ensure fair and accurate property value assessments. Our property tax system is overburdened and I support measures that will provide relief to homeowners.