[Hugin]

It has also come to light that Perry, rather than making the necessary cuts in 2009, took Obama stimulus funds and used over $6 billion of the stimulus to plug his deficit.

So what does "it come to light" mean? Nobody knew they used stimulus money for that? And has it yet "come to light" what percentage of the stimulus money was coughed up by Texans? They shouldn't take some of their own tax money back? I bet the Dems would love it if they never had to share federal money with red states.

[smokingfrog]

on February 3, 2009, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and House Speaker Joe Straus signaled the need to reduce stated spending by $500 million by the end of the fiscal year citing “uncertain economic conditions” and the need to leave a “reasonable reserve in the rainy day fund” to avoid facing a deficit in 2011.[22] Anticipated incoming revenues included in the $80.1 billion budget for the year included federal funds, which the state has not yet received and could depend on the outcome of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act being currently debated in Congress.[23] The 2008-9 budget was also burdened by $2 billion in expenses related to hurricanes Ike, Dolly and Gustav.[24] The federal government is expected to reimburse the state for 75% of its costs related to the hurricane, but Governor Perry is seeking an 100% reimbursement.[25]