News continues to editorialize for school tax hike

DallasBlog.com | Tom Pauken:

“As legislators prepare to go into special session to debate the Perry/Sharp plan to shift the tax burden away from high property taxes and Robin Hood to a 1% tax on businessess, The Dallas Morning News continues to push editorially for higher taxes and less property tax relief. ... From this observer's perspective, that is a real way to kill any possibility of getting something done this special session. ”

Ed Cognoski responds:

There's a faction that wants to cut school spending. (The Dallas Blog's own Tara Ross is an example.) The Dallas Morning News is lobbying to increase school spending. As long as both factions at the extremes stay balanced, the Legislature might have enough cover to split the difference and pass a revenue neutral bill, just good enough to satisfy the Texas Supreme Court, at least for now. Neutrality won't upset either extreme enough for them to kill it. That's about the best we can expect from this Governor and this Legislature.

Mr Pauken might just get his business tax. Property owners just might get their tax relief. Gov Perry just might get his legislative achievement to hang his reelection campaign on. And schools will continue to struggle with inadequate funding. Such is what passes for success in Austin.