Is Income Tax the Answer to Pay for Schools?

[Servo300]

The current school-financing stalemate in the special legislative session has some again thinking about turning to a state income tax.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/keye/20040514/lo_keye/isincometaxtheanswertopayforschools

[displacedtexan]

1. When I lived in Austin (1976-80)...

We paid a city tax based on the weight of our vehicles, and the proceeds funded the city's public schools.
I think we paid about $50 per year on the Ford sedan and $25 on the MGB.

I don't know if Austin still does that, but I had no problem paying a fee that directly funded the school system... even though we were lowly grad students at the time.

[Ilsa]

2. I like that idea.

Seems like a progressive tax system for noncommercial vehicles and it encourages conservation through public transportation. I guess there were special rules regarding commercial vehicles?

I like the idea that we would have a specific tax that is collected and used directly by the school system.

[efhmc]

3. Good one. I bet a Dem. suggested it.

[NoPasaran]

4. Any idea from back then must have come from a Dem

because there were no republicans back then.

I lived in Austin for a couple of years in the late 70s and don't recall that. I've been here permanently since 1988 and that tax is long gone.

[GOPisEvil]

5. I think we'd see George W. Bush switch parties first.

I think it's a much fairer solution that what's been proposed so far, but the simple facts are that any politician that seriously brings this idea up would be figuratively roasted over an open flame. Texans are very proud of the fact that there is no income tax here. Sen. West 10-cent sales tax idea stinks, too. But I'm guessing he proposed that to make a point...at least I hope so!

[sonias]

6. It's a good idea that..

will never make it out of this repuke controlled Legislature.

Check out Representative Eddie Rodriguez's web site for some good information. Here's the web site Texans for Lower Taxes
http://www.texastaxrelief.com/

Almost 2/3 of us Texans would pay less taxes overall, and the rich and non-paying would put in their fair share. Income tax is a more progressive tax which is why the repukes hate it. They prefer to tax the poor.

I already wrote my repuke Senator Jeff Wentworth and he says no way in hell will he get behind an income tax. My words not his, he just said he would not support an income tax period. He says he supports higher cigarette taxes. He's all about raising sin taxes, and protecting the rich.

Sonia