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The Source: Combating 'Californization' Or Losing Local Control?

Gage Skidmore / http://bit.ly/154rPNT
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Governor Greg Abbott was sworn in today, becoming the 48th governor of Texas. 

The new leader has commented on a few of his goals, tax cuts, education reform, and reducing local regulations that "California-ize" Texas. 

City bans have run amok, said Abbott, and bans like Denton's on hydraulic fracturing, San Antonio's ban on tree-cutting, and a handful of Texas cities' bans on plastic bags are Abbott's examples of such out of control regulation. He believes a patchwork of local bans is eroding the much heralded 'Texas Model' for the economy.

Local control advocates and city officials have come out againstthe governor's proposal to curb municipal power, arguing that cities are better placed to determine the wants and needs of their communities.

What should communities be able to ban? 

Guests:

  • Jeff Coyle, Intergovernmental Relations director for the City of San Antonio
  • James Quintero, director of the Center for Local Governance at the Texas Public Policy Foundation
  • Bennett Sandlin, executive director of the Texas Municipal League

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Paul Flahive can be reached at Paul@tpr.org