MINUTES
SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE
Subcommittee on State Excise Taxes
Tuesday, June 4, 2002
10:00 a.m.
Capitol Extension, Room E1.036
*****
Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule
11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Finance was
held on Tuesday, June 4, 2002, in the Capitol Extension, Room
E1.036, at Austin, Texas.
*****
MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Rodney Ellis Senator Chris Harris
Senator Gonzalo Barrientos Senator Troy Fraser
Senator Robert Duncan Senator Steve Ogden
Senator Mike Jackson Senator Carlos Truan
Senator Jon Lindsay
Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr.
Senator Todd Staples
Senator John Whitmire
Senator Judith Zaffirini
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The chair called the meeting to order at 10:05 a.m. The chair
made opening remarks and welcomed Senator Averitt to the
hearing. There being a quorum present, the following business
was transacted:
Invited Testimony:
John Keel, representing the Legislative Budget Board,
answered questions and provided a detailed presentation
entitled, Streamlined Sales Tax Implementing States
Overview.
Elenor Kim, representing the Comptroller of Public
Accounts, was available throughout the hearing to answer
questions and provide testimony on excise taxes.
John Heleman, representing the Comptroller of Public
Accounts, was available throughout the hearing to answer
questions and brief the committee on excise taxes.
Public Testimony:
Mickey Moore, representing the Institute for State Studies,
provided the committee with information on the key issues
faced by most states surrounding the application of sales
tax on remote sales.
John Johnson, Michael Behrens and Thomas Doebner, all
representing the Texas Department of Transportation,
answered questions and briefed the committee on motor fuel
taxes, their exemptions, and their effect on the Texas
Department of Transportation.
Glenn Gadbois, representing Just Transportation Alliances,
provided a report entitled, Texas' Crisis in Transportation.
Cyrus Reed, representing Texas Center for Policy Studies,
answered questions and provided oral and written testimony
concerning gasoline and diesel fuel taxes.
Vic Suhm, representing North Texas Commission, answered
questions and provided oral and written testimony
concerning gasoline and diesel fuel taxes.
Dr. Mark Canton, representing American Cancer Society,
answered questions and provided oral testimony on tobacco
taxes.
Carter Headrick, representing the Campaign For Tobacco-Free
Kids, answered questions and provided a handout entitled,
Active State Cigarette Tax Increase Proposals.
Dr. David Loose-Mitchell, representing the American Heart
Association, answered questions from the committee and
submitted a handout supporting a raise in cigarette taxes.
Jay McCullough, representing Trust For a Smoke-Free Texas,
answered questions from the committee.
Ed Carter, representing the American Lung Association of
Texas, answered questions from the committee.
Ellen Ward, representing Texans Standing Tall, Mike McKinney, representing the
Wholesale Beer Distributors of Texas,
answered
questions and submitted a packet entitled,
Perspectives on the Taxation of Beer and
Other Alcoholic Beverages in Texas.
Bill Lewis, representing Mother's Against Drunk Driving,
provided the committee with written and oral testimony.
There being no further business, at 2:11 p.m. Senator Ellis
moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of
the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.
______________________
Senator Rodney Ellis, Chair
______________________
Amber Martin, Clerk