Good morning,

With the third special session of the Texas Legislature coming to an end, taxpayers are still no closer to seeing the state on a pathway toward eliminating property taxes. I invite you to sound off on that issue in the One Click Survey.

But first, here is today's Texas Minute.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

Tuesday, October 19, 2021
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Legislature Again Fails Texas Taxpayers

• After ignoring the issue for all of 2021’s regular legislative session, the two special sessions this summer, and until literally the last minute of the evaporating third special session, the Texas Legislature last night delivered a property tax “solution” no one asked for and which accomplishes almost nothing.
     
• Rather than work toward eliminating property taxes – an effort favored by grassroots activists, supported by a policy proposal from 2022 gubernatorial candidate Don Huffines, and proven out by the research of the Texas Public Policy Foundation – legislators last night instead adopted out a last-minute plan that will see homeowners saving $175 for a limited time. (The average homeowner currently pays more than $5,000 each year in property taxes.)
      
• Jeramy Kitchen has the rundown on what happened last night in the waning hours of the third special session.
        
• By way of background, the GOP-dominated legislature has long promised to relieve Texans’ property tax burdens – but has not actually delivered. The evidence? Property tax burdens are higher than ever. 
   
• The Huffines’ campaign push to eliminate property taxes forced Gov. Greg Abbott to finally – this fall – ask lawmakers to take action, though Abbott himself remained silent on what they should do.
      
• A serious proposal from State Rep. Tom Oliverson (R–Cypress) to begin weaning Texas’ school districts from the property tax cash-cow was killed by House Speaker Dade Phelan (R-Beaumont) and Calendars Committee chairman Dustin Burrows (R-Lubbock). According to Capitol sources, Oliverson’s proposal was killed at the behest of superintendents and school district lobbyists.
      
• So instead of giving Texas taxpayers what they need and want, the legislature focused on one-time gimmicks – including a “rebate” that would have seen homeowners forced to grapple with the IRS penalties next year. Fortunately, that idea went down in flames late yesterday… Only to be replaced with a last-minute, hail-mary legislative play amending the Texas Constitution to increase the state “homestead exemption” on property taxes.
      
• Increasing the homestead exemption will result in the average homeowner getting about $175 in savings – with the exemption’s value diminishing from there as property values increase. Texas voters won’t  get to consider this constitutional amendment at the polls until May 2022.
   
• “Texans will never experience the peace of mind that comes with owning their homes until property taxes are eliminated.” – Kevin Roberts of the Texas Public Policy Foundation
   
• To be blunt: You are still renting your own property from the government.

When Politicians Want To Do Something…

• The speed with which the new “homestead exemption” legislation was ultimately proposed and approved (in less than 12 hours rammed through both chambers) is a perfect testament to what can be done if the Legislature – and more specifically, the Republican legislators that control it – choose to prioritize certain legislation.
     

• Compare that with longstanding legislative priorities of the Texas GOP that are still left undone, and it paints clearly the picture of the ongoing struggle between Republican activists and lawmakers from their own party.
   

• When your legislator tells you they “ran out of time” on something important to you, they are not telling the truth. They always have time for what they want to do.

Legislature Gives Taxpayers More Debt

• At the behest of Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, the Texas House and Senate have quickly advanced plans to allow the state’s colleges and universities to saddle taxpayers with $3.2 billion in new debt. 
   
• In debating the issue, State Rep. Matt Schaefer (R-Tyler) attempted to inject some fiscal discipline in the process… but his colleagues soundly rejected it. As Jeramy Kitchen reports, Schaefer’s proposal would have reduced the amount of debt-money given to each institution by the same rate at which they increase tuition.
     
• “The cost of higher education for our students has been skyrocketing year after year. This year we poured billions of dollars of additional federal money into our higher education universities, and many of them are going to raise tuition and fees,” said Schaefer. “Our universities are flush with cash.”
      
• His amendment was defeated by a vote of 34-98. The overall legislation went on to pass the House with only eight lawmakers in opposition, including Schaefer.

A.G. Deploys Election Integrity Unit

• Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced yesterday his office has formed a new Election Integrity Unit to ensure the November 2 election is run “transparently and securely.” Erin Anderson has the story.
    
• Paxton’s effort comes after lawmakers and Gov. Greg Abbott weakened the penalties associated with voter fraud and illegal voting. For example, illegal voting will be lowered to a Class A misdemeanor – downgraded from a second-degree felony – when the law goes into effect on Dec. 2.
   
• When citizen-watchdogs spotted the weakening of penalties, there was a rushed effort to restore the stronger penalties. The fix passed the Senate, but died in the House at the hands of House Speaker Dade Phelan.

Soros Funds Opposition To Citizens

• Leftwing billionaire George Soros’ various front groups are bank-rolling opposition to a citizen-driven ballot initiative in the City of Austin. Jacob Asmussen has the details. 
   
• Citizens successfully pushed onto the November ballot a public safety initiative that would reverse the policies of the Democrat-run city council.

Conservative Leader Awards Dinner!

• The annual Texas Conservative Leader Awards dinner highlights the men and women of the grassroots who work to make the Lone Star State shine brighter than ever. Join us on Saturday, Dec. 4, in Irving for this “reunion” of the conservative movement!
      
• In addition to presenting engraved cavalry swords to the Conservative Leader nominees, we will present the Torch of Freedom to one of Texas’ fiercest advocates for liberty. Who will it be? You’ll need to be there to find out!
       
• Get tickets today!

One Click Survey

Despite a push from conservatives to put Texas on a path to eliminate property taxes by 2033 (without imposing any new taxes), the legislature keeps tinkering around the edges of the existing system.

Who do you blame?

Once you’ve clicked an answer, reply to this email with any thoughts you’d like to share!