Texas War on Local Control-Texas Government Discussion

Governor Greg Abbott and the state’s Republican leadership have become very hostile to local governments. In the legislative sessions, they have pushed such items that diminish local control such the removing cities’ ability to annex, regulate certain industries, cap cities’ ability to raise money, restrict membership into the Texas Municipal League, etc.. The arguments for such matters are that people who are about to get annexed don’t really have much of a say in the matter, even though they would receive municipal services in exchange for a tax bill. Or, that city tax bills are getting too high and that people are ‘taxed out of their homes’. Or that city tax dollars should not be used to pay for lobbying activities. One big example of this was the plastic bag ban in the New Braunfels area. The City voted to ban plastic bags because they were polluting the river there. Some people felt that was over reach.

Fundamentally, there is the concept of Dillon’s Rule (that says a city is a creation of the state and can do only what the state allows it) versus Home Rule (the idea that a city knows how best to handle local issues). I want you to explore this conflict in Texas that has been going on for about the last five years.

Should the state place restrictions on the ability for cities’ to govern themselves? Or, should the rules be uniform across the state?

You are free to express your own opinion on the matter, and I promise that I won’t give a bad grade if you disagree with me. But since this is an issue very dear to me, I do expect a high level of research and analysis to support which ever position you decide to take on this matter. The depth of analysis and reasoning will be used when I grade the ‘Analysis and Argumentation’ part of the rubric.