Power program may be shorting schools

The Galveston County Daily News: "Is the State Power Program saving money for Texas schoolchildren and taxpayers?

Because of its exemption from certain taxes, the program appears to be costing the state far more than it is making.

Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson has repeatedly claimed that the State Power Program, a partnership between the land office and Reliant Energy, has been a good deal both for the taxpayers and the public schools. But the partnership appears to be exempted from far more in gross receipts tax than it is making.

If the program represents a net loss for the state, that money could be showing up in Reliant’s bank account.

But Attorney General Greg Abbott has said that state law exempts the land office and Reliant from reporting the company’s profit from the program."