Texas Leader Cuts Spending on Inter-State Membership Dues
WASHINGTON – Americans for Tax Reform (ATR) applauds Governor Rick Perry (R) of Texas for his pro-taxpayer efforts to cut nearly $270,000 in frivolous membership dues to interstate organizations. As a result of his strong work in this area, ATR awards him the "Friend of the Taxpayer Award" for the month of February.
Governor Perry cut expenditures earmarked for paying membership dues to nine interstate organizations such as the National Governors Association and the Council of State Governments.
"Governor Perry has set a strong example that other state leaders should notice and imitate," said Grover Norquist, President of ATR. "There are plenty of innovative ways to close budget shortfalls, such as reducing expenditures to interstate organizations, which disprove any arguments for increasing the tax burden.
"Economically prudent leadership is not just a question of cutting taxes or cutting programs. There are various remedies that exist which employ creative yet common sense approaches which can effectively reduce state spending and resolve shortfalls," concluded Norquist.
ATR has awarded the Hero of the Taxpayer Award every month since 1996 to those leaders who have demonstrated fiscally responsible leadership.