Lay back and enjoy the secret sauce

[NoPasaran]

"The inevitable has occurred," said Southern Methodist University political scientist Cal Jillson. "Who didn't know that a Republican governor and Republican majorities in the Legislature would let business off and put the burden on consumers?"

Under versions of bills passed by both houses, consumers would be hit every time they go to the store, buy a car or boat or light up a smoke.

If the House has its way, there also would be sales tax on bottled water and auto mechanics' labor, plus a $4 surcharge at topless bars. Should the Senate prevail, taxes on beer, wine and spirits would increase 20 percent.

And the corresponding property tax cuts probably won't be as substantial as many Texans hope. Under the Senate plan, for every $100,000 of appraised value, a homeowner would save about $200 this year. That's about $16.70 a month, enough to buy about a Big Mac, fries and Coke each week.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/071205dntextaxes.2531979.html

[GOPisEvil]

1. Once again, the people of the state get screwed by Republicans.

Remember the last time we got "property tax relief"? That helped Shrub get elected. How much relief did you get from that? So much that we're back again, not 5 years later in the same damn boat.

Nice to see that the House has revived "tits for tots" How special. A tax on someone's labor, even more special.

We're getting screwed bad, and the blind-ass sheep in this state haven't realized it yet.

[sonias]

2. Tits for Tots is back?

Wow, when those repukes grab onto a teat they just don't let go do they? :evilgrin:

I think the article is a good summary of how badly this Legislature is screwing things up. They continually fail to fix things for the long term, and only care about looking like they aren't raising taxes - when they really need to. And I do mean taxes - on businesses and on the rich. Everyone needs to pay their fare share and keep avoiding their personal responsibility to pay for the education of Texas school children. I hate the business lobby saying things like businesses don't pay taxes, only individuals do. How the hell do you want an educated work force if you don't help in educating it. Assholes!

An analysis of the bill as it reached the House floor – done by the nonpartisan Legislative Budget Board, a group of lawmakers who track the budget – showed that initially it would impose a net increase of $633 million on individuals and reduce businesses' taxes by $337 million.

That figure was cited by Mr. Dewhurst, who repeatedly warned that the Senate could not stand for shifting a billion dollars in business taxes "onto the backs of hard-working Texas families."

Sonia

[sonias]

4. Read Bud Kennedy's column on the Tits for Tots - too funny

http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/news/columnists/bud_kennedy/12094546.htm
House hopes strip clubs will balance state budget

The veil came off the Texas House's tax-swap plan this week.

Then so did the shirt.

After weeks of inspecting the issue closely, the House decided to raise $25 million a year by taxing topless dancers.

In an encore performance for Gov. Rick Perry's "tassel tax" idea, a Dallas Republican passed an amendment late Thursday charging a $4 tax to go to a strip joint.

If my math is right, that means the House is counting on Texans to make more than 6 million trips each year to topless clubs.

:rofl:

Sonia

[GOPisEvil]

5. I got it! We can spend our property tax savings at strip clubs!

To heck with the Happy Meal!

:rofl:

[sonias]

8. That's the ticket

Minuscule property tax savings goes right back to the state to support education while at the same time promoting topless bars. It makes perfect sense.

I don't like either option though - happy meal or a visit to titty bar. I'd rather support our schools the right way - fully fund them with a state income tax.
:shrug:

Sonia

[adarling]

3. they are killing my parents

property taxes in McKinney, Texas are sick. They are all just trying to drive us out of the state which i am sad to say might be a good thing. But the metropolitan areas are growing and with the education blunder that happened, maybe people will decide to change things around.

[crispini]

6. Hahahaha!

My property taxes in Dallas county are DOUBLE those in Collin. Largely, because Collin county won't fund healthcare for the unemployed or uninsured, so every single Collin worker that gets hurt and doesn't have insurance drives to Parkland. :mad:

I honestly have very little sympathy for Collin taxpayers because they (and every other stingy county surrounding Dallas) are getting off on the cheap compared to me, and I'm paying the bill for THEIR citizens' healthcare.

[adarling]

10. OMG

Well slap me around and call me susan...i am sorry about that hahahha. Well, at least you live in Dallas and not the evil conservative hell hole that is collin county....we'll probably be near you soon though the way things are going.

[crispini]

7. I think it's time to start a citizen's grassroots movement

which is pro-income tax. There's no other way we're going to make these jackals see sense. Hmmm......

[sonias]

9. I'm with you crispini

A state income tax is the only fair taxation plan that will provide enough funding for our schools. Let's invest in our schools like they are the number one priority that they should be. The majority of Texans would see their tax bills decrease, but they only hear stupid messages from the business community that an income tax will kill jobs. It's total hogwash and they know it.

I support Representative Eddie Rodriguez and Senator Eliot Shapleigh's income tax bill.

http://www.ntxe-news.com/artman/publish/article_26825.shtml
Representative Rodriguez files income tax plan
Austin, TX -- State Representative Eddie Rodriguez (D-Austin) filed the first school finance bill to address the long term needs of Texas' public schools.

HB 33 and HJR 13 completely abolishes the "Robin Hood" property tax (or "Maintenance and Operations tax). While the Governor's plan offers a temporary reduction (from $1.50 to $1.20 per $100 dollars in valuation), Rodriguez' plan drops the rate to zero. It is the only plan which abolishes the M & O. It also prohibits reinstatement of the tax under the Texas Constitution.

It's the only plan that offers a permanent tax cut for homeowners without raising taxes on renters, who receive no direct benefit from property tax cuts. All Republican plans are funded with increased sales taxes that hit poor and middle-income Texans the hardest.

The Texas Farmers, The Texas League of Women Voters, the Consumer’s Union, and the Texas Landowners Association all support this tax plan.

Sonia

[adarling]

11. agree here too