Answer: When it is done by the Texas Legislature.

It is absolutely true that the legislature passed a set of bills that will probably allow the school finance system to pass a constitutionality test. To do so, a new $3.4 billion business tax had to be passed, along with a $1 per-pack tax on cigarettes.

Owners of large amounts of property – mostly the oil and gas companies, of course – will benefit mightily from the bill. Homeowners will see some property tax relief, though not senior citizens whose taxes have been frozen.