Burnt Orange Report

A few decent reasons I can think of:

FIRST OF ALL, it's an *income tax*. Because Karl Marx once said something nice about it, it is therefore equivalent to Soviet communism according to the traditionalists. Just like public education. Therefore they must both rot in hell.

"Where did this idea come from that everybody deserves free education, free medical care, free whatever? It comes from Moscow, from Russia. It comes straight out of the pit of hell. And it's cleverly disguised as having a tender heart, [but] it's ripping the heart out of this country."

- Rep. Debbie Riddle (R-Tomball)

http://aprendizdetodo.com/causes/?item=20030626

SECONDLY, remember that the GOP is a coalition, and there are more than a few libertarians (even erstwhile members of the religious right) who think that an income tax is worse than gambling, because it's THEFT! and COMMUNISM! whereas gambling is just plain ordinary sin. Or not. But you get the idea.

THIRD, follow the money. Who does an income tax hurt, and who does gambling hurt? It's like Lenin said man, you know... "I am the Walrus?!?" SHUT THE F*CK UP DONNY!

So anyway, Andrew, there's three reasons. The traditionalists are more worried about Reds than gambling, the libertarians are too, and the business folks, are, umm, three.

Andrew... I like the post, and I completely agree with you on the issue... the only real way to solve our fiscal crisis in the long-run is with an income tax. It's not what most people want to hear, including most politicians of our party, but it's the truth. In fact most proposals (the ones I've seen from Rep. Rodriguez and Sen. Shapleigh last session) would in fact amount to a tax decrease for all Texans earning less than $80,000 / year because enacting an income tax would dramatically reduce property taxes.

Perhaps the most interesting bill I've seen this cycle on this issue is that of Lon Burnam. The bill would solve the school finance with a 3% income tax on Texans that make over a million dollars a year. Thus it wouldn't effect 99% of Texans, but it would solve the school finance crisis for now. Sounds great to me, but no tax bill of Lon Burnam's will pass anytime soon..

Jim, yes, you're right on the practicality of all of this, but I think that it is still important for those of us that support a state income tax to educate the public on the practicalities of such a plan. Realistic or not, it's important to establish a dialouge on the topic.

For that reason, I'm going to push this entry up a bit since it got buried a little bit...

I always thought yawl were crazy down in Texas for not having state income tax. The thought of one of the largest and most populated states in the union having most of its state funding come from the Lottery seemed a bit loony. But hey up in Pennsylvania we do river boat gambling and slots to make up for tax short falls. If taxes won't fly in Texas then politicians down there need to find some money making scheme that will. Cuz you folks are in trouble.

Byron -- absolutely.

That said, I'll bet (no pun intended) on gambling winning out over an income tax.

Bring on the craps tables! Unfortunately, when I got to Shreveport, it's all the local folks standing next to me pissing all their money away. Income tax it is.

Two words: constitutional amendment

Andrew, you and I have disagreed a LOT more lately than we have agreed, but I have to hand it to you -- the last couple of days -- both this and the Lynne Stewart piece -- I was right with you 100%. Of course, you may be interested to know that an income tax resolution I was supporting (but did NOT author) narrowly failed at last year's Denton County convention; I've lived all over the country, and from what I have seen states with income taxes are generally A LOT better off than ones without.