The GOP way – pain for working, poor, and disadvantaged – is not the only way to produce a budget in Texas

As the 82nd Legislature begins today, it was prefaced yesterday by a worse than expected revenue estimate from Comptroller Susan Combs.  An almost $27 billion shortfall faces the Republican controlled Texas government.  Despite the worse then expected estimate they are not backing off of their promise to make working, poor, and disadvantaged Texans pay for the shortfall.  And using despicable rhetoric in the process, .

The comptroller’s estimate sets the limit for spending and would put the budget shortfall at $27 billion if the state were to maintain the same level of service in public education, health and human services, prisons, and more.

But state leaders, including Gov. Rick Perry, are dismissing that level of spending as an unrealistic wish list.

“I’ll let somebody else talk about that, because that’s not reality. I don’t get to deal with a wish,” Perry said during an interview with the American-Statesman in his Capitol office.

Luckily a Democrat brought us back to reality.

State Rep. Mike Villarreal , D-San Antonio, countered that the additional spending largely accounts for more children in Texas public schools and colleges and other basic investments in the state’s future as its population grows.

“I guess he thinks it’s a dream to bother to educate our children as those before us have done,” Villarreal said in response to Perry’s comments. “I suppose he thinks it’s a dream to graduate more Texans with high school diplomas and college degrees.”

Texas has woefully underfunded it’s government over the last 15 years or so, even in good times. And rarely if ever have those with the most been asked to sacrifice so that our state can be prosperous for all.

We need to be sure that it’s understood that a “Cuts Alone” budget is immoral and destructive, as laid out by the CPPP yesterday:

“With a revenue shortfall this large, the Legislature cannot write a budget through cuts alone without doing terrible damage to Texans and to the Texas economy. For example, cuts alone mean shortchanging our children’s education from kindergarten through college. Cuts alone mean compromising public safety. Cuts alone mean suffering for children, the elderly, and those with disabilities. Cuts alone mean losing jobs and curtailing economic development.

They along with Texas Forward are advocating for a balanced approach, which brings a moral and productive approach to this budget shortfall.

A new coalition of Texans today urged the Legislature to spend all of the Rainy Day Fund as a balanced approach to bridging the state’s anticipated revenue shortfall and fueling new economic growth.

Texas Forward, whose 37 member organizations represent educators, health and human services nonprofits and others dedicated to better lives for all Texans, believes this is not the time to cure budgetary problems with cuts alone. Texas children and their families need more help, not less, in these difficult economic times.

“The Rainy Day Fund, which is expected to include more than $9 billion by the end of the current fiscal year, was created to help lawmakers meet financial emergencies. And, this emergency is of monsoon proportions,” said Reverend T. Randall Smith, president of the Board of Directors of Texas Impact.

Janet Ketcham, ceo/president of Child Advocates of San Antonio (CASA), said a practical, balanced approach to drafting a new state budget also will require some carefully targeted cuts. But they must be combined with spending all of the Rainy Day Fund, maximizing the use of federal dollars and creating new revenue streams that treat all individuals and businesses equitably.

“The health, safety and, in some cases, even the lives of millions of Texans are at stake,” she added.

Unfortunately our state government, controlled by the Texas GOP, is opposed to any solution that would call for equal sacrifice.  Here’s what Jim “throw ’em out in the streets” Pitts had to say.

House Appropriations Committee Chairman Jim Pitts, R-Waxahachie, said a shortfall figure of at least $27 billion is “in the ballpark” when looking at the amount of money needed to provide the current level of services.

The initial House budget proposal that Pitts introduces will be written within available money, without using the rainy day fund or other additional revenues. Lawmakers will decide how to proceed from there, he said.

“We cut education. We cut higher ed. We cut public ed. We cut health and human (services)” in the initial proposal, Pitts said. “We’re just showing the reality of it. … There may be a group that thinks this bill is great. I don’t know what to expect this next legislative session.”

GOP leaders have ruled out new taxes, but some lawmakers have discussed the prospect of using at least part of the rainy day fund.

A super-majority vote of lawmakers is required to spend money from the fund, which projected to contain $9.4 billion in the next budget period.

Texans need to know that the GOP way – pain for working, poor, and disadvantaged Texans – is not the only way to produce a budget in Texas. It’s only fair and morally right that all Texans – yes even the wealthy and corporations – should have to sacrifice.