Posted on 05/22/2011 11:24:06 AM PDT by ForGod'sSake
UPDATE: Reading the release a little more carefully, this is the first budget cut in Texas in 50 years. I have no idea when the last other state was to actually reduce spending. I would welcome if anyone has the answer to this question.
Via the Texas Public Policy Foundation, the Texas Legislature has reached a deal for the upcoming fiscal which actually cuts government spending. This is not a reduction in the rate of growth, it is not a cut based on a proposed budget, it is not a series of accounting gimmicks, the State of Texas will actually spend less money next fiscal year than it did last year. In so doing, it will be the first state in 50 years to actually implement a real reduction in spending. From the TPPF release:
This state budget deal is a victory for all Texans – and especially for the Texans who worked hard over the past several months to remind our legislators that they wanted a fiscally conservative state budget. The announced budget deal is a win for Texas on three specific points:
• It does not use a single penny of the rainy day fund for the next biennium.
• It does not raise taxes.
• It does represent the first all-funds reduction to a biennial state budget in the past half-century.“What happened in the Texas Legislature this session is more than just a victory for Texans. It’s a victory for America. Texas already leads the way in job creation, economic vitality, and economic liberty. Now Texas is leading the way in the most important cause facing our country: the need to live within our means.
“Today, in Austin, Texas, the men and women of our legislature showed it can be done. That’s a tremendous accomplishment for Texas – and it’s a shining beacon of hope for America.”
Indeed. Let us hope that John Boehner is paying attention - this is the kind of leadership the American people expect from Congress. Not budget gimmicks, not reductions in the rate of the Federal Government’s growth, but some evidence that the government is actually spending less from year to year. And while liberals and go-along-get-along Republicans claim that actual cuts to government spending will create economic disaster, the experience in Texas proves the exact opposite, as Texas remains the strongest state in the country in terms of economic growth.
Cut the budget. Make government smaller. Grow American businesses. Texas is proving it can be done.
Austin has its share of conservatives too, they’re unfortunately just outnumbered.
If you knew what you were talking about, you’d know that Austin was on the Colorado, not the Brazos...
True enough. A super majority of Pubbies in the House may have had something to do with it. The fact that Texas found its spending scissors is gratifying in any case.
“Today, in Austin, Texas, the men and women of our legislature showed it can be done. That’s a tremendous accomplishment for Texas – and it’s a shining beacon of hope for America.”
I really haven’t followed the budget process closely but it’s still up in the air to some extent as they are still crunching numbers. The Comptroller gave them another billion or so in the forecasted revenues so that helped them some. There are still questions about the entire budget as they put the final numbers together for final approval in both Chambers. Also don’t forget the Feds kick a lot of money to the states. However the $15 billion in reductions applies only to the state expenditures which is going to be somewere around 170 billion over two years.
Education is getting hit and that will domino down to the local ISDs with personnel layoffs, progam reductions, etc.
And this from another article in the Chronicle:
In health and human services, the proposed budget wouldn’t cover $4.8 billion due to anticipated Medicaid caseload growth, meaning lawmakers would have to act quickly to fund the program when they return in regular session in 2013.
Read more: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7575645.html#ixzz1N6uruAto
Eyelids slamming shut. Must be nap time. ;^)
No offense taking, I missed the sarcasm subtitles.
No offense taken, I missed the sarcasm subtitles.
I have this temptation to move to Texas..
It is music to the ears to hear them call in to KLBJ and whine when SGT Sam tells them we need to cut spending, not hike taxes.
Austin has its share of conservatives too, unfortunately they just don't vote.
That is a more accurate statement.
I thought it was the Colorado river running through Austin. The Brazos runs through Waco.
Oh goody, now we’ll be barraged by the doom and gloom, “we’re gonna lose teachers” propaganda.
Meanwhile the construction of the $60 million hi-screwl foobah stadium in the neighborhood keeps going ...
This is a big deal. Texans should rightly be proud of their state for this.
hah-screwl foobah stadium?
Austin, Texas AKA Babylon on the Brazos
Too funny!!
As a 7th generation native Texan I enjoyed your comment.
For the geography purists, how about:
Austin, Texas AKA - “Commies on the Colorado”
Let’s not forget that Texas also just passed an Internet sales tax. All in the name of “Main Street” fairness. Funny how that fairness is actually being pushed by Wal-Mart (not Main Street) because Amazon is cleaning its clock. Wal-Mart also shoved through an Internet sales tax in its home state of Arkansas.
Before anyone gets teary-eyed over budget-cutting, let’s look at the taxes that were imposed to avoid real cuts, and the rainy day fund billions that were tapped to avoid cutting spending too.
Bunch of leftists pretending to be fiscal hawks.
Wow. Impressive. It makes Texas our most vital state and rivaling any other state in the diversity of its population, economy, and international reach.
Those responsible should be considered for national leadership.
Rick Perry would be great for America if he could bring that same insistence on reality to the national level.
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