Craddick: House Will Have Its Own Version Of Perry Tax Plan

AP is reporting that House Speaker Tom Craddick (R-Midland) has noted his chamber will consider a “version” of the tax-swap proposal authored by the Texas Tax Reform Commission.

The bill will reportedly be ready to file by Monday.

Meanwhile, Warren Chisum (R-Pampa), has come up with another proposal which would depend entirely on the state budget surplus to reduce property taxes and satisfy the court’s ruling.

Note to Warren Chisum: The Supreme Court of Texas did not order tax relief; they ordered equitible funding for our schools without an unconstitutional tax.

Here’s the scoop on Chisum’s plan:

…his proposal would use $2.6 billion of the state’s estimated $4.3 billion surplus to give homeowners an 11 percent property tax reduction in time to meet the June 1 court deadline.

To maintain the property tax cut, lawmakers would have to revisit tax reform during the next legislative session or hope for continued economic prosperity. Budget policy analysts contend that most of the surplus is unavailable.

Once again, Republicans are proposing temporary band-aids to the problems. This plan is perhaps worst of all. Hope for continued prosperity is a terrbile thing to balance any fiscal plan on.

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