You wouldn’t know it from reading all of the negative press accounts but the Texas House Republicans took a giant step yesterday towards keeping the “Texas miracle” alive by passing a budget that limits spending to projected revenue over the next two years. And that, my friends, is awesome!
Let the naysayers be the naysayers, on both the left and the right. The left, which apparently includes almost the entirety of the Texas media, continues to push sob stories and dire warnings of disaster because Republicans refused to spend more than they are taking in. A small minority on the right continues to insist that more cuts should have been made and that Republicans shouldn’t be proud of what they accomplished. I really don’t mind the attacks from the left and the media (one and the same?) but the attacks from the right are very frustrating to say the least.
I mean, c’mon guys, give me a break! The House R’s just passed a budget with the first meaningful cuts to General Revenue spending in the state’s recent history. For years, we’ve talked about “cuts” in terms of not growing as much as some wanted. This time, we are talking real cuts in actual spending. Actual dollars, folks. In terms of the overall budget, which includes federal funds, the R’s passed a budget that cut real spending by $23 BILLION. That would be $23,000,000,000. If you don’t understand that, how about this: 12.3 percent. When was the last time you saw an actual, hard reduction in spending of even 1{997ab4c1e65fa660c64e6dfea23d436a73c89d6254ad3ae72f887cf583448986} by ANY government body. This one is 12.3{997ab4c1e65fa660c64e6dfea23d436a73c89d6254ad3ae72f887cf583448986} – that is huge!
So to my friends on the right, stop your whining about not cutting enough and CELEBRATE your victory! To my friends on the left, and the media that supports them, I know you’ll keep trying. And I know that you think, you think, that you have an ace in the hole with the Senate.
I think you are wrong. I don’t think that Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst is as spineless as you think he is. I don’t think you are going to see him allow the Republican dominated Senate to raise taxes, raise fees, or raid the Economic Stabilization Fund. I think that his track record is better than people realize and I think that as soon as the session is over, he is going to start telling us his story and we will be given facts about his record that are important to the voters that participate in Republican primaries.
And guess what? Voters in Republican primaries are much like me and don’t give a rat’s patootie what people on the left or in the media think. I think that Republican primary voters care about the future of this state and they know that the House did the right thing. And they will be very pleased to know that “the Dew”, as many like to call him, held firm and supported the House budget.
And if “the Dew” doesn’t hold firm?
Adios Dew.
It really is that simple.
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mean to imply that it will be easy. Far from it. The sob stories will increase, no doubt about that. And we all know that conservatives like Sen. Dan Patrick love to “fix” sob stories. But I’m betting that the ambitions of “the Dew” will overcome those hurdles.
See there? The budget “process” isn’t really all that complicated, is it?
The Repubs may have overplayed their hands. I'm not saying that the "Dew" will lose the Senate election, I mean let's face it, the majority of Texas voters are ok with intelligent design being taught along side evolution in Science classrooms. But, Texas voters are not representative of most of the rest of the country's voters. Further, if the Dems can nominate a good candidate for Senate(Bill White?) they could win. I will predict that Obama will win in 2012.
Izzy, methinks you have lost your mind. Bill White for Senate? And why on earth wuold Texans care about the voters in the rest of the country? Did you just say that Obama will win Texas in 2012 or are you talking about him winning reelection?
"Bill White for Senate: No, seriously, this time I'm not going to drop out and run for something else."
If the Repubs in Texas get the bighead they might just lose the Senate race in 2012. The seat is ripe for the plucking. Why should Texans care about the rest of the country? Wow. Maybe what the Texas conservatives need is a new slogan. Here's one that seems to fit: Texas Republicans, 20{997ab4c1e65fa660c64e6dfea23d436a73c89d6254ad3ae72f887cf583448986} rambunctious, 12{997ab4c1e65fa660c64e6dfea23d436a73c89d6254ad3ae72f887cf583448986} unctuous.
You have no rational basis for making that remark. Dreams, yes, logic, no.
This one's for Ed…..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOKK8mAkiUI
Speaking of unions….. when the Repubs treat us like this, we take offense…..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_CAs3q7G48&feature=related
Republicans nationwide are overplaying their hands. Most folks like ss and medicare. How do we fix ss? Raise the limit to 180k from 106k. The economy? Simple. Financial speculation tax. http://wealthforcommongood.org/campaign/financial-transaction-tax/
If we'd just unite the workingmen, tax the rich to the extent they deserve, and put speculators out of business, why, this country'd do all right.
Sounds like a great platform, but I think the Democrats already lost three presidential elections in a row on that one. Starting back in 1896.
Social security is solvent, and doesn't need fixing. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sen-don-riegle/post_1901_b_845106.html
Standing firm? From Jim Pitts speaking to the Texas Tribune:
"You know, it's funny. Since we passed the bill on Sunday night, I've had some of the members that are more of the 'We came here to cut' and you know there's a big group, especially freshmen, who feel like they've been mandated to cut," Pitts said. "But they're coming to me and they want, 'Don't cut this program, or don't cut that program. Don't cut in my back yard'. So, we may start hearing more of that and they may say, 'If there's some new revenue, we won't have those cuts in my back yard.' It's been real interesting the last couple of days."
http://www.texastribune.org/texas-taxes/budget/pitts-talks-gently-of-adding-to-texas-budget/
Gritsy, don't think I haven't noticed that attitude. But the plain fact is they did hold firm on the vote. Waffling in print isn't the same, although it is certainly troubling.
Problem is, this wasn't "the" vote. This was an early trial balloon so everybody could see what kind of flak they would take, from who, back home. Now that it's out there, they're seeing who's upset about kicking Granny out of the nursing home or closing junior's school, and the reaction is as predictable as it is inevitable. Don't be too surprised or disappointed if the final budget doesn't look much like HB 1 that just passsed.
Gritsy, I've been doing this way too long to be either suprised or disappointed by a politician's vote. People can disagree with each other and still remain "friends". But that doesn't mean I won't encourage others to vote against my "friend". Just the way it goes.
That said, it isn't inevitable, not by a long shot. I'll keep fighting for what is right and others will too. Giving school supts bonuses and raises while laying off teachers shows 1 of 2 things: (1) that school boards are arrogant and unnaccountable because of incumbency or (2) peope think that voters are stupid. I choose to think that voters are not stupid.
Ah, Iz. If enough Democrats keep misrepresenting accounting, finance, and economics to repeat that lie, maybe it'll eventually come true.
What lie are you talking about……….Leif , is it? You're starting to sound like…..hmmm.