U.S. Representative Jeb Hensarling met with members of the Athens Noon Kiwanis Club Tuesday to discuss an American Taxpayer Bill of Rights.
Hensarling said with the April 15 income tax filing deadline coming, Americans are feeling the bite of a federal government that over the past 50 years has taken an increasingly large chunk of the family income.
“The federal budget has outgrown the family budget over that period five to one. That’s unsustainable over time,” Hensarling said. “Conservatives believe if your budget is growing three or four percent why should the federal governments budget grow seven, eight or nine percent?” Hensarling said.
Hensarling said if Americans would pass a spending limitation amendment to the Constitution, Congress would be forced to make some hard decisions concerning where it spends the billions of dollars in tax revenues at its disposal each year.
“Out of the roughly 10,000 federal programs, spread over 600 agencies, we’ll start to make those decisions,” Hensarling said. Some of the programs funded today have outlived their usefulness, while others may have been conceived with good intentions but have failed to achieve their purpose, Hensarling said.
According to Hensarling, the taxpayer bill of rights has four points:
• Taxpayers have a right to have a federal government that does not grow beyond their ability to pay for it.
• Taxpayers have a right to receive back each dollar that they entrust to the government for their retirement.
• Taxpayers have a right to expect the government to balance the budget without having their taxes raised.
• Taxpayers have a right to a simple, fair tax code that they can understand.
Local News
Congressman talks taxpayers’ rights in Athens
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Wet and wild
A line of severe thunderstorms roared throughout Henderson County on Tuesday afternoon, dropping significant rainfall and taking down trees and power lines.
The storm produced heavy rains in Athens, where the National Weather Service reports 2.16 inches fell. Residents in the county were seeing three or more inches in their rain gauges. -
Strong message
A Henderson County jury delivered a strong message to a 37-year-old Kemp man in the sentencing phase of a child sexual-abuse trial on Tuesday.
The jury, in Judge Mark Calhoon’s 3rd District Court, handed Danny Ray Lusk four life sentences and one 20-year sentence, the maximum jail time on each count. -
Going to ‘WAR’
A program termed “We Are Responsible” was generated this year at South Athens Elementary School by its principal, Eugene Buford.
At first reading, the slogan appears to be for the school’s students. But, after looking at the slogan and noting that the abbreviation is WAR, Buford says the slogan is for educators. -
A need that’s very easy to see
The Greater Athens Lions Club is asking for used eyeglasses, lenses, glass cases and hearing aids for the annual Lions Club White Cane Day this Saturday.
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Too close to home
It was the kind of moment any parent would dread.
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Give it to Jody!
The 50th annual Henderson County Farm and Ranch Tour concluded Tuesday with a luncheon on the floor of the Henderson County Fair Park Complex arena and the naming presentation of the Joe B. Fulgham Agriculturist of the Year.
The 25th recipient of the award was Jody Jackson of Murchison, whose farming and ranching operations started with a few cattle and some chickens then grew to one of the county’s most varied operations. -
County votes to sell old annex building
Henderson County officials on Tuesday narrowly approved contracting with an Athens realtor to list the old Courthouse Annex building for sale.
Steve Grant Real Estate was chosen to sell the property by a 3-to-2 vote. Precinct 3 Commissioner Ronny Lawrence and Precinct 4 Commissioner Ken Geeslin cast the dissenting votes. -
Burk to serve as next ACA administrator
Athens Christian Academy (Kindergarten through 6th grade) is pleased to announce Dale Burk as the new administrator beginning July 2013.
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Bullying just got tougher
To reduce the prevalence of school age bullying the Athens Independent School District has added a new communications tool called Anonymous Alerts, allowing individuals to quickly, easily and anonymously report urgent information that they may otherwise be uncomfortable revealing.
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Magnificent 7
The Athens Odd Fellow Lodge No. 961 and Athens Rebekah Lodge No. 23 has seven students who are receiving a $500 scholarship to Trinity Valley Community College for this year.
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