TX Supreme Court decides to keep poor districts underfunded...

The conservative Texas Supreme Court has decided that the current property tax cap is unconstitutional, but that all Texas schools are adequately funded.

The ruling does not affect Robin Hood, but the court did state: "We cannot conclude that the Legislature has acted arbitrarily in structuring and funding the public education system so that school districts are not reasonably able to afford all students the access to education and the educational opportunity to accomplish a general diffusion of knowledge,"

I would have to agree with the lone dissenter (Scott Brister's) comment: the court has failed to demand an "efficient" school finance system as the Constitution requires, and that the majority opinion focuses on "short-term funding rather than long-term solutions."

Ultimately, though, the long-term solutions need to be decided by a state legislature that actually supports public education. With a Republican majority in the Texas House and Senate, we won't have long-term solutions and our short-term solutions will always fall short. The long-term solution would include increasing the state's share of funding public education above 50%, instead of keeping it in the mid-30s as it is now. And a "broad-based" business tax might help, but it won't be the best solution. It's going to take something gutsy--that's if we really support public education. Any pro-wealthy solution, such as an expanded sales tax, will only hurt a majority of Texans. It's about time for a state income tax to fully invest in our public education system.

If we really want to make changes, then they must be done through the ballot box. Now, more than ever, it becomes even more important for Democrats to run everywhere! Simply allowing incumbents the easy way back to Austin will only be detrimental to us as they will feel no pressure from constituents. Even if it's only 20 or 30 percent of them.