Governor Rick Perry, acutely aware of time winding down on this biennial session (the 140 day period that Texas has to complete the passage of all legislation until 2015), has asked the legislature to open wider the doors to bring business to Texas. Perry has proposed that the legislature find $1.6 billion in tax relief for businesses. Two key components of that are: 1) limiting the franchise tax (the tax rate charged to corporations and other businesses as part of doing business in Texas) to five percent; and 2) making permanent a $1 million deduction for businesses that have up to $20 million in gross receipts. Both measures are designed to make it more likely that businesses in another state close up shop and move here by giving tax incentive subsidies (tax breaks that are designed to encourage businesses to engage in certain types of behavior). The Governor’s “open for business” call came after his return from another out-of-state-trip (to Illinois) to encourage businesses to re-locate to Texas. In a paid ad, the Governor suggested that the business climate in Illinois was collapsing because of “rising taxes and government interference”.
And speaking of closing up shop, 37 of Texas’ 47 abortion clinics may have to shut down depending on the votes of two key Democrats in the Senate regarding Senate Bill 537. Sens. Carlos Uresti (D-San Antonio) and Judith Zaffirini (D-Laredo) are opposing an abortion bill which would require abortion clinics to have additional equipment and infrastructure (e.g. X-ray machines, anesthesia pipelines, larger rooms for post-operation recovery, etc.). Opponents of the bill say it is trying to force abortion clinics out of business by increasing expenditures on unnecessary equipment. Supporters of the law argue that they are trying to ensure the clinics have adequate medical facilities.
Senators Uresti and Zaffirini have broken ranks from fellow Democrats on party votes (voting the publicly stated position that your party has endorsed). Last biennial session they voted with Republicans on one of the more controversial laws involving vaginal sonograms for women seeking abortions, but it remains to be seen whether they will do so again.
Right now the bill has 20 supporters (all 19 Republicans and 1 Democrat), but under the Senate rules, the chamber needs 21 votes or a supermajority (requirement that a proposal garner a vote specified at a greater level of support than a simple majority of 51%). Under Senate rules, 2/3rd of the Senators must agree that a bill can be considered by the Senate. So if either of the 2 Democrats change their mind, then the bill can be voted on (where it is likely to pass because legislation only needs a 51% vote.
Get out while you still can seems to be the message of the week.
Lone Star News Review 