Some lawmakers ready to tackle tax code

AUSTIN (AP) — Legislative leaders are warning that steps must be taken to ensure Texas will be able to adequately fund roads, water supplies and schools in the future.

Republican Sen. Tommy Williams of The Woodlands on Tuesday implored a tax policy association to "have an honest look in the mirror about" the challenges and tough choices the Legislature faces.

The state is running out of money and options to build new roads and maintain existing ones, he said. The state's water management plan also is without a long-term funding source. The state's business tax and school finance system are facing legal challenges.

Any increase in taxes will face resistance from conservatives.

Republican Sen. Steve Ogden of Bryan, who chairs the budget-writing Senate Finance Committee, says the state should let voters decide about new taxes through a series of constitutional amendment propositions.