Posted on 04/21/2009 2:29:24 PM PDT by mnehring
So, you think that Texas is a safe red state do you? And you dismiss Texas Democratic Party influence as little to none? Time to think again, boys and girls. Your Texas Senate, controlled by Republicans, voted 22-9 on the second reading of SB-1569 (19-11 on final), which “enhances” our current unemployment system for the purpose of gaining stimulus debt from Washington. My how the mighty have fallen.
Here are the 10 Republicans that joined with all 12 Democrats to make this happen:
This bill is a bad bill financially and socially. First the financials. The sponsor, Sen. Eltife, claims that the federal debt will pay for it for nine years.
Eltife said the federal dollars will cover the cost of changes to the program for nine years and result in the state borrowing less money to keep the state’s unemployment trust fund afloat.
And it pretty much will. The fiscal note lays out the numbers for five years:
| 2010 | 2011 | 2012 |
|
2013 | 2014 | Total | |
| Alternative Base | $43.8 | $43.4 | $40.9 | $39.7 |
|
$39.4 | $207.2 |
| Part-timers |
|
$28.0 | $28.2 | $27.3 | $26.9 | $27.0 | $137.4 |
|
|
|||||||
| Compelling Reasons | $5.0 | $5.1 | $4.9 | $4.9 | $4.9 |
|
$24.8 |
| Admin Costs | $1.1 |
|
$1.0 | $1.0 | $1.0 | $1.0 | $5.2 |
| $78.0 | $77.7 |
|
$74.1 | $72.5 | $72.3 | $374.5 | |
| (all numbers in millions) |
|
The expected haul from the federal debt is around $555 million, which would add about 2.5 years. In addition, it will result in less borrowing by Texas, saving about $80 million in interest, so let’s give Sen. Eltife his nine years.
So what? This is the type of short-term thinking that has ruined the once great states of California, New York and Michigan. It is called passing the buck down the line, in the futile hope that someone else will have the courage to stop the madness. Or, in the case of the Democrats, it is called sticking it to someone else while we can. Sheer lunacy.
Sen. Eltife, who is going to pay for this in nine years? You know who, your children and their children. But wait, you say! They included a requirement that the governor set up a commission to look at repealing it later if they don’t like it.
Right.
The reason that it is a bad bill socially is that it will encourage more laziness amongst the populace. You can argue all day long that it will not but you will be wrong all day long. I’m sorry but giving money to part-time workers so that they can continue to sit their butts on the couch while other people are working only reinforces their desire to do so. This quote from Sen. Deuell is flat wrong:
Deuell argued that the bill was “pro-family” since many part-time workers choose not to work part-time so they can spend more time with their families. He voted for Eltife’s bill, though he noted: “it is always difficult to go against our friend, the governor.”
LOL, Sen. Deuell can spin this 30 ways to Sunday and it still will not make paying part-timers to take it easy a “pro-family” bill. Utter nonsense. Or check out Sen. Ogden’s words of wisdom before voting FOR the bill:
Conservative Republicans Steve Ogden and Bob Deuell helped Eltife make his case today. Ogden noted that he “finds it offensive” that the federal government is dictating how the state operates its unemployment insurance fund, and added an amendment that clarifies that the states does not agree to “unfunded federal mandates.”
I don’t agree with it but I’m voting for it. Have these people lost their minds?
Fortunately, it may get held up in the House:
Given Perry’s clear opposition and the jam-packed legislative schedule, Rep. Wayne Christian, R-Center, said it would be “irresponsible of us to waste the citizens’ valuable time (taking up the measure) if the governor already says it is vetoed.”
“Why should we kill other bills that might be able to help the citizens of Texas if we know that this is a nonproductive exercise of yelling at each other on the House floor?” said Christian, a leader of conservatives in the House.
Let’s hope so. Should it make it out of the House, let’s hope that Gov. Perry follows through on his convictions and vetoes it.
This bill is not good for Texas. Let the Texas Democratic Party earn their liberal spending by winning elections, not handing it to them on a silver platter.
VETO COMING UP from the Govenor
WTF? Steve Ogden is my Senator. Gonna hear from me for sure
Eltife is mine.. jeeze I’m disappointed.
>> Gonna hear from me for sure
Good! Hope you do. He’s my senator too.
They just heard from me, and I didn’t mince words.
I have never been connected to a snottier or less concerned staffer than the beyotch I just spoke with.
Clearly the “conservative” Mr. Ogden feels his seat is safe and he doesn’t owe his constituents the time of day.
Message sent. Thanks for posting links to the Senators.
I’m not so sure Steve Ogden IS a conservative.
Here’s his “campaign” website — Issues page.
http://www.steveogden.org/Issues
It’s BLANK!!! ROFL!
Guess he doesn’t really know where he stands on the issues.
Maybe now that Obama is in, his belief system is undergoing “change”...
It does look like it’s time for Dan Patrick to get to work and take out a few more fake conservatives...just as he did single-handedly with fake conservative Corbin Van Arsdale last year.
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