Your money now belongs to the state

[sonias]

http://www.lettersfromtexas.com/2011/03/your-money-now-belongs-to-state-but.html">Letters from Texas blog 3/21/11
Your money now belongs to the state, but don't worry - it's not a tax

(snip)
Today, Lt. Governor Dewhurst will appoint a subcommittee led by Senator Robert Duncan to look at "non-tax revenue" sources to help balance the budget. I know you haven't read this anywhere because the Republicans in charge are pretending it doesn't exist, but we have this small matter of this teeny tiny microscopic $27,000,000,000.00 budget shortfall. But don't worry, we're not like California (we're worse).


So, I wondered, what exactly is "non-tax revenue"? Presumably, under the definition I've been able to derive from listening to Republicans discuss it, is money or other assets the state has squirreled away in various places, currently out of reach of budget writers trying to make ends meet. Also, they say fees will also be a part of the discussion of this subcommittee. Presumably, they won't be reducing any.

Don't buy into the spin - they're playing with words again.

With the exception of some admittedly-vast real estate holdings we inherited when we beat Mexico in a quaint little war that produced some dandy songs, several iconic old buildings, and at couple of bad movies, and the income and interest earned on that real estate and other interest income, unless I'm missing something, every dime the state of Texas now holds is money that once belonged to you, and now belongs to them. How is that "non-tax?"

If you used to own it, and Texas government made you hand it over, it's a tax.

:thumbsup: Harold Cook gives it to you straight up!

[Ranting_Wacko]

1. No joke. This sort of language is being used ALL the time in Austin.

Case In Point. When librarians raised concerns about how Perry's budget gutted funding for the Texas State Library (particularly the Texshare Databases and Lone Star Library Grants), it was suggested that the libraries could make up the difference by increasing fees and fines.

Now, ignoring that this is entirely dependent upon a steady stream of people who return items late who are then willing to actually pay for said items later, this idea is still incredibly stupid because of who uses libraries the most.

1. The thrifty people who won't spend money on home Internet access, movie rentals or books.
2. The working poor people who don't have money to spend on home Internet access, movie rentals or books.

Group 1 won't contribute any more money into the system. Group two CAN'T contribute any more money into the system. And the minuscule amount of money a library takes in from fines barely covers the replacement cost of a damaged book, never mind being able to fund an international database system!

[sonias]

2. Great example

Really highlights their wrong headed thinking. The only tax they would ever think of raising is the sales tax which already disproportionately impacts the poor. But they hate poor people anyway - so big deal.

This is all headed toward privatization of assets. And if things that can't be privatized - well they are perfectly content to let them die. Libraries? The rich don't use them so bah humbug!

:mad:

[sonias]

3. Fees on drivers, collegians could climb

San Antonio Express-News 3/22/11
Fees on drivers, collegians could climb

AUSTIN — Higher driver's license fees and an increase in college tuition are among potential money raisers as a special Senate panel searches for $5 billion in “nontax revenue” to help fund key services, Senate Finance Chairman Steve Ogden said Monday.

“There are no sacred cows. Everything is on the table,” Ogden, R-Bryan, said after naming senators to the new finance subcommittee headed by Sen. Robert Duncan, R-Lubbock. He asked it to report back in about two weeks.

Ogden said the subcommittee additionally will look at ideas including the speeding up of state tax collections, a proposal also being raised by in the House by Appropriations Chairman Jim Pitts, R-Waxahachie.

Among other items, the panel will examine tax exemptions and look at whether funds such as endowments created by a tobacco lawsuit settlement can be used to help balance the budget, he said.

(snip)
Among other points, Ogden said that “there's $21 billion of state funds sitting outside the treasury that may be available for budget certification and possibility spending.”

This points back to the prior thread white cloud posted - Billions Sitting In State Accounts Can’t Be Tapped. Looks like they're going to find a way to tap them, but they won't be called taxes because you already forgot you paid them years and years ago. Free money whee!!!!

Well in reality I'd rather they tapped the billions, than destroy the public education system. Perry is hoarding the rainy day fund like it's his personal stash. :grr: