Thursday, October 28, 2010

Should Realtor's Really Support Chet Edwards?

It has come to my attention that the "Realtor Party" is supporting Chet Edwards (Democrat) in the upcoming 2010 election for US House District 17.  The article detailed 4 specific "Issues" that Chet Edwards supports and suggests, as a real estate professional, that I should support Chet Edwards also.  This is a little long winded but bear with me, it's worth it!

Below is a list of the 4 items the Realtor Party says Chet Edwards supports and we will take a look at each one of them.
  • Mortgage interest deduction. Protecting the deduction for homeowners and second-home purchasers.
  • Low capital gains tax rates. Retaining a meaningful tax incentive for long-term investment in real property and assuring that real estate investments are taxed at the same rate as other assets.
  • A Competitive Real Estate Market. Fought to prevent large banking conglomerates from taking over locally owned and operated real estate companies.
 The Mortgage Interest Deduction and Low Capital Gains Tax
A couple months ago, Chet Edward's own Party floated a "trial balloon" to gauge public reaction to the thought of removing the ability for property owners to deduct mortgage interest from their federal income tax.  This was essentially a backdoor, middle class tax increase.  A sneaky way for the Democrat party to increase taxes without having to actually say they were raising taxes and according to the Washington Post, Chet votes along Democrat party lines 96% of the time!
Chet Edwards touts himself as a "fiscal conservative".  However, make no mistake, Mr. Edwards is a liberal Democrat who's conservative vocabulary begins and ends in an election cycle!  His voting record proves it!

Lets see how Mr. Edwards voted then compare him against popular Local/State/Federal elected officials:



COUNCIL FOR CITIZENS AGAINST GOVERNMENT WASTE (Lifetime)
Website and Information Source - www.ccagwratings.org
Mission: The CCAGW mission is to advocate the elimination of waste and inefficiency in government through nonpartisan public education programs and lobbying activities.
Chet Edwards 17%


Central Texans Prominent Texans National Leaders

Joe Barton (R) - 77%
Michael Burgess (R) - 77%
John Carter (R) - 61%
John McCaul (R) - 69%

Lloyd Doggett (D) - 20%
Louis Gohmert (R) - 76%
Eddie Bernice Johnson (D) - 7%
Sheila Jackson Lee (D) - 5%
Pete Sessions (R) - 87%

John Boehner (R) - 74%
Eric Cantor (R) - 76%
Barney Frank (D) - 11%
Steny Hoyer (D) - 6%
Nancy Pelosi (D) - 6%
Mike Pence (R) - 94%
NTU - NATIONAL TAXPAYER UNION (2009 Rating)
Website and Information Source - www.ntu.org
Mission: National Taxpayers Union (NTU) is America's independent, non-partisan advocate for overburdened taxpayers. NTU mobilizes elected officials and the general public on behalf of tax relief and reform, lower and less wasteful spending, individual liberty, and free enterprise. Founded in 1969, we work at all levels for the day when every taxpaying citizen's right to a limited government is among our nation's highest democratic principles
Chet Edwards F


Central Texans Prominent Texans National Leaders

Joe Barton (R) - B
Michael Burgess (R) - A
John Carter (R) - B+
John McCaul (R) - B+

Lloyd Doggett (D) - F
Louis Gohmert (R) - A
Eddie Bernice Johnson (D) - F
Sheila Jackson Lee (D) - F
Pete Sessions (R) - A

John Boehner (R) - B+
Eric Cantor (R) - B+
Barney Frank (D) - F
Steny Hoyer (D) - F
Nancy Pelosi (D) - N/R
Mike Pence (R) - A
CLUB FOR GROWTH (2009)
Website and Information Source - www.clubforgrowth.org

Club for Growth is a national network of thousands of pro-growth Americans, from all walks of life, who believe that prosperity and opportunity come through economic freedom. We work to promote public policies that encourage a high growth economy and a swift return to America's founding principles primarily through legislative involvement, issue advocacy, research, training and educational activity.

Club for Growth Policy Goals:
  • Reduce income tax rates
  • Death tax repeal
  • Limited government through limited spending (budget reform)
  • Social Security reform with personal retirement accounts
  • Expanding trade freedom (free trade)
  • End abusive lawsuits through medical malpractice and tort reform
  • Replacing the current tax code (flat tax, fair tax)
  • School choice
  • Regulatory reform and deregulation
Chet Edwards 40%


Central Texans Prominent Texans National Leaders

Joe Barton (R) - 85%
Michael Burgess (R) - 90%
John Carter (R) - 89%
John McCaul (R) - 93%

Lloyd Doggett (D) - 13%
Louis Gohmert (R) - 97%
Eddie Bernice Johnson (D) - 0%
Sheila Jackson Lee (D) - 0%
Pete Sessions (R) - 98%

John Boehner (R) - 86%
Eric Cantor (R) - 92%
Barney Frank (D) - 4%
Steny Hoyer (D) - 4%
Nancy Pelosi (D) - 7%
Mike Pence (R) - 99%
AMERICANS FOR TAX REFORM (110th CONGRESS)
Website and Information Source - www.atr.org
Mission: ATR opposes all tax increases as a matter of principle.
Chet Edwards 5%


Central Texans Prominent Texans National Leaders

Joe Barton (R) - 95%
Michael Burgess (R) - 90%
John Carter (R) - 100%
John McCaul (R) - 100%

Lloyd Doggett (D) - 5%
Louis Gohmert (R) - 100%
Eddie Bernice Johnson (D) - 5%
Sheila Jackson Lee (D) - 0%
Pete Sessions (R) - 95%

John Boehner (R) - 100%
Eric Cantor (R) - 100%
Barney Frank (D) - 5%
Steny Hoyer (D) - 5%
Nancy Pelosi (D) - 5%
Mike Pence (R) - 95%

Chet's overall voting record on cutting taxes and stemming waste and growth of government is a resounding FAILURE.  When compared to true fiscal conservatives such as Mike Pence, Pete Sessions and Michael Burgess, Chet is a fiscal progressive/liberal democrat!

Competitive Real Estate Market - (Chet) Fought to prevent large banking conglomerates from taking over locally owned and operated real estate companies.

Where does Chet Edwards vote when it comes to empowering the private sector to create jobs?  Where does Chet vote when it comes to the Federal Government (Our country's largest conglomerate) taking over companies and banks?  This voting record should give us exclusive insight to how Mr. Edwards would prevent large conglomerates from taking over locally owned and operated real estate companies and businesses.

Lets Take a look:


AMERICANS FOR PROSPERITY (110thCongress)
Website and Information Source - www.americansforprosperity.org
Mission: Americans for Prosperity™ (AFP) and Americans for Prosperity Foundation (AFP Foundation) are committed to educating citizens about economic policy and mobilizing those citizens as advocates in the public policy process. AFP is an organization of grassroots leaders who engage citizens in the name of limited government and free markets on the local, state and federal levels. The grassroots activists of AFP advocate for public policies that champion the principles of entrepreneurship and fiscal and regulatory restraint.
Chet Edwards F-


Central Texans Prominent Texans National Leaders

Joe Barton (R) - A+
Michael Burgess (R) - A+
John Carter (R) - A+
John McCaul (R) - A

Lloyd Doggett (D) - F
Louis Gohmert (R) - A+
Eddie Bernice Johnson (D) - F-
Sheila Jackson Lee (D) - F-
Pete Sessions (R) - A

John Boehner (R) - A+
Eric Cantor (R) - A+
Barney Frank (D) - F-
Steny Hoyer (D) - F-
Nancy Pelosi (D) - F
Mike Pence (R) - A+
NATIONAL FEDERATION OF INDEPENDENT BUSINESS (110TH CONGRESS)
Website and Information Source - www.nfib.com
Mission: NFIB’s mission is to promote and protect your right to own, operate and grow your business.
Chet Edwards 64%


Central Texans Prominent Texans National Leaders

Joe Barton (R) - 82%
Michael Burgess (R) - 73%
John Carter (R) - 82%
John McCaul (R) - 73%

Lloyd Doggett (D) -55%
Louis Gohmert (R) - 78%
Eddie Bernice Johnson (D) - 60%
Sheila Jackson Lee (D) - 70%
Pete Sessions (R) - 91%

John Boehner (R) - 90%
Eric Cantor (R) - 91%
Barney Frank (D) - 64%
Steny Hoyer (D) - 64%
Nancy Pelosi (D) - 50%
Mike Pence (R) - 73%
U. S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE (LIFETIME)
Website and Information Source - www.uschamber.com
Mission: Our core mission is to fight for business and free enterprise before Congress, the White House, regulatory agencies, the courts, the court of public opinion, and governments around the world.
Chet Edwards 63%


Central Texans Prominent Texans National Leaders

Joe Barton (R) - 90%
Michael Burgess (R) - 88%
John Carter (R) - 94%
John McCaul (R) - 92%

Lloyd Doggett (D) -34%
Louis Gohmert (R) - 85%
Eddie Bernice Johnson (D) - 43%
Sheila Jackson Lee (D) - 42%
Pete Sessions (R) - 94%

John Boehner (R) - 93%
Eric Cantor (R) - 96%
Barney Frank (D) - 25%
Steny Hoyer (D) - 32%
Nancy Pelosi (D) - 26%
Mike Pence (R) - 90%


Bottom line is..  Chet Edwards is a fiscal liberal and bad for Bryan and College Station's Real Estate Market.  Its easy to break through the half truths and smoke in mirrors of campaigning rhetoric with actual voting records. 

This Realtor / Broker is fully backing the Bill Flores campaign because Bill Flores' policies protect small businesses, lower taxes and reduce overly burdensome regulation and government.  I encourage you to seek the truth before you vote!

Trent Owens
Realtor / Broker



**The information derived for this article came directly from the cited public sources. Any needed corrections should be directed to the named source site.

Thank you to CheckOutChet.Com for compiling the information used in this article.

Monday, October 4, 2010

Bryan & College Station Real Estate: Texas Adds 133,100 Jobs in Last 12 Months

Bryan & College Station Real Estate: Texas Adds 133,100 Jobs in Last 12 Months: "Good news for Texas and our Bryan / College Station economy! The Texas' economy gained 133,100 jobs from August 2009 to August 2010, whic..."

Bryan & College Station Real Estate: The State of our Market

Bryan & College Station Real Estate: The State of our Market: "Bryan / College Station Real Estate Market January - August, 2010 We are beginning to realize a possible market slip for our community. We ..."

Texas Adds 133,100 Jobs in Last 12 Months


Good news for Texas and our Bryan / College Station economy! 

The Texas' economy gained 133,100 jobs from August 2009 to August 2010, which translates to an annual growth rate of 1.3 percent.

During the same period, the U.S. economy added 278,000 jobs, an annual growth rate of 0.2 percent. The state's private sector posted an annual employment growth rate of 1.4 compared with 0.3 percent for the United States.

The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose from 8 percent in August 2009 to 8.3 percent in August 2010, while the nation’s rate in August decreased from 9.7 to 9.6 percent.
All Texas industries except the trade, construction and information industries had more jobs in August 2010 than in August last year.

Twenty-four Texas metro areas had positive employment growth rates for the year ending Aug. 31, up from 19 for the period from July 2009 to July 2010. Sherman-Denison ranked first in job creation, followed by San Angelo, Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, Odessa and Tyler.

The state’s actual unemployment rate in August 2010 was 8.4 percent. Midland had the lowest unemployment rate followed by Amarillo, Lubbock, San Angelo and Abilene.

This new data should shine a positive light on the Bryan/College Station area in terms of jobs and our real estate market.  However, the economy as a whole is still extremely fragile and can be catastrophically effected by tax legislation coming from the Fed.  Texas and the Brazos Valley need to stay true to their roots by grounding itself in common sense, conservative government that makes it profitable for businesses to flourish.  When business wins, everyone wins! 

www.bcsheritage.com

For the complete set of August data, see the Monthly Review of the Texas Economy — September 2010 by Real Estate Center Research Economist Dr. Ali Anari and Chief Economist Dr. Mark G. Dotzour.