Texas GOP leaders - time to save tax relief

What is happening to our property tax cuts promised last year in the wake of a new state tax? In early May, in a 'dark day for taxpayers', the Texas House turned tax cut into spending increase:

The legislation was amended to require that before any new tax relief can go into effect, every public school teacher, counselor, librarian and nurse in the state would have to receive a $6,000 per-year raise. That represents almost $4.4 billion in additional spending every two years that taxpayers would be asked to carry, completely dwarfing the tax cut. ... This was a calculated effort by legislators to increase the size of government and stop property tax relief.

The combination of liberal Democrats and few turncoat Republicans were enough to make this happen. And Tommy Merritt of Longview just happened to be one of them.

Lt Gov Dewhurst tells me via email that they are doing great:

With less than a month to go in the 80th Legislative session, I want to update you on how the Legislature is prioritizing your tax dollars for the next two years and beyond. The Senate recently passed a fiscally responsible budget that cuts local school property taxes by more than $14 billion in 2008-09, sets aside $3 billion and preserves the Rainy Day Fund to continue those tax cuts in 2010-11, and holds all-funds spending to a modest 3.4 percent per year.

Oh really?

Some thoughts from Bill Crocker, Texas' RNC committeeman:

The 2007 session of the Texas legislature is fast drawing to a close, and we are about to see it end without action on two key items that are of tremendous importance to Texans, and especially to Texas Republicans.

The first is a refusal to apply a surplus of tax revenues in such a way that the promised property tax reduction becomes a reality. Representative Ken Paxton has authored a bill, HB 2785, which can accomplish that goal. It got a bad amendment before being passed by the House, and now awaits Senate action. It can be corrected by the Senate and returned to the House for concurrence. If the Senate does not do so, all hope of real property tax reduction in this session appears to be lost.

Meanwhile, there is open revolt in the House. Will Dewhurst save the day? If the Republican lege fails to do the Republican thing and keep its promises on tax relief, 2008 will be a painful year for Republicans.