Rep. Donna Howard: Positive Change Comes When We See The First Step—And Take It
Vince Leibowitz | Apr 28, 2006 | Comments 4 |
[Earlier this week, I emailed State Reps. Donna Howard (D-Austin, HD 48) and Mark Strama (D-Austin, HD 50), and asked them to write guestblogs/statements on their votes on the TTRC tax reform package and their thoughts on the Special Session. I am pleased to present to you at this time Rep. Donna Howard's piece, entitled, "Positive Change Comes When We See The First Step—And Take It."—VL]
By State Rep. Donna Howard, TX-HD 48
[House site; Campaign site]
The Texas House this week voted for significant property tax relief for homeowners and small businesses.
The tax reform plan was a first step toward stabilizing our tax system and easing the burden on property taxpayers. Now it’s time to take the second step — reversing the ratio of state-to-local funding for public education so that our schools can have the additional resources they demand and
our teachers the pay raise they deserve.
Immediately after the vote late Monday night, I wrote Gov. Rick Perry and asked him to open the agenda of the special legislative session to more resources for public schools.
In my letter, I pointed out that the state’s portion of public school funding is at its lowest point since WWII and projected to fall even further by next year, when the state will be picking up a mere 34 percent of the cost of public schools while local property taxpayers are forced to fund
the remaining 66 percent.
“Like other Texas homeowners, my family’s new property appraisals arrived last week, showing an increase of 23 percent over last year’s and 57 percent since 2001,” I wrote. “These appraisals underscore the urgency of shifting more of the tax burden away from homeowners to the state.”
Positive change comes when we see the first step — and take it. It’s up to state leaders now to see the second step — reversing the ratio of state-to-local funding for our public schools — so we can take that step, too.
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Filed Under: Guest Blogs • Texas Legislature
Rep. Howard is a refreshing new voice in a legislature divided by past partisan battles. She seems centered and sincere and completely uninterested in pandering to one special interest group or another.
Long ago, George McGovern said, “If the Russians come out against small pox, do we have to be against it?” The Republicans are supporting a new source of revenue and closing a loop hole that a lot of businesses have used to avoid paying taxes.
Rep. Howard is absolutely correct. HB 3 establishes a new tax on business revenue and significant property tax relief. Property tax rates are absurdly high in Texas. For most middle class families, their homes represent all or nearly all of their net worth. The truly wealthy have a broader array of assets besides real estate, and only their real estate holdings are taxed.
The most fair tax would be a tax on income–personal and business. The tax on business revenue is a step in that direction. It’s a small step, but I commend Rep. Howard for having the good sense to take it.
Donna Howard shows more courage already than most of the veterans down there at the Capitol. She votes her district and stays independent of the partisan fray. Gosh, it’s almost as if she thinks she represents her own community instead of the special interests!
When Rep. Howard needs our Democratic help in November we just gonna have to remember she voted with the D’s.
HB 3 has more exemptions in it than Anna Nicole Smith. I can’t believe you believe theat Gov Good Har’s plan is going to help any low to middle class people much less public ed.