Texas is blend of the individualistic and traditionalistic political culture. After getting independence from Mexico, the state mostly developed on effort of individual which still linger in Texas politics. Texas government has very limited power only to the extent that it creates opportunity for individual achievement. The state traditionally has been one party system. At present Texas economic and social conservatism, less voter turnout reflects the traditionalism. The belief values attitudes that make up Texas political culture and politics provide the context for state policy. Texas common political culture is intertwined with the country’s specific history, reflecting Texas regional influence and geographical and ethnic diversity. This history has shaped an apparently conservative political culture, especially in terms of tax, and government-scale restrictions. Democrats, republicans and libertarians are three of most prominent parties within Texas. Each political parties poses unique philosophy with specific viewpoints and recommendations for reforming government public policy. Such blend of politics and political culture has created unique public policies in Texas.
Though Texas is growing economically and reducing its unemployment rates, when compared to other states Texas ranks towards bottom in many service areas. According to report of Texas legislative study group, “Texas is dead last in percentage of high school graduates, has highest percentage of uninsured adults in nation, and produce more hazardous waste and carbon emission than other states” (Michal king, 2013). Thus, I believe that Texas public policies are hopelessly mired in the values of an era that has passed, harm many of its vulnerable citizens and cannot be a road map to the state future success.
Texas is one of the nine states that does not impose a wide-ranging personal income tax instead it relies on high sales, business tax, and severance tax. Despite the variety of taxes, Texas has become dependent upon non-tax revenue sources such as lottery, investment and interest, license and fees, including federal funding. Texas reliance on high sales tax is affecting its tax elasticity, it is not growing with economy as expected. This tax system is not helping states economy as a whole. The middle class to higher class family is tends to purchase goods and service which are not subject of sales tax which such as real estate transactions, legal service, accounting service, and brokerage transaction. If we see severance tax, the tax on extraction of nonrenewable sources which provide heavy revenue to state is steadily decreasing over time. Other government taxes like excise and property taxes are also not increasing as expected with rise of income of citizen. As a result, tax revenue is not increasing in Texas, even if the state is economically progressive. Beside this, due to regressive tax policy, lower income citizen ends up spending more on sales tax for daily needs rather than higher income citizen which place heavier burden on poor citizen. Thus, we can conclude that low tax system is particularly not helping economic raise of states rather it is favoring certain higher income people and tax burden is not equitable as every citizen end up spending equal amount of sales tax despite their income and social standing.
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Talking about the social service and welfare Texas rank towards the bottom in this area. Despite being large industrial states, Texas has third highest percentage of its population living in poverty than overall US average. Increasing employment opportunity is not helping to decrease poverty as majority job is low wages and majority of adult population has only high school diploma. As well, it has a large uninsured population. For addressing this issue, the states provide Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Medicated, and Children Health Insurance Program (CHIP). These programs are jointly funded by state and federal government but administer by state. Federal provide the basic guideline for qualifying the eligibility for the program, but state has some flexibility to adjust it. Due to increasing population and low tax policy makes difficult for funding these programs. Besides, Texas constitutional spending limit on debit, social welfare (limiting welfare expenditures to 1 percent) of the state’s budget, and pay-as-you go limit shrinks the budget on social service and welfare. So, state makes strict policy for aid which does not cover all needy population. And skyrocketing medical cost makes it even harder which results increase of uninsured population. Majority of revenue goes on other funding like highway maintenance which decrease the fund for vital services like education and health welfare. So, current policy is affecting the majority of poor vulnerable citizen which are almost half population of the state.
When comes to energy and environmental policy, among all states Texas ranks high on producing pollutants into land, air and water. With over a third of the nation’s oil and gas wells, compressor stations, and gas processing facilities spread throughout the state, Texans bear a huge portion of health risk caused by oil and gas industry air pollutant. Though states, already has existing huge pollution problem, Texas government political culture emphasize economic development over environment protection. Texans enjoy their open spaces and their natural resources but been hesitant to protect them at expenses of other interest. They don’t like to pay high tax and as well they don't like being told what to do. But protection of environment requires strict rule to be followed and comes with high expenses which is a big challenge as it cannot be achieved without raising tax. Several agencies Texas Railroad Commission, Texas Commission on Environment Quality (TCEQ), Texas Parks and Wildlife Department participates with environment protection policy but all these agencies are bound to follow the rules set by federal government. At the federal, state, and local level policy makers consistently face a compromise when it comes to protect surrounding at expense of non-public property rights and different pursuits such as business, and transportation which makes it complicated in political level.
Finally, we can conclude the Texas tax system has more burden to poor citizen which makes half population, with overall less revenue collection for states to run. Texas dependency on non-renewable resources oil industry including huge chemical plant is polluting the environment, and less revenue and constitutional law restriction on social welfare and social service is hurting the vulnerable, minority citizen. Economic achievement and growing industrialization are not helping the state as a whole to enjoy new income progress rather it is confined to limited high class people. Thus, current political environment and public policies is hurting vulnerable population which need to be recognized and addressed soon for development of states as a whole.
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