CBS News Texas has confirmed that Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gina Hinojosa voted against a constitutional amendment banning a state income tax in 2019, contradicting her recent statements about her voting record.
In an October 13th interview, Hinojosa denied voting against the ban, telling CBS News Texas that she had actually voted against repealing an existing constitutional restriction on income taxes.
However, CBS News reporter Jack Fink reported that legislative records showed otherwise. Hinojosa was among 42 Texas House members who voted against House Joint Resolution 38, which strengthened the Texas Constitution’s prohibition on a state income tax. The measure passed the House 100-42 and was subsequently approved by 76% of Texas voters.
The controversy has also renewed attention to Hinojosa’s 2016 comments describing an income tax as a missing component of Texas’ tax system. At the time, she argued that Texas relied too heavily on property and sales taxes because it lacked income taxes.
Gov. Greg Abbott has accused Hinojosa of misleading voters about her record. Hinojosa maintains that she opposes a state income tax and says her earlier views have changed. CBS News Texas confirmed that she voted against the constitutional amendment strengthening the state’s ban on one, a distinction at the center of the controversy.