By Maxine Shapiro, KERA 90.1 business commentator
Dallas, TX – At a time when our state's most vulnerable citizens are in fear of losing funding for crucial and life saving programs, some elected officials in Austin are considering tax-cuts to other sectors. I'm Maxine Shapiro with KERA Marketplace Midday.
So how do you find $9.9 billion? That's the current budget deficit in Texas. Cut into Medicare and public education. Why not? The elderly, the sick, the poorer school districts are already strapped. And now there are actually some proposed tax cuts in discussion. Any other year and I would agree with some of them.
The Dallas Morning News was kind to enough to give us a list.
Here's a few -
"Exempting Bingo equipment from sales tax." How much money does the state make from that to begin with?!
"Extending the property tax exemption on homesteads of those older than 65, from schools to include city hospitals and college districts." That would be nice.
In a fit of zealous patriotism, "Exempting U.S. and Texas flags from sales taxes." Wouldn't it be more patriotic to pay the sales tax?
"Waiving taxes on beer that is being shipped out of state." So, not only can we not get beer or wine shipped into the state, which by the way was ruled unconstitutional by a federal judge last year, but now they're considering giving the Texas brewers more of an unfair advantage by eliminating the tax for an alcoholic beverage leaving the state. Don't even think about it.
Next, "qualifying a disabled person for an exemption on their property tax." If the state takes away their Medicaid, it's the least they can do.
They also want to extend some exemptions to businesses as an incentive for either staying or moving to Texas. But see, all the states are in the same boat. State deficits are from coast to coast. You'll be hard pressed to find any state deepening tax cuts for corporations.
I say we ix-nay the tax-cut idea. Now! For KERA Marketplace Midday, I'm Maxine Shapiro.
Marketplace Midday Reports air on KERA 90.1 Monday - Friday at 1:04 p.m. To contact Maxine Shapiro, please send emails to mshapiro@kera.org.