Burnt Orange Report

The Senate has a Plan... Maybe.

By Byron LaMasters

After the Governor's plan and the State House's public school finance plans went down in flames, the State Senate might actually be putting together a plan they can agree on. Who'd a thunk it? The Austin American Statesman reports:

The emerging Texas Senate school finance plan would cut school property taxes by up to a third, broaden the state's only business tax, legalize slot machines, raise the sales tax by a half-cent and provide about $1.1 billion more for public education.

But while those details were coming into focus Thursday, what remains open to speculation -- and there was plenty of that around the Senate on Thursday -- is whether the Senate can actually pass the legislation. Assuming it does, that vote could come as late as Monday, leaving the House just two days to concur with or kill the legislation before the special session ends.

Beyond those hurdles are the governor, who could veto the main bill, and the voters, who under the Senate plan would likely have at least three constitutional amendments to consider in November.

Basically slots and gambling are back in the senate plan. Property taxes would be cut by a third, sales taxes would be increased by half a cent, and cigarette taxes would increase by fifty cents a pack. In addition there'd be a "snack tax" on unhealthy food. Good God. Note to Democrats: Just block the whole thing. These taxes are stupid, regressive and would likely generate less revenue for our public schools than is currently generated by the imperfect, but workable Robin Hood plan.