Texas and the false premise of Washington money and a balanced state budget

Governor Rick PerryImage by eschipul via Flickr
Tami Luhby, CNN:

Texas Gov. Rick Perry likes to tell Washington to stop meddling in state affairs. He vocally opposed the Obama administration's 2009 stimulus program to spur the economy and assist cash-strapped states.

Perry also likes to trumpet that his state balanced its budget in 2009, while keeping billions in its rainy day fund.

But he couldn't have done that without a lot of help from ... guess where? Washington.

...
Sure he could have. That is exactly what he is doing this year without Washington money. Texas is balancing its budget and keeping the same rainy day fund this time with much less revenue than it did during the last budget process.

Liberals seem to be enjoying the fact of the revenue decrease in Texas, but the premise of their argument is false. Texas will cut spending to make it balance with available resources this time the way it did last time.

Some of those cuts will be painful for some who get state funding, but new taxes to continue the same level of services would be even more painful for the residents of Texas and would also reduce the state's competitiveness in attracting businesses and jobs.

Taking cheap shots at the Governor is not going to change the fact that Texas will produce a balanced budget.  I think much of the anti Perry media lately is aimed at his possibility of running for President.  It is something he has denied and I believe him, but the balanced budget that Texas produces this time around would be a plus for such a campaign.
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Comments

  1. bubbasmom10:57 AM

    Yes, the cuts will be painful, especially for our children and young adults. I saw a copy of the proposed budget cuts that include decimating school and public library services, as well as gutting fine arts programs in schools and cutting funding for junior colleges. In addition, one of the proposals included closing at least 4 junior colleges. Many lower-income students go to junior colleges to get the basics out of the way before attending a university.

    I don't know how the legislature justifies these, but I bet the pork is still in the budget. Far be it from them to actually invest in our childrens' futures.

    I voted for Mr. Perry (again), but this is a travesty.

    ReplyDelete

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