“Governments don’t give you liberty, they take it away from you” – Don Huffines, Liberty Political Action Conference, 9/20/2014
Now that the campaign is over and Huffines is in office, he wants to expand Austin’s authority and reach over local concerns. In fact, in an appearance on the KXAS Channel 5’s Lone Star Politics, Huffines said it was time for local cities to “get more in line” with mandates from Austin.
Don Huffines likes big centralized government – A lot
Just days after being sworn into office, Huffines introduced, SB343, a bill that would wipe out local control in a wide range of areas and replace it with statewide mandates. The bill reads in part:
Huffines’ actions as a State Senator: “A local government shall not implement an ordinance, rule, or regulation that conflicts with or is more stringent than a state statute or rule regardless of when the state statute or rule takes effect.” – SB343, Huffines
If enacted, Huffines legislation would result in a breathtaking centralization of government authority in Austin, stripping away much of the ability of locally-elected officials to make decisions about their communities. Local voters would lose control on things as fundamental as making land development decisions and even some basic public safety matters.
The non-partisan Texas Municipal League, which represents cities and other local jurisdictions, called out the Huffines bill as a state government power grab saying it is a “centralization and consolidation of government power” and would even take away local authority over where sex offenders can live and give it to state officials.
Abbott taking the lead for Big Government Republicans
Don Huffines may just be following the lead of Governor Abbott.
Last fall, during the heat of his election campaign, Greg Abbott was adamant about the value and need for local control. In a September speech, he said:
“Part of my education plan focuses on returning genuine local control in education. Our public education system is too centralized with one size fits all mandates being dictated from Austin…” Greg Abbott, Texas Association of School Boards Convention on 9/26/2014
Yet after the election, Abbott quickly turned on local control and called for a broad expansion of state authority over the judgment of locally-elected officials and voters on issues ranging from fracking for oil and gas to trees on private property.
Abbott’s abrupt switch drew criticism from Dallas Morning News columnist Tod Robberson who fairly asked, “So why is Abbott now reversing his philosophy and declaring that the state should intervene to circumvent local rights to govern how we live?“
Last week nine Texas mayors, both Democrats and Republicans, from big cities throughout the state met with leaders in Austin to urge for the preservation of local control in the city budget process.
Using Tea Party to cover big government intentions
It’s no surprise that local officials are alarmed and speaking out against Abbott and other state leaders who are trying to increase their own power at the expense of local voters.
Keep in mind, though, that Abbott and other Republican candidates rely on small government Tea Party activists to win GOP primaries. It will be interesting to see how those same Tea Party activists react to this top-down, Big Government Republican approach.
