School proposal pounded:House bill would only cut taxes for richest 3%, n

[Judi Lynn]

Dallas, Texas
Tuesday May 4, 2004 6:14 a.m. CDT


School proposal pounded

House bill would only cut taxes for richest 3%, nonpartisan study finds


10:40 PM CDT on Monday, May 3, 2004


By ROBERT T. GARRETT and PETE SLOVER / The Dallas Morning News



AUSTIN – Only the wealthiest 3 percent of Texas families – those making more than $182,000 a year – would have their taxes cut by the sweeping public school finance plan slated for debate by the full House on Tuesday, according to a nonpartisan legislative analysis.

The analysis was just one of many blows absorbed by the school plan Monday. There also were hits from the governor, teachers groups, anti-gambling coalitions, anti-sales tax Democrats and anti-business tax Republicans.

House Speaker Tom Craddick and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst defended the bill, calling it a work in progress and cautioning that critics should hold their fire until the House and Senate substitute and swap proposals.

"We're not even halfway through this process," Mr. Dewhurst said. "Let's not start negotiating and looking at what may or may not be included in the bill. Let's let the legislative process work."
(snip/...)

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/050404dntexsessionmain.2022c.html
(Free registration required)

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1. Compassionate conservatives feel sorry for themselves

They should never have to pay taxes.

[Judi Lynn]

2. Related article from Corpus Christi:School plan favors wealthiest in Texas

School plan favors wealthiest in Texas
Full House to debate finance proposal; impact on many interest groups studied

By Monica Wolfson Scripps Howard Austin Bureau
May 4, 2004


AUSTIN - As the Texas House begins debating school finance legislation today, advocates for groups ranging from the poor to the liquor industry are working to persuade lawmakers to reject or revamp the plan.

Dozens of lobbyists have been scouring the halls of the Capitol and meeting with lawmakers to protect their clients' interests.

A study released Monday shows that 97 percent of Texans would pay more taxes under the House plan, while the top 3 percent of income earners would see tax savings.

Collectively, taxes would go up $2.6 billion for Texans earning less than $181,711 and down $783 million for Texans making more, according to the Legislative Budget Board.
(snip/...)

http://www.caller.com/ccct/local_news/article/0,1641,CCCT_811_2858967,00.html

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You're right, Coalminersdaughter. Their compassion for self knows no bounds.

[GreenGreenLimaBean]

5. unless you own a small business,

then you pay $500/year for every employee you have. This is BULLSHIT!
If this shit passes the crooked texas legis, then I'm leaving this
fucked-up state!

[dusty64]

3. I know its cruel, but

I can't help to think the citizens of the solid "red" are getting what they desire. I do feel for the progressives in these states, but the ones who aren't superrich who either vote rethug or can't get off their lazy asses to vote at all will be painfully forced to see the reality of their actions. The extreme right is getting more arrogant by the day and the People are starting a slow descent into the hell that they voted for. Wake up will occur, but that will also require an opposition that is real and willing to fight for a positive agenda anyways necessary. Will it happen?

[Wright Patman]

4. It is only about 15

school districts in the suburbs and enclaves within cities such as Highland Park within Dallas who pushed for the repeal of 'Robin Hood' to begin with.

With a name like that, you can see why they did. For the first time in history, we had a relatively equitable (court-ordered, of course) distribution of property tax dollars throughout the state.

Now this tiny minority of supperrich are trying to push their "reverse Robin Hood" approach. It won't stand up in court even if they get it through, but it is amazing and disconcerting to watch human greed in action. Not only are they personally greedy; they do not care one whit (I almost typed one "white"; Freudian slip) about the education of the children in the nonwhite and poorer regions of the state.

[DFWJock]

6. Rethuglicans

Cutting taxes for the rich? Im shocked, shocked!

Oh but wait, it will trickle down to the rest of us eventually, right?

[MidwestTransplant]

7. I am Shocked. I can't believe this would happen in Texas.