New business tax offered as finance fix (Who'da thunk it!)

Austin American Statesman ^ | 22 March 2006 | Jason Embry & W. Garner Selby

[K-oneTexas]

I think we all would have guessed it when this Tax Commission was named by Goveernor Perry. A tax on receipts - sounds like an income tax. A back door method to get it in for business, then expand it to individuals. Sounds like a 'PLAN'.

[Tall_Texan]

Isn't John Sharp a Democrat. Taxes are always their first answer for everything. Another camel's nose to stick into the tent. Just ignore those other camels.

The Statesman never met a tax they didn't like - except the one that was passed on newspapers (later rescinded).

[mnehring]

Add in Foghorn-Strayhorn's desire for a State Income tax and we'll start looking like New York (tax wise that is).

[K-oneTexas]

John Sharp is a Democrat. He is an Aggie grad, just like Gov Perry. He is a former Controller. He is a 'failed' candidate for Lt Governor. Last heard he is supporting Carole Keeton Strayhorn, current Comptroller, in her bid for Governor, this November.

[K-oneTexas]

A note (if long term memory serves me right): The Texas Constitution states that before a state income tax can be imposed, the voters must approve it, the money must be used to lower property taxes and the income tax must be capped and cannot be raised without another vote.

Last time Ms Strayhorn spoke of the income tax I believe she said she was opposed to it. (Not positive but believe it is true.)

[A Balrog of Morgoth]

Maybe they ought to just increase the taxes on a pack of cigarettes by $25.00.

That will bring in 25 times as much money. :)

[COEXERJ145]

Add in Foghorn-Strayhorn's desire for a State Income tax and we'll start looking like New York (tax wise that is).

A state income tax is expressly prohibited by the Texas Constitution. In order for one to be enacted, a constitutional amendment would have to be approved by the voters.

[TheDane]

What am I missing here. The state has a surplus but they still want to raise taxes. Have I stepped through the looking glass?

[Redbob]

"The tax on businesses would be based on their gross receipts but allow them to deduct ...their manufacturing and production costs..."

Gross less costs = income.
This is an income tax on businesses.

Not surprising coming for John Sharp, a long-time Dimocrat.
Sharp is the failed Dim candidate from Lieutenant Gov, in '02: why in the name of sanity would Go. Perry name HIM to chair this important commission?

[mnehring]

I know of two cases where Strayhorn has supported it. In one, she complained that we don't have an income tax we can deduct from our federal returns like other States (this is claimed by her apologists that she was referring to deducting sales tax from federal returns, but that wasn't the context of the speech and it is also ignorant of the fact we can deduct sales tax from our fed returns.)

The second time was in an education finance meeting last year where she proposed the 'only way' to fix education financing was to change our tax system to an income tax based system.

I'll get you links on both, I've posted these many times here.. luckily most people see Strayhorn as I do, Ann Richards with an (I) behind her name..

[Logophile]

The tax on businesses would be based on their gross receipts but allow them to deduct from that either their employees' compensation, including benefits, or their manufacturing and production costs, also known as cost of goods sold.

Oh no, not a gross receipts tax. Are these people out of their minds?

[mnehring]

I wouldn't worry about this (gross receipts tax) passing muster.. Perry killed a couple of proposals like this before.. remember, this article is just a proposal/suggestion, not an actual bill that is being presented..

[Redbob]

""Teachers need a pay raise, and we've got increasingly expensive students to educate with increasing demands for performance," he said."

OK, I've got an idea for you: get rid of the non-teachers!

Currently in the Aubrey ISD there is an "administrator" for about every two teachers!
My son's school has one person on staff whose single duty is to report grades to the principal's office - and every classroom already has a computer, on which those grades are stored.

Can't the teacher hit "send"?

[Redbob]

"Have I stepped through the looking glass?"

Indeed you have, and they're about to have a tea party down in Austin!

Who was it said no man is safe when the legislature is in session?

[Doctor Stochastic]

When I left Texas some years ago, the Democrats controlled everything; there was a big surplus and talk of reducing the sales tax from 3% to 2%. Now the GOP controlls everything; income taxes are in the air and the sales tax seems to be going from up from 8%. Of course there are more toll roads to fund, not to mention new football stadiums for the high schools.

[mnehring]

Amen.. The TEA is one of the worst Teacher's Unions in the country.. last time I checked, they received almost 10% of the education budget with another 25% going to districts 'administrative' costs.. They are now pushing this 'Teachers First' program which is an actual joke in regards to helping teachers.. it is all about keeping them under the thumb of the TEA.

[Redbob]

"...it is also ignorant of the fact we can deduct sales tax from our fed returns."

But last year was the first time we could do that; and that too is ignorant of the fact that not all of us can deduct such things - you have to "qualify" for itemizing first...

[Osage Orange]

See what happened because you left!

[Muleteam1]

I mentioned this yesterday in another forum but I'll mention it here again. For every property tax and income tax dollar I sent to the Federal government and New Mexico last year, I sent $5.40 to Austin. This is true even though my NM property is worth twice what the Texas property is and New Mexico has an income tax. Something is SERIOUSLY wrong in Austin.

Muleteam1

[Redbob]

"...not to mention new football stadiums for the high schools.

Ah, you must have seen the "60 Minutes" piece on Denton ISD's new stadium!

"When I left Texas some years ago, the Democrats controlled everything; there was a big surplus and talk of reducing the sales tax from 3% to 2%."

That must have been some years ago indeed, and before the Yankees that moved here decided everything here should be just like the bankrupt Northern states they'd left.
Some folks just aren't trainable.