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June 11, 2023
NEWS DIGEST
by Brandon Waltens
Good morning,
The debate over property tax relief continues to heat up in the Texas Legislature.
While property tax relief was a legislative priority of Abbott, the House and Senate have been at odds all year on their approach. While the House advocated for stronger appraisal caps, the Senate has supported an increase to the homestead exemption.
Abbott, meanwhile, has increasingly embraced a plan to use the money to help buy down—or “compress”—local school property taxes.
In the current special legislative session, the House passed a bill to do just that—providing around $12.4 billion in relief solely in compression. They then adjourned “Sine Die” that day, meaning they would not return for the remainder of the special session—a move meant to squeeze the Senate into accepting their proposal.
The Senate, meanwhile, passed their own version with a smaller amount of compression but with an increase of the homestead exemption from $40,000 to $100,000, a move Patrick says is meant to ensure that more of the relief goes to homeowners rather than businesses.
Patrick shows no signs of backing down, as just last week he challenged Abbott to a public debate on the merits of both approaches.
The battling proposals have created an interesting divide. Abbott’s plan has received support from groups like the Texas Public Policy Foundation, Texans for Fiscal Responsibility, and the Huffines Liberty Foundation.
Others, like Republican Party of Texas Chairman Matt Rinaldi, have argued Abbott is not serious about property tax elimination, especially when more money could have been allocated to property tax relief in the budget this session, and prefer the Senate plan to benefit young and working-class families.
With the standoff
continuing this week, it remains to be seen who will blink first.
Featured
More candidates are announcing their campaigns against Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan, as his popularity wanes among Republicans in his district.
Phelan has come under fire this session for failing to pass legislation on a variety of key issues such as banning Chinese ownership of Texas land, universal school choice, and border security. Phelan has also received national attention after leading the impeachment of Attorney General Ken Paxton after he called on Phelan to resign due to apparent intoxication on the House floor.
State
Texas to Implement Buoy Border Barriers
Gov. Greg Abbott say he plans to implement a wall of security buoys in the Rio Grande River.
‘Baloney’: Lawyers Blast House’s Political Assassination of Impeached AG Ken Paxton
High-profile attorneys Tony Buzbee and Dan Cogdell will be part of the team representing Paxton in his upcoming Senate trial.
Gov. Greg Abbott Signs New Corporate Welfare Scheme into Law
Both the Republican Party of Texas and the Democrat Party of Texas oppose corporate handouts in their platforms.
Minor ‘Border Security’ Measure Passes, Citizens Need More
The Texas Legislature has passed a measure to increase criminal penalties for human smuggling and operating stash houses.
Local
Fort Worth Mayor Ends Controversial Program Encouraging Kids to Read LGBTQ Books
After it was found that the Mayor’s Summer Reading Challenge included a Pride badge, Mayor Mattie Parker decided to remove the badge.
Jacksboro ISD Teacher Terminated for ‘Improper Relationship’ With Student
Another Texas teacher is accused of having an “improper relationship” with a student, a second-degree felony punishable by two to 20 years in prison.
El Paso City Council Members Use Taxpayer-funded Fuel Cards for Personal Travel
After getting caught with more than $5,000 in fuel spending, former City Rep. Claudia Rodriguez says the city must prove she did something wrong.
Texas Rangers Refuse to Celebrate ‘Pride Month’
The Texas Rangers are the only Major League Baseball team refusing to give into pressure and publicly schedule a “Pride night.”
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Quoting...
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- Sam Houston
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