When Texas voters go to the polls this November, nine proposed constitutional amendments will be on the ballot. Big Jolly Politics previously published information on Proposition 6 here where we outlined suspected coordination between a state agency employee and current elected officials & former state bureaucrats was being used to facilitate its passage. BJP argued in a prior post that it is not an essential role of government to be making bank revolving loans. In today’s’ post we look at Proposition 3 which is designed for the benefit of only ONE company.
According to the Texas Secretary of State website Proposition 3 or HJR 133 would:
“authorize local political subdivisions to extend the length of time that aircraft parts could remain temporarily in this state before being subject to ad valorem taxation. Under current law, merchandise, wares, and goods (including aircraft parts) may remain in this state temporarily for up to 175 days before being subject to ad valorem taxation; the proposed amendment would permit taxing entities to extend the exemption up to 730 days after the date that a person acquired or imported aircraft parts in the state.”
HJR 133, authored by Linda Harper-Brown (Irving) and its companion HB3121 sponsored by Senator Bob Duell (Greenville) would extend the “Freeport exemption” for an inventory of aircraft parts up to 730 days.
In its July 2013 Tax Wrapup for the 83rd session, The Texas Taxpayers and Research Association wrote:
“This narrow expansion of the Freeport exemption is designed to encourage aircraft parts supplier Aviall to locate in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, but will also encourage existing businesses to invest additional resources in Texas.”
Proposition 3 is designed for ONE company.
Texas Republicans incessantly whine about Congress writing laws resulting in the government picking and choosing the winners and losers. Here we have two Republican elected officials in Texas, Linda Harper-Brown and Bob Duell doing the same thing; Proposition 3 is designed for only one company.
On that principle alone I will vote NO on Prop 3.
Thanks David, I knew it would benefit some special friend but hadn’t found the company name.
Of course I expect every one of these execrable amendments to pass. For me the only one that might get a yes is the one to let the undertaxed peeps of Hidalgo County create a hospital district that can tax them at up to .75/100 rather than the constitutionally limited rate of .10/100. If they want to pay big taxes let ’em go.
What about Proposition 2, eliminating defunct State Medical Education Board and State Medical Education Fund? I see it was crafted by candidate for Attorney General Dan Branch. How many hours of staff research did it take to find deadwood that could be safely and heroically pruned? There must be more. Let’s save it for next time.