Quorum Report Daily Buzz Quorum Report Daily Buzz Login into the Quorum Report Subscribe toQuorum Report
Quorum Report Daily Buzz

March 20, 2020      7:00 PM

SB: Bipartisan outcry grows for sales tax relief for Texas bars and restaurants caught in the middle of COVID-19 response

Comptroller Hegar’s position is reasonable: Local entities cannot be without revenue during a public health crisis; Gov. Abbott should perhaps explain why backfilling local governments could not be done through a strategic withdrawal from the Economic Stabilization Fund

More lawmakers from both parties are coming together asking Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar to waive penalties for bars and restaurants facing the choice of paying sales taxes today or potentially laying off workers as they comply with public health safety measures in response to COVID-19.

Rep. James White, R-Hillister, joined his colleagues overnight writing a letter asking Hegar to offer some kind of relief. Maybe Hegar isn’t the one who should be getting the letters and calls, though. The Big 3 – Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, and Speaker Dennis Bonnen – are primarily responsible for moving state money when the Legislature is not in session through their roles on the Legislative Budget Board.

Here’s what White said:

By Scott Braddock

Click here to visit Austin Flag