| Most state agencies haven't recuperated from the dramatic and overwhelming budget cuts made when our state was suffering from major budget shortfalls in 2003.
Since then, every biennium, Rick Perry, Tom Craddick, and David Dewhurst -- also known as "The Gang of 3" -- have demanded increasing cuts. One Republican described their demand as "cutting bone."
Yesterday, the new "Gang of 3" -- new Speaker Joe Straus, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, and 12 year incumbent Republican Governor, Rick Perry -- all notified state agencies that they must identify an additional 5% cut in their current budgeted general revenue funds and general revenue-dedicated funds.
Texas Democratic Governor candidate Bill White released a statement responding to the Republican demands.
The State of Texas has been affected by a global economic recession. The Legislature passed a budget using the Comptroller's assumptions that sales tax revenues would increase in the two years beginning October 1, 2009 compared to the prior two years. At least two months ago it became obvious that sales tax revenues would drop rather than go up. I wrote about this on December 12th. Sales tax revenues for the last three months have dropped by 12% rather than going up.
Governor Perry is the head of the Executive Branch of state government. For months, he should have been identifying efficiencies and productivity improvements that would allow a reduction in spending without a compromise in services delivered. This exercise has occurred among well-run businesses in Texas and cities such as Houston. Any well-run organization can find these kind of deficiencies, but it takes attention to detail and strong management skills to implement them. This job is not the responsibility of legislative leadership. Governor Perry has had information about these declines in sales tax revenues for almost two months. At least the first two or three percent in cuts should have been identified by now and presented by Governor Perry for public comment and discussion.
I have no doubt that the State of Texas will balance its budget, as required by the Texas Constitution. As Lt. Governor Dewhurst has pointed out, this is and has been the law in our State for decades. The task of the Governor is to manage reduced spending without compromising basic services. The later the Governor starts the more difficult this will be.
Perry even wanted to cut more (6%), Dewhurst less (1%) and Joe Straus and the "Gang of 3" eventually decided that 5% was just right.
From Quorum Report:
Straus confirmed earlier in the week that the men would seek the 5 percent cuts, or twice the level originally proposed by Dewhurst in December.
Speaking to reporters before his luncheon appearance at a policy orientation sponsored by the Texas Public Policy Foundation, Perry said that he proposed a higher level of cuts -- 6 percent -- but that the group came to a consensus of 5 percent.
State leaders were able to defer dealing with a budget shortfall last session due to the timely arrival of federal stimulus dollars. With those dollars going away, lawmakers are looking at having to cover a budget shortfall next session somewhere in the neighborhood of $15 billion.
Rather than lead or set priorities, these Republican elected officials have one set of solutions -- rhetoric and blind cuts. |
