Texas is planning to make a huge public investment in space

"Further investment will cement Texas as the preeminent location for innovation."

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[jason8957]

Texas may not have a state income tax, but I pay more in property taxes than I do in federal income taxes. And that doesn't include state sales taxes. But, I don't have a real basis for comparison with other states to decide whether calling Texas a low tax state is accurate or not. I can tell you that it isn't just one property tax. There are at least half a dozen governmental agencies with property taxing powers on my house and it is a lot to keep up with who they are accountable to.

 

[jason8957]

Texas and outer space. Seriously? The only way I could see that working is if we start launching the religious loons instead of waiting on their bullshit rapture.

I often tell my daughter this to cheer her up. Even the red states like Texas are only slightly red (52.1% in 2020) and blue states are only slightly blue. I don't think it is fair to lump everyone into one color and dismiss the entire state regardless of your political persuasion. In 2020, approximately 5.9 million people out of a state of 29 million people voted for Trump and it is called a "red state".

 

[jason8957]

Texas has a large population of illegal immigrants, who often work "off the books" ... i.e. would not pay income taxes.

Texas has a relatively high sales/VAT and property taxes to make up for the lack of an income tax. The added benefit of that it is much more difficult to avoid sales and property taxes. So both legal and illegal residents end up contributing to the state taxes.

The nice thing about property and sales tax is that you can control your expenses. Live in a smaller house, pay less in property taxes. Spend less, save more, then pay less in sales taxes. It's a system that really incentivizes saving.

Regardless of the merits of either system of taxation, my point is that Texas does tax its citizens quite effectively even without a state income tax.

I will say that relying on property taxes allows the state and other governmental agencies to raise your taxes without raising your tax rate, just by saying that your property is worth more than it was last year. They are quite good at that.

 

[jason8957]

Lmfao. Like you flag humpers know anything about a Nor’Easter. Two storms aren’t always the same.

Also, did their Senator fly off to Cancun right before the storm? And did they later blame their teenage daughters (like a big honest man would) for why they were in Cancun while their constituents dealt with the storm?

To be fair, Senator Cruz actually represents the NRA, not Texas.

 

[jason8957]

As usual, this place becomes a salt mine whenever Texas or Florida is the topic.

You should go read comments on the Wall Street Journal. It's the same but opposite. That's why I look at both.