Tax-and-spend liberals would have us believe that all music, joy and laughter will fade away unless legislators hike spending and raise taxes.

Today the Texas Conservative Coalition Research Institute proposed their roadmap for how lawmakers might go about balancing the state budget without raising taxes, keeping us competitive and helping ensure economic growth in the future.

There’s a saying, “to make policy, you have to win politically” – and that is what conservatives did with distinction on November 2nd of last year. What’s yet to be seen is if the platform of limited government, less spending, and no new taxes championed by so many of the electoral victors will indeed be fully acted on legislatively.

Political contests shouldn’t be about personalities, but rather focused on policy outcomes; we are talking about the business and future of Texas, after all. Ironically, the first business of the House of this 82nd Legislature might be more about the people than the principles driving the politics.

During a legislative session where creating more efficiency in government is essential, some legislators are examining ways to streamline the Sunset process so that it can live up to its purpose.

The House should be commended for the unanimous decision today to cut their office budgets across the board.

Much of the buzz surrounding the 82nd Legislative Session seems to be fueled by angst over writing the next state budget and how legislators will make ends meet in the face of expected budgetary “shortfall.” Conservative legislators and Texans, however, should be excited by the opportunity this process represents.

Promoters of big government are pitching dark budget days ahead by claiming the state faces a $27 billion budget shortfall. Their math is built on faulty premises, and being repeated by the liberal press. Never mind their numbers don’t mesh with reality.

We’ve mentioned before that regardless of how much of a budget shortfall is estimated for the next biennium (anywhere from $16 billion to $27 billion), the way to approach it is not by asking what can we “cut from the top” of current spending, but what are the services that are “most essential and necessary.”