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I bet you thought Texans were protected from an income tax. Think again. Here is today’s Texas Minute. |
| – Michael Quinn Sullivan
Wednesday, December 19, 2018 |
| · Despite what you might believe, the state constitution doesn’t offer much protection against the imposition of an income tax. · Texas is one of just seven states that doesn’t collect an income tax, despite efforts by liberal legislators over the years to put one in place. Brandon Waltens reports legislation filed yesterday by State Rep. Jeff Leach (R-Plano) would make that task a lot harder. Leach wants to protect taxpayers by amending the state constitution with an outright ban on an income tax. · “The legislature may not impose a tax on the net incomes of individuals, including an individual’s share of partnership and unincorporated association income.” – House Joint Resolution 38 by Rep. Leach · Leach is a Taxpayer Champion, with an “A” career rating on the Fiscal Responsibility Index. · “Texans know far better than government how to spend their own money. That’s why I applaud Representative Jeff Leach’s proposal to amend the Constitution and forever eliminate the possibility of a state income tax.” – Gov. Greg Abbott · In a lawsuit filed this week against the state, a Muslim teacher in Pflugerville alleges a pro-Israel law infringes on her right to free speech. At issue is a law passed by the Texas Legislature in 2017 preventing taxpayer dollars from going to companies and contractors who choose to boycott the nation of Israel or Israeli settlements in the West Bank. Cary Cheshire has the details. · “Texas’ [law] does not infringe on any individual or company’s right to express anti-Israel views or to boycott Israel. However, that doesn’t mean our taxpayer dollars will be allowed to subsidize discrimination by companies that boycott Israel,” said the bill’s author, State Rep. Phil King (R-Weatherford). Bureaucratic implementation of the law, however, has led to some confusion and bumps along the way. King says he will seek to clarify its misunderstandings in the coming session of the Texas Legislature. · A federal judge has determined that ObamaCare was unconstitutional and declared the entire law invalid. Houston businessman David Balat writes in a commentary that decision will have a significant impact on the healthcare landscape even as liberal states and groups work to appeal it. · “Donations in the 2018 Texas elections topped $343 million. Texas candidates and PACs spent more than $449 million. By any objective standard, that’s a lot of money. Find out who’s behind it. Who’s Really Buying Texas?” – Transparency Texas |
| · Everyone on the TV talking-head circuit is wringing their hands about the possibility of a partial federal government shutdown starting this weekend. It’s the weekend before Christmas; none of the federal bureaucrats were going to be working anyway. Please forgive my yawn.
· Any federal government job labeled “non-essential” should be abolished. Immediately. As it is, most of what the federal government spends our money on isn’t authorized by the U.S. Constitution. Paying non-essential employees adds tax-funded insult to constitutional injury. |
| | Number of the Day
380,000 |
The number of non-essential federal employees who would be furloughed should a partial government shutdown occur later this week.
[Source: Jason Bogie, Heritage Foundation] |
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| | Today In History
On Dec. 19, 1832, the people of San Antonio presented the Bexar Remonstrance to the legislature of Coahuila and Texas listing their grievances. It was signed by José Ángel Navarro, San Antonio’s alcalde. His brother, José Antonio Navarro, would sign the Texas Declaration of Independence in 1836. |
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| Quote-Unquote
“I will never forsake Texas or her cause. I am her son.” – José Antonio Navarro |
