Texas voters approve state income tax ban, most other constitutional amendments

[TexasTowelie]

by Alex Samuels, Texas Tribune


Amendments to the state constitution that would make it harder to enact a state income tax, would stabilize funding for state parks and would allow retired law enforcement animals to be adopted by their handlers received widespread support from voters Tuesday.

Supporters of one of the most contentious issues on the ballot — Proposition 4 — proclaimed victory within hours of the polls closing, with about three-fourths of voters supporting the proposal in early voting returns. The proposition authored by state Rep. Jeff Leach, R-Plano, and state Sen. Pat Fallon, R-Prosper, eliminates the possibility of Texas imposing an income tax unless the state changes its Constitution again.

The proposal drew ire from left-leaning groups, including the Center for Public Policy Priorities, which spent thousands to defeat it. On Election Day, the group ran digital ads in “targeted areas of the state” and sent out two mail pieces to tens of thousands of Texas households, according to a spokesman for the group.

Gov. Greg Abbott declared an early victory on the proposition in a statement Tuesday evening.

Read more: https://www.texastribune.org/2019/11/05/texas-constitutional-amendments-uniform-election-results-2019/

[cerebrate2006]

1. Let's make sure Texas stays red

Having progressives linked to a group pushing to add a state tax in Texas is the easiest way to make sure that Texas never turns blue. Who are these idiots?

[LeftInTX]

4. This was a Republican initiative

It was put on the ballot to re-write the income tax ban. It succeeded.

[cpamomfromtexas]

2. This means they will have to legalize weed and tax it now

[TexasTowelie]

3. I doubt it.

Texas has one of the largest rainy day funds in the nation. If they no longer collected federal money, then they could last somewhere between 2-3 months, while there are other states such as Illinois and New Jersey that would be in the hole in just one day. Having about $10 billion in the bank does provide some leeway so that the governor can call a special session if it becomes necessary to address a loss in revenue.

However, I'm fine if they legalize weed and tax it. I'm reasonably confident that my local weed dealer will be able to undercut the prices set by the government and I'm getting the chronic.