Free Republic

This report lays out the case for elimination of the franchise tax. Part II of this report (which is forthcoming) advocates for a transition Be Bold Texas! Franchise Tax Report Be Bold Texas! Franchise Tax Report (PDF) away from property taxes to consumption taxes to fund the maintenance and operations of public schools. That report will also make the case for a lower property tax appraisal cap or property tax revenue cap to provide homeowners and business owners with relief from inexorable appraisal growth. Taken together, these reforms would represent a substantial transformation of the state’s tax structure, and thus,...

AUSTIN — A political activist dedicated to independent candidates and third-party tickets has launched a new Internet site dedicated to impeaching Gov. Rick Perry. Linda Curtis, founder of Independent Texans, launched the site to call on the Legislature to draft articles of impeachment against Perry in 2009. Curtis noted that Texas does not have the right of recall, so petitioning the Legislature to impeach the governor is the only answer when citizens are unhappy. When asked about the new Impeach Perry Web site, Perry spokesman Robert Black responded by saying: "Free speech is a wonderful thing." Curtis said the two...

AUSTIN – Gov. Rick Perry has launched a statewide campaign ad, touting property tax cuts accomplished during the special session that ended last week. The 30-second ad, shot by Weeks & Co., will play in major markets for an undetermined period. Text: (Mr. Perry, standing in front of a frame house with a Texas flag) "A $15 billion property tax cut and more money for schools. We kept our promise to you. The average homeowner will receive a $2,000 tax cut. Every teacher will receive a well-deserved pay raise. We closed corporate loopholes and created new protections to keep taxes...

HB3 passes without statewide property tax Senate also includes sales-tax holiday, options on business tax By Jason Embry AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF Wednesday, May 11, 2005 The Senate at about 2 a.m. today approved a major shift in state taxes, but only after changing two key components of the bill. Senators approved House Bill 3, which cuts school property taxes while raising consumption and business taxes with a 21-10 vote. Today they’ll take up the second half of school finance reform, House Bill 2, which rewrites the formulas used to determine school funding, increases teacher pay and toughens regulations on charter schools...

<p>Hunt Downer officially announced his bid for governor Tuesday during a campaign tour in Alexandria.</p> <p>Flanked by about a dozen supporters at England Airpark's Heritage Park, the 57-year-old Republican state representative from Houma noted a passing plane.</p> <p>"It's good to hear engines. That's economic development," he said.</p>