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What I hear proposed most often would be to first create a "John Sharp Commission" for Spending Cuts rather than a commission for new taxes. For revenue, many of the conservative base around here and a few conservative state Senators favor a generally applied sales tax to address school budget needs, but only after all school district budgets in the state are audited. Spending cuts, then new taxes if necessary,

You know, don't you, that the governor and legislature cut nearly $4 billion out of the state budget last session? Hell, they even cut the CHPS program, so that handicapped kids were being deprived of therapy, until they hurriedly put that back in.

School districts are a separate entity and the state is not going to audit them. If you have a problem with school spending, jump on your school board.

Your solution sounds like Strayhorn's: close business tax loopholes, cut spending (nobody ever says where).

And an increase in the sales tax might work, but estimates I saw indicated it would have to go up a full percent. That means we'd be paying 9.25 percent up here in DFW.

How is that any different from passing on a business franchise tax to consumers?

"School districts are a separate entity and the state is not going to audit them."

Let's start thinking out of the box here like conservatives. I think a commission comprised of retired CPAs and business executives would be willing to complete non-binding audits and efficiency reviews of school districts free of charge (travel expenses reimbursed) if Gov. Perry showed great leadership and encouraged them to serve.

"And an increase in the sales tax might work, but estimates I saw indicated it would have to go up a full percent. <snip> How is that any different from passing on a business franchise tax to consumers?"

I think many fiscal conservatives who prefer sales tax for school funding view it as a vastly more broadly applied, equitable measure that is impartially set against all taxpayers. The sad truth about HB3 is it specifically targets businesses in the small to medium-sized category that will be hit very hard. These are some of the most productive job creators in the Texas economy. Conservatives should never be the ones perceived to be punishing this group. HB3 is actually drawing in far fewer businesses to shoulder the load than represented by the Gov. and that is punitive.

Furthermore, there is great suspicion among conservatives that the HB3 business tax is vulnerable to tinkering and likely to be customized to the benefit of select groups with deep pockets and the most influential lobbyists. The Democrats will beat us about the head and shoulders when (not if) that happens, and deservedly so.