Consistent. Principled. Action.

1. District Courts

Collin County added a new District Court on January 1, 2009, when Governor Perry appointed Judge Jill Willis to the bench of the 429th District Court. This is Collin County's ninth district court, which provides additional felony court capacity to your judicial system.

As we worked through the process of adding the 429th and considered our county agenda for the current legislative session, it became obvious that our district courts are providing timely justice to you, the citizens of Collin County.

Some of you may have seen the piece on the county web site at http://collincountytx.gov/public_information/features/dc_efficiency.jsp which gave a few details about how promptly civil cases - non-criminal cases that directly affect you and your businesses - are handled in the district courts.

That is only a small glimpse of the details as reported by the State that speak highly of our judicial system; details that ought to give you confidence in a judicial system that will continue to provide timely justice into the future with the addition of the 429th.

2. Legislative session

This will be an active session in Austin for your Commissioners Court members. There is much more interaction with our legislators this year than during the 2007 session, and the issues affecting Collin County require more time this year.

Transportation issues look to dominate the session, but we will also address a new State requirement for a Ground Water Conservation District.

There is always the possibility that the legislature will again attempt to put us in a hospital district with Dallas County, which would dramatically increase your taxes in spite of the fact that our Collin hospitals already absorb over $120 Million every year in uncompensated healthcare costs.

And there is a proposal to institute a transportation district (although it is no longer called a district because of the implications of the word.) Another new tax - actually, perhaps several new taxes. Every time you read the word "district," grab your wallet. We are encouraging the State to abide by the SH121 financial agreement and to adequately fund transportation in Texas with the taxes that you already pay.

There is a lot of work to be done. I have already traveled to Austin several times this month, and will join a delegation of civic, business and government leaders in Austin at Collin County Days on February 9-10.

3. Cost cutting

If you review the January 27 Commissioners Court agenda, you will see three change order items that include words such as "reduction" and "decrease."

http://public1.co.collin.tx.us/public_notices/Lists/Public%20Meetings/Attachments/555/Agenda%20CC.pdf

Your county staff is making a strong effort to make sure that the county is not overpaying for goods and services during this downturn in the economy and I am confident that you will see more reductions in the future. Reducing our costs is a major initiative as we go into the next budget cycle. You are making decisions to tighten your belt, and the county ought to do the same.

It is an honor to serve you through these challenging days,
Keith

1. You see three words at the top of this page. Consistent. Principled. Action. They will remain there through my re-election campaign. They symbolize my approach to my job, preparation for court sessions, looking at facts rather than being governed only by emotions.

We will see changes this year at every level of government. The feds are spending more than a trillion dollar in stimulus, which means that you will pay more taxes either through direct taxation or indirectly through inflation.

The State will also cope with the economic downturn through the next five months during the legislative session in Austin. Their actions remain to be seen.

I will continue to work to make sure that every dollar that Collin County government spends is absolutely necessary so that we leave as many of your hard-earned dollars in your pocket as possible as you go through this downturn. It will be more important than ever that we fund only core county functions, not every idea that crosses our path.

In all of the turmoil surrounding the economic downturn, we see a stark difference between two visions of government.

It is no secret that I believe in that vision that sees success in freedom; freedom for our individuals and our families; freedom from excessive government and high taxes. Freedom still works, although that idea is under attack at every level of government. Although those responsible deny it, the current downturn is due in part to excessive government meddling in free enterprise.

As Ronald Reagan said in 1984, "I am going to talk of controversial things. I make no apology for this. It's time we asked ourselves if we still know the freedoms intended for us by the Founding Fathers. James Madison said, "We base all our experiments on the capacity of mankind for self government." This idea -- that government was beholden to the people, that it had no other source of power -- is still the newest, most unique idea in all the long history of man's relation to man."

As Ronald Reagan did, I still believe in this great experiment in freedom called America, even when it seems that faith only in government is on the rise. I am reminded of Milton Friedman's quote, "If the federal government were put in charge of the Sahara Desert, in five years there would be a shortage of sand."

Freedom cannot become just a slogan because words have meaning, and freedom is deeply meaningful to Americans. I refuse to believe that "freedom's just another word for nothin' left to lose" - a line from the old '60s song, "Me and Bobby McGee." Freedom is the foundation of everything that we hold dear - including the concept of self-government. Let's not lose our freedom in this rush to centralize power and ownership by the federal government in a moment of crisis.

A newspaper in London, England closed a recent article with, "And now the US, like Britain before it, has begun the long slow descent into the Third World. How sad. Where now is our last best hope on Earth?"

I refuse to accept that verdict. As Abraham Lincoln said in 1862, "We hold the power, and bear the responsibility. (Emphasis added.) We shall nobly save, or meanly lose, the last best hope of earth."

I look forward to your feedback at Keith@KeithSelf.com

2. Commissioner Matt Shaheen took his Precinct 1 seat at the first Commissioners Court session of 2009 on January 12. Please welcome Commissioner Shaheen to your county government.

3. As we start to ramp up for our re-election campaign, remember that I campaigned in 2006 on three core issues:
a) Slow the growth of government
b) Transportation
c) Transparency in government

We will be discussing the current state of these issues over the next months.

Sincerely,
Keith