It's clear that major business-related issues are emerging this legislative session, including property-tax relief, home-equity lending and tort reform.
Legislators' stances on those issues might not be so clear, but they generally lean one way or the other on these hot topics:
State Sen. Carlos Truan, D-Corpus Christi: "I'm in favor of reducing property taxes. I pay quite a bit myself. The question is what impact is that going to have on how to shift the billion dollars or who is going to pick up the tab after we reduce the billion dollars from our state funds?"
State Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo: "It would be wonderful to offer property-tax relief . . . As a member of the Senate Finance Committee, I will work with other members and with our colleagues in the House under the leadership of Governor Bush and Lieutenant Governor (Bob) Bullock to ensure that we move cautiously and wisely. I don't know anybody who wouldn't like property-tax relief. The question is what are the other alternatives. Who will pay?"
State Rep. Hugo Berlanga, D-Corpus Christi: Said he favors lowering property taxes if they are lowered enough for homeowners to see a significant decrease.
"If it's going to be a 5- or 10-dollar cut, then that doesn't get us anywhere. I'm talking about real reductions . . . I'd love for us to be able to lower property taxes . . . but at the same time, I'm still waiting on the details from Governor Bush's plan."
State Rep. Vilma Luna, D-Corpus Christi: "If we decide X amount of money is going to be cut out, then where does that money come from? Does that mean we will increase sales taxes or create new (taxes)? If we reduce property taxes now, do we want to tie schools' hands and say (they) never can go to property taxes to create revenue . . . I have to wait and see the big picture before I can say yes, this is the way to go."
State Rep. Irma Rangel, D-Kingsville: Has suggested one possible relief option -- a state income tax. "I'm not prepared to support sales taxes or taxes that will ultimately fall on the backs of the consumer . . . Let's make it clean. A personal state income tax would provide some relief because some of that tax will be applied to the reduction of the property tax."
State Rep. Richard Raymond, D-Benavides: "I am in favor of lowering property taxes. I want to make sure that we don't do it on the backs of small businesses in the state of Texas and that we don't do it on the backs of average Texans . . . If you give them a break, they have to pay some other tax and end up paying more."
State Rep. Gene Seaman, R-Corpus Christi: "All of us are in a wait-and-see mode at this time to see what's going to come out . . . If there is a way that we can reduce property taxes in a fair and equitable manner, then obviously we are all going to be in favor of that."
State Rep. Judith Hawley, D-Portland: "I think it's a great idea, but I don't think it's possible. I think items like unfunded mandates from the federal government and our educational responsibilities will use that money that (Bush) thinks is available for property-tax relief . . . I am going to look for every possible way I can to cut government spending. I am committed to lowering taxes wherever possible."
Texas is the only state that doesn't allow general home-equity lending. The state's Constitution allows home-equity loans only to pay for taxes or home improvements.
Truan: "I have been traditionally against repealing the Texas homestead exemption . . . Notwithstanding my past opposition, I would like to see the measure . . . But I am not going to say that I am enthusiastic at all about removing the exemption. I'm not ready to open up the floodgates to lending institutions that can conceivably take advantage of people."
Zaffirini: "Basically, I believe Texans should decide. We've debated it as long as I've been in the Senate -- which is 10 years. It's time for the voters to decide, because it requires a constitutional amendment, so it's not something the Legislature can decide. They can only place it before the voters."
Berlanga: "If we do anything, I want to be sure there are significant safeguards. I don't want a bunch of people losing their homes. I just want to be sure that our senior citizens and people who might find themselves in that situation are fully protected."
Luna: "I'm a little bit leery about it, so I want to look and see what we've got as safeguards . . . If it's true that (safeguards have been added, I) would be open to looking at the bill. But if it's the same as the old bills, I'm probably not very supportive."
Rangel: "My concern is the elderly senior citizens who have grandchildren, or even some children, who get involved in criminal activity and they want to borrow money to help their grandchildren. And a lot of people out there are trying to conduct scam deals on senior citizens . . . I'm really looking at this and I don't want to take the privilege (of borrowing money using their homes as collateral) from anyone, but I get concerned. If it's pretty well protected, I may be (considering) it."
Raymond:"I would like to see us give people more flexibility, but I also know that those who are opposed to it have been concerned with whether or not consumers will be taken advantage of. And if we do anything, we have to be clear that those concerns are addressed." Raymond said he would ask for an amendment to the bill to prevent consumers from using homes as equity for gambling.
Seaman: "I am generally in favor of allowing the public to vote on the question of home-equity lending. I personally would not vote for it unless there are consumer protections built into the bill that will protect the public from bad lending practices . . ."
Hawley: "I will support home equity . . . But the bill I probably will support must protect the senior citizens (and) ag interests."
Truan: "I believe that we have done a lot of work in tort reform already. I supported all of the tort-reform bills two years ago, except one . . . I am reviewing all the bills related to those subject matters."
Zaffirini: "I have a record of voting for tort reform. But I always want to see the legislation before I commit one way or another. I support the concept because it's fair. We shouldn't be a market for out-of-state folks to come in and venue-shop. Texas courts should be for Texans. We're trying to streamline our budgets, so we have to prioritize Texas' needs."
Berlanga: Said he is for limiting out-of-state lawsuits and supported tort reform in the last session. "Obviously, we're going to go back and evaluate the full impact of what we did last session . . . I think there is ample room to do some insurance reform, as well. We have to make sure there is a balance."
Luna: "I'm waiting to see the final proposals. We did some substantial changes last session . . . That's the question -- is there anything that is left to be done? It's too early in the session for me to make a decision on if I'm going to change them."
Rangel: "I'm not really a tort-reform person, for fear that our courts will be restricted to our citizens and (citizens will not have access) to their due process and whatever claims they are seeking . . . I may give consideration to a bill that would give the court discretion as to whether or not the claim, or the case, belongs in their courts, in accordance to our rules of procedure."
Raymond: "The bottom line is this -- I don't want a lawsuit to come into Texas if Texas doesn't have anything to do with the lawsuit . . . We shouldn't have restrictions if it is a legitimate lawsuit."
Seaman: Said he will co-author any of the tort-reform bills. "The key issue is to stop out-of-state lawsuits because they jam up our court system and it keeps our citizens from using the court system. Our judicial system and our jury system is utilized for that, and our taxes are paying for it."
Hawley: Said she recently signed on to be a co-sponsor and probably will support all tort-reform measures. "I am in support of them, and my goal is to make sure that justice is not for sale in Texas and that everyone's rights are protected and that the system is not abused. . . . What it does is it puts reason back in the system."