The results of the 2019 Fiscal Responsibility Index are here, and Hidalgo County taxpayers will be disappointed to learn that much is the same, and in the Texas House, it’s a race to the bottom. Overall, scores are down compared to those of 2017, reflective of the overall legislature.
The Fiscal Responsibility Index tracks legislators’ voting on issues of spending and limited government and scores them on a grade scale of 0 to 100, with 100 being the highest possible score. Each issue and vote included on the Index, as well as the grading methodology, was publicly noted prior to the votes being taken. The Index is the culmination of an exhaustive list of over 170 votes in the House and 149 votes in the Senate.
Legislators representing Hidalgo County in the House all received a failing grade, and all scored lower than the overall House average of 43. State Rep. Oscar Longoria (D–Mission) and State Rep. Sergio Muñoz (D–Mission) tied in a dead heat for the highest score of 30 in Hidalgo County. Of the five representatives of Hidalgo County, State Rep. Armando Martinez (D–Weslaco) scored the lowest at 23.
In the upper chamber, scores are higher but still lower than the overall Senate average of 59. Both state senators scored the highest scores in the Democratic Caucus, with State Sen. Juan Hinojosa (D–McAllen) having the highest score among all Democrats at 48. State Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr. (D–San Benito) scored a 44. Both scores are down from 2017, as well.
Altogether, the 2019 edition of the Index reiterates that the status quo will remain so unless Hidalgo County taxpayers demand better of their state legislators and hold them accountable for their use of public tax dollars.
Here’s how each Hidalgo County legislator performed:
Texas Senate
Average Rating: 59
State Sen. Juan Hinojosa (D–McAllen) – Senate District 20
2019 Rating: 48
2017 Rating: 55
Career Rating: F
State Sen. Eddie Lucio Jr. (D–San Benito) – Senate District 27
2019 Rating: 44
2017 Rating: 56
Career Rating: F
Texas House
Average Rating: 43
State Rep. Oscar Longoria (D–Mission) – House District 35
2019 Rating: 30
2017 Rating: 30
Career Rating: F
State Rep. Sergio Muñoz (D–Mission) – House District 36
2019 Rating: 30
2017 Rating: 27
Career Rating: F
State Rep. Armando Martinez (D–Weslaco) – House District 39
2019 Rating: 23
2017 Rating: 17
Career Rating: F
State Rep. Terry Canales (D–Edinburg) – House District 40
2019 Rating: 25
2017 Rating: 33
Career Rating: F
State Rep. R.D. Guerra (D–Mission) – House District 41
2019 Rating: 29
2017 Rating: 24
Career Rating: F
