Texas education budget cuts demand taxing systems be equalized for both poor and rich!

Saturday, March 12, 2011 was a wonderful day in Austin!  Over 10,000 Texans gathererd on the steps of the State Capitol to send a simple message to legislators, "NO Cuts!"  The 4,900,000 students in Texas public schools cannot thrive in today's world with fewer educational resources, especially in a state that is already one of the worst in the nation in education. Our students have been making wonderful progress, till now.

The above photo is a thumbnail to the photo album at http://www.mysanantonio.com/ with 26 photos from the rally. Notice the "NO CUTS!" signs.  The message on the back of those "NO CUTS!" signs is simple.  If HB 354 passes there will be no need for cuts. Study the details and links from http://www.texasflattax.com/ to better understand how the taxing systems in Texas can take a major step toward equal taxation for all income levels.  We cannot continue to tax the poor 12.2% of income while the most wealthy only pay 3%.  HB 354 will bring the wealthy up to almost 8%. The poor will still pay a 50% higher effective tax rate, but HB 354 is a major step in the right direction!

The 100,000 most wealthy families in Texas have average annual incomes of $1.9 to $2 million. The average additional tax on $2 million, under HB 354, would be $98,000.  That would do much more than save the 100,000 jobs in Texas that are planned to be lost. Almost all of the planned budget cuts would no longer be needed.

Would the level of hardship for such a $2 million a year income family equate to that of 49 Texas students (4,900,000 divided by 100,000) who will have to share their teacher with from 3 to 15 more students per class?

  

Texas must tax equally!

Think of the children!