One prominent Austin lobbyist is threatening to kill HB 2974’s reforms unless Sen. Birdwell’s taxpayer protection language is removed.
Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN, Texas – Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and all 31 Texas Senators issued the following joint statement:
“Over many years, the Texas Legislature has approved legislation to allow local governments to partner with private developers to build hotels and convention centers. Local governments use state sales tax, alcohol tax, and hotel occupancy tax rebates to finance these projects for 10 to 30 years.
“These tax dollars would normally go to the state, as all sales and alcohol taxes do, to fund government functions.
"Recently, some local governments have designated multiple projects without getting approval from the legislature. If developers want to receive rebates from the taxpayers, they must come before the legislature and make the case for each of these projects.
“These unauthorized actions will divert billions of dollars from the state over the coming decades. This loss of revenue will withhold money from future property tax reductions, education funding, teacher pay raises, healthcare, law enforcement, and many other important initiatives, in favor of profits for large developers.
“House Bill 2974 includes language forbidding local governments from adding unlimited projects. HB 2974 must go into law with Sen. Birdwell’s language, which is supported by the Texas Hotel & Lodging Association, to force cities and developers to get approval for each project.
“The Texas Senate and the Lt. Governor support responsible economic development projects. One prominent Austin lobbyist is threatening to kill HB 2974’s reforms unless Sen. Birdwell’s taxpayer protection language is removed. This is absurd and terrible public policy, and we will not negotiate.
“Texans in 17 Senate districts and countless House districts would lose out on jobs and economic growth if this lobbyist kills this bill. This will all be on him, and this will be his legacy.”
“These tax dollars would normally go to the state, as all sales and alcohol taxes do, to fund government functions.
"Recently, some local governments have designated multiple projects without getting approval from the legislature. If developers want to receive rebates from the taxpayers, they must come before the legislature and make the case for each of these projects.
“These unauthorized actions will divert billions of dollars from the state over the coming decades. This loss of revenue will withhold money from future property tax reductions, education funding, teacher pay raises, healthcare, law enforcement, and many other important initiatives, in favor of profits for large developers.
“House Bill 2974 includes language forbidding local governments from adding unlimited projects. HB 2974 must go into law with Sen. Birdwell’s language, which is supported by the Texas Hotel & Lodging Association, to force cities and developers to get approval for each project.
“The Texas Senate and the Lt. Governor support responsible economic development projects. One prominent Austin lobbyist is threatening to kill HB 2974’s reforms unless Sen. Birdwell’s taxpayer protection language is removed. This is absurd and terrible public policy, and we will not negotiate.
“Texans in 17 Senate districts and countless House districts would lose out on jobs and economic growth if this lobbyist kills this bill. This will all be on him, and this will be his legacy.”
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick
Sen. Bryan Hughes
Sen. Bob Hall
Sen. Robert Nichols
Sen. Brandon Creighton
Sen. Charles Schwertner
Sen. Carol Alvarado
Sen. Paul Bettencourt
Sen. Angela Paxton
Sen. Kelly Hancock
Sen. Phil King
Sen. Mayes Middleton
Sen. Tan Parker
Sen. Borris Miles
Sen. Sarah Eckhardt
Sen. Molly Cook
Sen. Nathan Johnson
Sen. Joan Huffman
Sen. Lois Kolkhorst
Sen. Roland Gutierrez
Sen. Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa
Sen. Judith Zaffirini
Sen. Brian Birdwell
Sen. Royce West
Sen. Pete Flores
Sen. Donna Campbell
Sen. José Menéndez
Sen. Adam Hinojosa
Sen. Charles Perry
Sen. César Blanco
Sen. Brent Hagenbuch
Sen. Kevin Sparks
Sen. Bryan Hughes
Sen. Bob Hall
Sen. Robert Nichols
Sen. Brandon Creighton
Sen. Charles Schwertner
Sen. Carol Alvarado
Sen. Paul Bettencourt
Sen. Angela Paxton
Sen. Kelly Hancock
Sen. Phil King
Sen. Mayes Middleton
Sen. Tan Parker
Sen. Borris Miles
Sen. Sarah Eckhardt
Sen. Molly Cook
Sen. Nathan Johnson
Sen. Joan Huffman
Sen. Lois Kolkhorst
Sen. Roland Gutierrez
Sen. Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa
Sen. Judith Zaffirini
Sen. Brian Birdwell
Sen. Royce West
Sen. Pete Flores
Sen. Donna Campbell
Sen. José Menéndez
Sen. Adam Hinojosa
Sen. Charles Perry
Sen. César Blanco
Sen. Brent Hagenbuch
Sen. Kevin Sparks
