Perry Appears Ready to Call Special Session {on School Finance}

Lubbock, TX, Avalanche-Journal ^ | 04-02-04 | AP

[Theodore R.]

Perry appears ready to call special session

AUSTIN (AP) — Gov. Rick Perry has told Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and House Speaker Tom Craddick that he will announce this week a special legislative session in mid-April to address school finance, sources told The Associated Press on Thursday.

Spokespeople in Perry's office said he has no plans to call a session this week but would not deny that Perry made those comments to Dewhurst and Craddick.

"I'm not privy to his conversations," said spokesman Robert Black. "The governor speaks with the speaker and lieutenant governor these days literally on a daily basis."

Two days have been mentioned as possible start dates, April 12 or April 19, said the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Perry, who was in Dallas on Thursday meeting with business leaders, had set April 1 as a target date for reaching a consensus on the school finance issue. He backed away from the date a short time later, saying only that he hoped to have a consensus sometime in April.

The three Republican leaders have not reached an agreement on how to overhaul the share-the-wealth system of funding public education, known by the nickname Robin Hood. Perry has said he will call a session once a consensus has emerged.

Perry spokeswoman Kathy Walt said the governor still wants to reach a consensus before announcing a session.

"I think there is a consensus that has emerged at least on the basic principles of educational excellence, of maintaining equity while eliminating Robin Hood, of cutting, capping and controlling property taxes and of maintaining a healthy job creation climate," she said.

But, she noted, "you still have a variety of revenue options out there being discussed."

Whether Perry wants a consensus on specific revenue options before announcing a session will "be the governor's decision," Walt said.

Lawmakers have said they want to slash property taxes now levied on homeowners who bear the brunt of the state's public education costs. School officials say they need additional money and that the so-called Robin Hood plan is not working efficiently.

Perry has said one way to replace Robin Hood is through a "split-tax roll," an idea he has praised that would tax residential and commercial property separately.

[Theodore R.]

Hold on to your wallets!

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[Guvmint_Cheese]

Why do I smell a state income tax coming down the pike?

[Texas Federalist]

Why do I smell a state income tax coming down the pike?

I don't think that would happen. There would be a housecleaning in government if that happened and Perry is too worried about his political future. In order for a state income tax to pass, you need two things: a Democrat controlled legislature, and a governor who doesn't give a crap (like Lowell Weiker in Connecticut in the early 1990's).

[Theodore R.]

Do you think that a state income tax in Texas will, in the words of the late James B. Blaine, R-ME, bring about "the speedy retirement" of the Republican Party in Texas? Will a new third party quickly arise to replace the GOP?

[Guvmint_Cheese]

Well, if they up the Franchise Tax, I think business will have second thoughts of coming here or will consider leaving. They'll probably hit the gas tax again, where a quarter of it already goes towards education, as opposed to transportation, which was where it was originally intended.