Jeff Leach will tell you over and over that 70% of Texans are not in favor of an income tax. What he doesn’t tell you is that NO ONE can impose an income tax on Texans without them getting to vote on it. It’s in our Constitution TODAY. 
If a majority of Texans get to control IF we have an income tax at some future date (only after a majority of legislators thought it was a good idea, and after the governor didn’t veto the measure), that seems reasonable.
If a majority of Texans did decide at some future date (after the lege and Gov passed it) that an income tax is acceptable, restrictions on how that money can be spent (reduce property taxes and fund public schools) seems like a good control on government.
That’s what we have in our Texas Constitution today. That’s what Jeff Leach, Pat Fallon, and a whole mess of people behind the curtain want to ERASE with Proposition 4.
Those behind Prop 4 want to tell you that they are “permanently banning an income tax”. That’s BS. The Texas Constitution has been amended 498 times since it was adopted in 1876. That means we see an average of 6 amendments per lege session. Not very permanent.
Those behind Prop 4 will tell you the move from a majority of the lege to 2/3 to pass an income tax (out of the lege) is earth shattering. 680 amendments to the Texas Constitution have gotten there. Not very permanent.
What you gain from Prop 4 (majority to 2/3 in the lege, giving a minority the ability to dictate what Texans can consider) isn’t worth what you give up (restrictions on spending to ONLY property tax and schools, and potentially jeopardizing the Franchise tax).
So why would someone be proposing this change? Is it just political posturing due to a too close election in 2018? Is it businesses chomping at the bit to challenge the franchise tax? Maybe the game is a future income tax with no restrictions to fund pet projects.
And maybe the game is part of a long play to slowly pull down various funding mechanisms for public schools, removing this option, reducing this one. Not necessarily deliberate by the legislator proposing things, but by those feeding bills and language.
We don’t need Prop 4. We already have a voice IF someone was to propose an income tax. 70% of Texans don’t want one now (which Leach is happy to tell you). Our Texas Constitution protects us and restricts how the government can spend. That’s a good thing.
Vote No on Prop 4.
Vote No on Prop 4.
