Update: Performance Tax

TAB announced its opposition to federal legislation that would impose a new performance fee on local radio stations for playing music for free over-the-air. 

The fee would amount to a "performance tax" on stations.  A resolution announcing TAB's opposition was signed by every other state broadcast association in the country.

S. 379 was filed with four co-sponsors. H.R. 848 was filed with 19 co-sponsors, including Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee, D-Houston.  Jackson-Lee is the only Texas co-sponsor to date.

In contrast, 15 other Texas Members of Congress have signaled their intentions to oppose the performance tax by co-sponsoring a resolution co-authored by Reps. Gene Green, D-Houston and Mike Conaway, R-Midland. 

These members include Reps. Michael Burgess, R-Flower Mound; John Carter, R-Round Rock; John Culberson, R-Houston; Chet Edwards, D-Waco; Kay Granger, R-Arlington; Eddie Bernice Johnson, D-Dallas; Sam Johnson, R-Plano; Michael McCaul, R-Austin; Randy Neugebauer, R-Lubbock; Solomon Ortiz, D-Corpus Christi; Ted Poe, R-Humble; Silvestre Reyes, D-El Paso; Ciro Rodriguez, D-San Antonio; and Pete Sessions, R-Dallas. 

TAB is urging the remaining Texas Members of Congress to join the Green/Conaway effort. We will contact stations individually to enlist their support.

The Green/Conaway resolution - to be filed in a few days - is identical to one that gained majority support last session. It must be re-filed because a new Congressional session has been convened.