Senator Kirk Watson
Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas -- Some political commentary is just timeless.
Im talking of course about the cartoon Popeye.
Think about the plot of what I recall to be just about any episode (and I say this not having seen an episode of Popeye in about 50 years; thats how timeless it is): Things are bad in ... whatever town it is that Popeye lives in. Hes getting beat up and/or neglected and things are looking pretty well hopeless. Then some spinach appears often in a can often falling out of his shirt and yes its totally appropriate to ask why he didnt know there was a can of spinach inside his shirt that whole time. Popeye eats it and order is restored.
There are several lessons here: Disorder and tribulation are bad. People should strive to do better. And doing better is a whole lot easier when a can full of green stuff falls out of your shirt.
Fight to the finish when you eat your spinach
Last week a metaphorical can of spinach fell out of the states metaphorical shirt. The Comptroller revealed her estimate of the states revenue for the current budget (covering 2012 and 13) and the next one (for 2014 and 15).
The numbers were staggering. The current budget will end up with $8.8 billion more than had been expected when it was passed in 2011. And the states Rainy Day Fund which is basically a savings account is expected to swell to $11.8 billion by the end of the next budget cycle.
If youre a teacher whos been laid off or whos avoided being laid off by foregoing a raise and adding a couple more kids to an already crowded classroom feel free to be a little indignant right now.
For the rest of us lets try to set aside the fact that the Comptrollers revenue forecast was off by ALMOST $9000000000 two years ago. Or the fact that had that colossal error been less egregious the legislature could have come together and avoided many or even most of 2011s education cuts the first time in memory that the state cut funding for enrollment growth in our schools.
Now theres only one real question: are we going to make things better fix whats broken and undo the damage thats been inflicted on Texans (especially our youngest ones)? Or are those in control of the Capitol going to just shut their eyes and hope things work out?
We need a better budget
We got an early answer to that question yesterday and it wasnt encouraging.
Budget writers in the Senate laid out an initial draft budget that wouldnt even try to fix whats been broken when it comes to basic necessities such as schools transportation networks and health care for Texas children seniors and women.
It would fail to restore the $5.4 billion that was short-sightedly cut from schools in 2011 and instead would lean even harder on homeowners and property taxpayers to replace state funding.
One redeeming quality is that this budget unlike years and years of earlier versions would rely less on the diversion of money thats supposed to be dedicated for specific purposes such as parks hospitals and clean air but that isnt used for those purposes. Ending these diversions has been a priority of mine since I was elected to the Senate and Im glad to see budget writers and others responding.
But theres still a deceptive gimmick to intentionally underestimate the states Medicaid responsibilities and I suspect there will be more examples of debt diversions and deception that come to light in the coming weeks.
Texas can do better than that especially with the resources we now know we have.
Texas can do better
As I said in a statement last week the states thriving economy speaks very well of the entrepreneurs business owners and workers who are fueling it.
But as much as politicians want to take credit for others success it doesnt speak well of the Texas budget those in control of it or the decisions that shaped it.
There are a few basic things that a typical business person needs government not to screw up the schools have to be strong enough to attract parents and train future workers; the health care has to be able to keep workers and their kids healthy; the roads and transportation networks have to be good enough to move people and products around; everybodys got to be able to trust the water supply; etc.
In all of these areas Texas can do much better than its been doing. At some point those in control of the Capitol will run out of tricks and diversions covering up the problems theyve created.
So as we begin this years budget debate and especially as you hear budget writers talk of tightening belts while bragging about an alleged surplus" itll be helpful if you remember a few things:
- If your state isnt paying its bills you dont have a surplus.
- If your state ranks near the bottom in vital necessities like education funding and health care you dont have a surplus.
- If most of your states school districts are suing you over an inadequate and inequitable school finance system you dont have a surplus.
- And if theres an honesty deficit in the way your state balances its books you dont have a surplus.
We now know without question that Texas could have done better by its kids parents employers and its future in 2011. Now that we know we have the resources there should be no more excuses.
