Don Huffines, a candidate running against fellow Republican Gov. Greg Abbott to fill his seat as Texas governor, recently announced that he will end property taxes so that Texans can stop paying the government when "rent" is due.
The promise from Huffines ensued after Abbott announced his proposal for a "Taxpayer Bill of Rights." One of Abbott's arguments is since he was elected, Texas has spent $18 billion reducing property taxes. However, during that same time period, property tax collections have increased by 19%, according to an advocacy group. Texans for Fiscal Responsibility (TFR) reports that Texans are continuing to struggle to pay increasing taxes, and no one's property taxes have been reduced.
Rocket Mortgage reports that out of all 50 states and Washington, D.C., the Lone Star State has one of the highest property tax rates. The only states with higher property tax rates are Wisconsin, Vermont, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Illinois and New Jersey.
"Greg Abbott claims that he lowered property taxes but all he has done is limit their growth," Huffines said in an official statement posted in a Jan. 19 tweet. "Now, he has released his new plan which promises to do the same thing: allow taxes to increase. I am tired of politicians lying to me. That’s why, when I am governor, I will eliminate property taxes so Texans can finally stop renting from the government."
Abbott's proposal includes four provisions directed at empowering home and business owners to reduce their taxes, but TFR states that they will do very little to actually help people pay less in property taxes. TRF called Abbott's proposal as a whole "more of the same old ‘dog and pony show’" and said that Abbott's rhetoric on the issue of taxation is "deceptive."
Abbott, elected in 2014, is the 48th governor of Texas. Before being elected governor, he was the longest-serving attorney general of Texas, according to the governor's website.
Huffines is CEO of a Dallas/Fort Worth-based real estate development firm, Huffines Communities. From 2015 to 2019 he served in the Texas Senate, representing the Texas' 16th Senate District, according to Ballotpedia.
Huffines joins a crowded field, including former Florida U.S. Rep. and Texas GOP Chairman Allen West and media personality Chad Prather, challenging Abbott in the March 1 GOP gubernatorial primary.
Former El Paso City Council member and U.S. Congressman Robert Francis "Beto" O'Rourke leads the Democratic field for nomination to run for governor. O'Rourke previously mounted unsuccessful campaigns for U.S. Senate and president of the United States.
According to Huffines for Governor, the businessman is supportive of fiscal responsibility and if elected, he says he will phase out the property taxes and put a stronger cap on state spending.
