%u201CIn the 80th Legislature, we put over $14 billion toward a record property tax rate cut, set $4 billion aside in the Rainy Day Fund, passed new reforms to make budgeting more transparent, and put $100 million into border security to help stop the narcotics, weapons and human trafficking coming across the Rio Grande River,%u201D said Linda Harper-Brown, TCC Vice President (R-Irving). %u201CHowever, so much more work remains to be done.%u201D

To date, legislators have held town hall meetings in McKinney, Spring, Nacogdoches, Cypress, Irving, Greenville, Tomball and Pasadena. Tonight%u2019s hearing at the Knights of Columbus Hall on Shoreview Road is the 9th town hall this year, and events are scheduled in Arlington and Flower Mound in the coming weeks.

Tonight%u2019s event was hosted by Grassroots Citizens of Dallas County, a local group organized by conservative activists, and chaired by former State Representative Bill Keffer, a local attorney.

Keffer said: %u201CReinvigorating the conservative movement requires direct interaction with the legislators who share our values and concerns. I am very pleased that some of my former colleagues would listen to what we believe are the top challenges facing the state %u2013 property taxes and illegal immigration -- and discuss what to do about them.%u201D

%u201CThe principal purpose of these town hall forums is to get input from citizens on proposed solutions to some of the most pressing challenges facing Texas,%u201D said Rep. Ken Paxton (R-McKinney), TCC Secretary/Treasurer.

At the Town Hall meetings, legislators are looking for serious feedback on challenges facing the state to develop future priorities. At tonight%u2019s event, the top issues discussed:

%u2022The growing legal and cultural challenge of the estimated 1.5 million illegal aliens in Texas, especially the problem of ensuring that only qualified US Citizens are registered to vote in state elections;
%u2022The increasing financial burden of property taxes on homeowners and business owners;
%u2022The imperative to continue to slow the rate of growth in government and to find ways to return surplus tax revenues to taxpayers.

Several legislators have also expressed their desire to require citizenship verification in order to prevent voter fraud, eliminate school property taxes altogether, and end the practice of sanctuary cities.

%u201CWe want to ensure Texas continues to be a world leader in every respect,%u201D said Rep. Christian, %u201Cand we believe that conservative values and policy recommendations make a critical difference in keeping Texas positioned nationally and globally.%u201D