Spring Leadership Development Training
Central Texas Interfaith spring leadership development training continued last week Leaders at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church.
We are continuing with the theme of strengthening our institutions.
CTI Does Not, Nor Will It, Encourage Its Organizers or Leaders to Seek Political Office
Central Texas Interfaith’s former Lead Organizer has announced that he is running for Mayor of Austin. Central Texas Interfaith does not, however, endorse any candidate. Mr. Greco is no longer leading or representing the organization.
CTI does not, nor will it ever, encourage its organizers or leaders to seek political office. Our agenda of issues is our candidate, and we intend to advocate for our agenda of issues with all viable mayoral candidates.
"Companies Should Pay Their Fair Share of Taxes, Just Like All of Us"
[Excerpt]
“Tax breaks should be decoupled from school funding and from school board decision making, period,” said Rev. Miles Brandon, a [Central Texas] Interfaith leader and pastor of St. Julian of Norwich Episcopal Church...
Brandon said the new program is better than what existed previously because it no longer includes direct payments to schools, which he described as a “perverse incentive” for districts to approve deals despite the cost to the state's overall education system. He also said the decrease in the total size of each tax abatement is an improvement over Chapter 313, as is the requirement that each deal must pass the governor's office.
But he said Austin Interfaith will continue to encourage school board members to vote in opposition to any request by a company to participate in the new program...“As we see how this law unfolds, I think we will continue to oppose" applications, Brandon said."
[Photo Credit: Arnold Wells, Austin Business Journal]
Texas' New Incentives Tool is Ready, Austin Business Journal [link]
USCCB: Pope Meets US Leaders Patiently Building 'Culture of Solidarity'
[Excerpt]
When Pope Francis told a group of U.S. community organizers that their work was "atomic," Jorge Montiel said, "I thought, 'Oh, you mean we blow things up?'"
But instead, the pope spoke about how the groups associated with the West/Southwest Industrial Areas Foundation in the United States take issues patiently, "atom by atom," and end up building something that "penetrates" and changes entire communities, said Montiel, an IAF organizer in Colorado and New Mexico.
Pope Francis' hourlong meeting Sept. 14 with 15 delegates from the group was a follow-up to a similar meeting a year ago. Neither meeting was listed on the pope's official schedule and, the delegates said, both were conversations, not "audiences."
"It was relaxed, it was engaging," said Joe Rubio, national co-director of IAF. "Often you don't see that even with parish priests," he told Catholic News Service Sept. 15, garnering the laughter of other delegates.
Pope Meets US Leaders Patiently Building Culture of Solidarity, US Conference of Catholic Bishops / Catholic News Service [pdf]
Texas IAF Stands Firm with Legislators That Voted Against House Bill 5
Two Years of Texas IAF Opposition Leads to Reforms to Limit Giving School Money for Corporate Tax Breaks
The Texas Senate and House passed a compromised version of HB5 that still fundamentally represents misguided economic development to the benefit of out of state corporations that would come here for other factors anyway. This perpetuates a corporate welfare state which Chambers of Commerce and industry groups could never prove otherwise.
However, a 2-year campaign by Texas IAF and allies led to some major reforms in HB5 compared to the now defunct and failed Chapter 313 program. When these tax abatement deals are proposed at local school districts, there will now be a fair fight for taxpayers and public school supporters concerned about corporate welfare. HB 5 Reforms to Chapter 313 include:
Read moreIn Response to Texas IAF Campaign, Senate Includes Significant Reforms in Proposal for Corporate Subsidies
House Bill 5 heads back to Texas House for reconciliation.
[Excerpt]
We believe that a strong economic development strategy is the result of investments in education, workforce, and strong communities,
stated Edie Clark, a representative of [Central Texas] Interfaith, a nonpartisan organization of religious congregations, public schools and unions that advocates for families and is critical of school property tax incentives. "They voted to continue to support subsidizing corporate welfare on the backs of schoolchildren and taxpayers."
[Central Texas] Interfaith claimed its two-year campaign in opposition to the program helped eliminate direct payments to school districts and increased job creation requirements for Chapter 403
"These reforms were all meant to respond to our criticisms of the program," Clark said. "We commend the senators who had the courage to vote against this failed program. We look forward to seeing what the speaker and House think of this version of the bill."
Texas Lawmakers on Cusp of Reviving School Property Tax Breaks for Big, Expanding Businesses, Austin Business Journal [pdf]
Texas Senate Passes Bill Bringing Back Corporate Property Tax Breaks, Dallas Morning News
Statement on Texas Passage of HB 5, Central Texas Interfaith
Texas IAF Calls on Senate to Vote No on Failed Chapter 313 Revamp Under HB 5
CREATE 2-YEAR PAUSE TO ASSESS FISCAL IMPACT OF $31 BILLION IN CURRENT CHAPTER 313 TAXPAYER OBLIGATIONS
The Networks of Texas IAF Organizations (Texas IAF) urge Texas Senators to vote NO on HB5, the bill to renew the failed and defunct Chapter 313 program. With just a few days to go before the deadline for the Senate to pass House bills, the legislature has no clear path forward for the state’s costliest corporate tax incentive program, which was ended last legislative session with bi-partisan opposition. HB5 passed out of committee late Sunday with only 6 of 11 votes in favor.
“Though in the past few days there has finally been a real debate on the use of hard-earned taxpayer dollars on corporate giveaways, time has run out to put together an economic development program that protects schools and taxpayers,” said Rosalie Tristan, leader with Valley Interfaith of the Texas IAF. “Legislators and lobbyists had two years to put together a plan, and it’s clear that none exists because school-based corporate tax breaks are a failed strategy that undermines the future of our state.”
SPECIFICALLY, HB5:
BANKRUPTS TAXPAYERS – HB5 would exponentially add to the already $31 Billion in over 900 taxpayer obligated Chapter 313 agreements. $20 BILLION OF THESE AGREEMENTS WERE SIGNED IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS OF 2022 ALONE!
EXPANDS FAILED CHAPTER 313 – Chapter 313 never funded EXPANSION OF EXISTING FACILITIES. HB5 would go beyond relocations and new plants, TO OBLIGATE TAXPAYERS TO POTENTIALLY FUND EXPANSION OF OVER 300 EXISTING OIL, GAS, AND MANUFACTURING PLANTS WITH EXISTING CHAPTER 313 AGREEMENTS!
CONTINUES “STACKING” OF TAX GIVEAWAYS – 72% OF MANUFACTURING PROJECTS (INCLUDING OIL AND GAS) THAT WERE GRANTED CHAPTER 313 AGREEMENTS IN 2022 WERE FOR PROJECTS THAT WON’T BE COMPLETED FOR 6 YEARS OR MORE, AND SOME FOR DECADES INTO THE FUTURE! HB5 Continues to allow companies to hook state taxpayers to pay for projects that start for years down the line, and for which the companies have no obligation to build.
SHIFTS BENEFITS PRIMARILY TO COASTAL PETROCHEMICAL INDUSTRY – While Chapter 313 at least had its benefits disbursed statewide somewhat across rural, suburban, and urban areas, the new qualifications under HB5 would essentially create a regional program where most qualifying projects would be in the petrochemical industry in the coastal region, but paid for by taxpayers ACROSS THE STATE.
“As several members of Senate Business and Commerce Committee pointed out, companies were well taken care of when existing Chapter 313 agreements nearly tripled to $31Billion in the last 6 months of 2022, often for projects decades into the future,” said Fr Miles Brandon of St. Julian of Norwich Episcopal Church in Williamson County. “That’s nearly a generation of tax giveaways. Taxpayers and lawmakers deserve a chance to catch their breath and create a more rational and fiscally prudent approach to economic development.”
*The Network of Texas IAF Organizations are non-partisans; institutionally based community organizations whose purpose is to train leaders to organize families around issues which affect their quality of life. The network includes Communities Organized for Public Service and The Metro Alliance and ICAN in San Antonio, The Border Organization, Valley Interfaith in the Rio Grande Valley; TMO in Houston; EPISO and Border Interfaith In El Paso; Austin Interfaith; ACT in Fort Worth; Dallas Area Interfaith; AMOS - Arlington, The West Texas Organizing Strategy; and Beaumont, Port Arthur and Orange.
Press Release [pdf]
Texas Industrial Areas Foundation Network Analysis of Chapter 313 [pdf]
Vote No on HB 5 [pdf]
Texas Industrial Areas Foundation Analysis of "Stacking" Permitted [pdf]
State Senate to Revamp Tax Break Program, Houston Chronicle [pdf]
Texas IAF: Allow Gun 'Raise the Age' Bill to Be Heard on House Floor
Less than a day after a bill that would raise the age to legally purchase semi-automatic rifles unexpectedly passed through Committee, Texas IAF leaders learned that Representative Guillen (from Rio Grande City) appeared to be actively suppressing House Bill 2744 from being heard on the floor. Delayed submission of the Committee report resulted in the bill missing a crucial deadline for it to put on the Calendars schedule for Thursday -- the last day to hear new bills.
Leaders from across the state held an emergency press conference calling on Guillen and the Texas House Speaker to allow the bill to be heard, and for Calendars.
“Guillen and Burrows should...let the representatives vote their conscience on the House floor. Overwhelmingly, Texans support increasing the age limit of when people can buy assault weapons,” Rev. Minerva Camarena-Skeith from Central Texas Interfaith asserted.
“We’re very, very angry at what’s going on, with them holding this bill hostage,” Valley Interfaith leader Rosalie Tristan of Raymondville told the Rio Grande Guardian.
“We know that there’s five hours left to go before this bill — which is a small step but it is a beginning of a good step — will die,” said Sonia Rodriguez of COPS/Metro Alliance. “Something has to be done and it has to be done now.”
After the deadline was missed, COPS/Metro leaders announced "it's not too late for Speaker Phelan to bring it to the floor for debate and vote."
"How many more children have to die before we act?" demanded TMO leader Bishop John Ogletree.
[Photo Credit: Blaine Young, Texas Tribune]
'Raise-the-Age' Gun Bill Misses Crucial Deadline, Texas Tribune [pdf]
Valley Interfaith: Guillen is 'Actively Suppressing' Assault Rifle Age Bill from Reaching House Floor, Rio Grande Guardian [pdf]
Raise the Age Gun Bill in Peril as Texas House Deadline Looms, KXAN [pdf]
Lubbock and Valley Legislators Block Assault Rifle Age Limit Bill, HB 2744, from Reaching the Floor of Texas House, Texas IAF [pdf]
CTI Tells House Speaker 'It's Now YOUR Corporate Welfare Bill,' as HB 5 Passes
[Excerpt]
Austin Interfaith, a longtime opponent of the program, shared its dismay with a message directed to House Speaker Dade Phelan and the representatives who voted in favor of the bill.
"You managed to bring back the failed and defunct Chapter 313 program and actually make it worse: worse for taxpayers, workers, schools, and the environment," stated Edie Clark, a leader with the organization. "It is now your corporate welfare bill as it heads to the Senate, which is now the only hope to protect Texas taxpayers. The Texas House of Representatives has officially become a fully functioning subsidiary of 'Texas Incorporated.'"
The organization commended local Reps. Gina Hinojosa, Carrie Isaac, Vikki Goodwin, Erin Zwiener, Ellen Troxclair and Lulu Flores for voting against the bill. "We need to protect our children and our schools," Flores said during a March rally in opposition to the bill. "We also need to make sure that we protect everyday working Texans. I'm here to fight for the rights of everyday people I'm proud to lend my hand and do any heavy lifting I need to do to make sure that working people are protected and supported."
[Photo Credit: Austin Business Journal]
Texas House OKs Revised Corporate Tax Breaks to Replace Chapter 313, Austin Business Journal [pdf]
Texas HBCU Legislative Caucus Launches with Support of CTI, Huston-Tillotson University
State lawmakers and Huston Tillotson students announced their intent to form Texas' first Historically Black Colleges and Universities Caucus to help provide the state's HBCUs with "necessary resources and support to thrive." This effort is an outgrowth of a three-year partnership between Huston-Tillotson University (HTU) and Central Texas Interfaith (CTI), involving leadership education and preparation of students studying political science. Fannie Akingbala, a leader from Ebenezer Baptist Church, co-chaired the press conference.
[Excerpts]
HBCU students helped organize the caucus, which hopes to assemble state lawmakers from both the Senate and House who represent, attended or support HBCUs and obtain funding for them "commensurate with the role they have played in developing the prosperity" of Texas...
Read more