Today, the Texas House added a provision to the must-pass “Fiscal Matters” bill that would automatically withdraw money from the Rainy Day Fund as new dollars become available.
You’ll remember that during the regular Session the House passed a budget that did not recklessly raise taxes or deplete the state’s savings, while spending within our available means. In this special session, though, the Texas House on Thursday night has tentatively adopted a provision to SB2 that would, effectively, automatically deduct money from the RDF in the future.
Recklessness has come into fashion, apparently.
This irresponsible amendment essentially plots to spend money the state doesn’t have. This illusory funding would purportedly go toward funding enrollment growth in Texas school districts. School districts whose rate of spending has far outstripped both the rate of enrollment and the rate of inflation; all while spending only about half of every education dollar in the classroom.
The amendment passed on a non-record vote today but still has to be passed tomorrow (Friday) to be ultimately included in the bill. This means right-thinking lawmakers still have a chance to undo it.
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Andrew Kerr is the Executive Director of Empower Texans / Texans for Fiscal Responsibility
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