Texas is historically a “red state” but we’re in danger of becoming a state in the red if Republicans don’t govern with the conservative principles on which they were elected.
Representative Jim Pitts, R-Waxahachie has co-authored a H.C.R 29 with two Democrats from El Paso that would expand the reach of government by allowing Texas to apply for aid from the federal government through the U.S. House passed stimulus package.
Two weeks ago in an Empower Texans interview, Governor Perry condemned the bailout mentality that is sweeping the states of our nation. Gov. Perry and fellow Gov. Mark Sanford of South Carolina have rightly said that states should exercise restraint when it comes to accepting federal dollars.
Now, members of the El Paso delegationare trying to circumvent the sound policy stance of Gov. Perry and introduce resolutions in both bodies that would request bailout dollars on behalf of Texas.
Texas Legislators need to pay careful attention to the stimulus package being crafted by the new administration and the impact that it could have on our state’s budget.
According to the Longview News-Journal currently unemployed Texans and those in danger of losing their posts need not worry, the state isn’t cutting benefits. But given the alternatives it might be time to reconsider.
Austin City Manager Marc Ott is rolling out a new initiative, calling on his employees to identify ways the city can trim its budget. In a time when Austinites are having to do the same this is a welcome sight.
The program is called Dollars and Cents and at the onset it is designed trim the budget by 2 percent. Employee’s cost-cutting ideas will be presented to the city council next month.
Today House members voted to increase their operating budgets and raise the salary cap for legislative employees. While small businesses are tightening their belts, legislators are adding notches.
Under the new rules, legislators will get an extra $1,000 per month to run their offices. At the same time they raised the amount they can carry forward from $15,000 to $25,000.
Every Session bills are filed in the Texas House that range from the humorous to the inane. But of all the work lawmakers face this Session, none might be less relevant to modern life than re-desingating the official state dinosaur. Didn’t know we had one, did you?
There are now 12 House members who have stepped forward as declared candidates against incumbent Speaker Tom Craddick (R-Midland). That’s seven Republicans and five Democrats. We’ve put together an updated list of how they scored voting with Texas’ taxpayers, as measured by our Fiscal Responsibility Index.
The session is coming and with it the customary biennial surplus predictions. Factors such as revenue from a contrived business tax, a natural disaster and a faltering national economy will impact the number but whatever the final tally the Lege should pretend the surplus does not exist.
After a recent TFR speaking engagement a group formed as we were leaving to lamenting the fact that congress was considering a bailout for auto makers. A bailout that now seems imminent.
They were saying “did you hear the execs flew private jets to speak to congress (total cost $20,000 round trip). There won’t be any change after the bailout and we will have to bail them out again. Their CEOs are paid huge sums and for what, rearranging deck chairs on the titanic.”
Taking in these comments I could not help but think of our state’s public education system.