Happy Veterans Day. For those veterans who think Texas Republicans are here to help you, think again.
Texas Governor Rick Perry, Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst, and Speaker Joe Straus have joined with Republicans at state agencies to call for massive cuts to state agencies. Rick Perry, in particular, has made it a point to rail against government jobs. That counts, as well, for those few people who help our veterans navigate the bureaucracy of veterans benefits. From the Austin American-Statesman, "State agencies offer up 9,800 jobs to close budget shortfall"
The Texas Veterans Commission would lose 21 jobs , including three employees who help the families of wounded veterans find jobs. Thirteen of the eliminated positions — nine of which are now occupied — would be claims counselors who help veterans apply for medical and pension benefits with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
A veteran's chances of maximizing his or her federal benefits go up considerably when aided by the counselors, who can navigate the VA's labyrinthine bureaucracy and speak its distinct language, said Victor Polanco , a veterans counselor at the VA clinic on Montopolis Drive. "It can be cumbersome," he said.
Eliminating all 13 claims counselor positions would have the effect of reducing federal benefits to Texas veterans and their families by $88 million over the two years, and the state would lose $3 million in sales tax as a result, the agency estimates.
Democrat Chet Edwards has a commanding cash-on-hand lead against Republican liar Bill Flores in TX-17. Flores has been caught in a lie -- not once, but twice -- and has defended BP. I expect Edwards, as he always has, to maintain a strong advantage in the race.
Republican Speaker Joe Straus has given $260,000 to House Republicans, and reports approximately $3,000,000 cash-on-hand. Makes you wonder why Michael Quinn Sullivan and the Republican tools at Empower Texans are so opposed to Joe Straus, until you remember the fact that their willful ignorance makes them one of the least respected groups in Texas.
The Texas Republican Party held their convention in Dallas a couple of weeks ago. Generally a Party emerges unified and energized for the general election, but that couldn't be farther from the case for the Texas GOP as tensions between extremists and moderates has boiled over into the public.
Republican Leo Berman, the representative of the extreme wing of the Texas GOP, announced his candidacy today to challenge Republican Joe Straus for Speaker of the House. Republican Berman promises a "my way or the highway" approach to leadership should he be successful in knocking off Straus--or simply a reversion to the strong-armed, autocratic style Tom Craddick offered before.
Republican Berman went so far as to say this past Sunday as a guest on WFAA's Inside Politics that the Republican's were only united at the close of their convention(11:50 in):
"...to the extent that Kay Bailey Hutchison and Rick Perry kissed and made up. It's not unified to the extent that the House of Representatives is not unified. It was taken over by 11 RINO's, or Republicans In Name Only."
The ascent of Straus to the position of Speaker, according to Berman, was a "sham" based on promises made to House Democrats and vowed that he would offer the opposing party no leeway if elected Speaker next session.
The airing of Texas Republican dirty laundry brings forward evidence that internal bickering between moderates and extreme conservatives has boiled over into the public domain. A chasm in the Party heading into an important general election is not a good political position to be in. If the Texas GOP can't keep their own house in order how can mainstream Texans feel confident they are capable of keeping the Texas House in order? With an $18 billion dollar budget shortfall, crippling utility costs, and escalating education tabs, all under more than a decade of Republican leadership, can Texans really trust the GOP to move us forward? I suppose the answer is as emphatic as Republican Berman's response to supporting Republican Straus:
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.
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.
Yesterday, Teas House Speaker Joe Straus released Interim Charges to his committees. You can look at them here (.pdf). In a letter to members, Speaker Straus stated, "these charges and the recommendations you develop will form the basis for major legislation we will consider next session."
The following is the third charge given to the House Committee on Elections:
Examine the prevalence of fraud in Texas elections. Study new laws in other states regarding voter identification and recommend statutory changes necessary to ensure that only eligible voters can vote in Texas elections.
Wasn't it already concluded that voter impersonation happens infrequently? Changes, clearly, aren't necessary no matter which way you slice it.
I am upset mainly, though, because Speaker Straus saw how a push for voter suppression derailed plenty of good laws last session. It was his one colossal failure as a first-term speaker, and he wants another go.
Wow. What happened to learning from one's mistakes? The only way I can see this as something other than a repeat of an error is if he feels his position is in danger from the Craddick-Right. Even still, Voter Suppression should be a non-starter with any leader, especially one that fell flat in its wake once already.
Texas cannot keep up with the demand of those in need of food stamps. According to Lisa Falkenberg of the Houston Chronicle it is taking months to obtain benefits. Folks are growing more desperate by the day.
Meanwhile, Texas isn't coming close to meeting federal requirements to process food stamp applications within a month. Last month, about 38,000 new applicants were left awaiting approval even though the federal deadline had passed. About one in six applications is processed incorrectly.
Food Stamps are 100% funded by the Federal Government. All Texas has to do is distribute the funds. Unfortunately due to either incompetence, stinginess or cold-hearted contempt for the state's struggling jobless, Texas is not doing its job.
R.G. Ratcliffe has answer the question for us, "how much would a special session cost Texans?"
Answer: $30,000 per day.
When Perry calls the anticipated special session to extend the life of the five agencies, it will cost taxpayers another $30,408 a day for lawmakers to finish their incomplete business.
Ratcliffe writes a detailed story about the real costs of operations at the capitol. While the 140 day regular session only costs $9.1 million dollars, a special session could cost tax payers an additional $900,000 if the session runs 30 days.
Simply put, Lt Gov. David Dewhurst, Speaker Joe Straus, and Governor Rick Perry's failure to lead is literally costing tax payers.
Rick Perry has been the Governor of Texas since George W. Bush became President in 2000. He officially assumed the top spot December 21, 2000. Since becoming Governor, there have been 7 special sessions-- 3 in 2005 to deal with education financing, 3 in 2003 to deal with redistricting and 1 more in 2004 to finish off the job.
Now we are looking at an 8th special session in Perry's long tenure as Governor. That is nearly 2 specials called for every regular session. This time we are going to spend $30,000+ a day because of a failure to pass necessary language to keep the Texas Department of Transportation, Department of Insurance, Office of Public Insurance Counsel, the Texas Racing Commission or the State Affordable Housing Corporation alive.
Now taxpayers are required to pay for a lack of leadership from the Republican Party... again.
After Sine Die last night, many Capitol observers assumed a special session was all but guaranteed.
However, if you believe what Speaker Joe Straus told the Austin American-Statesman and Governor Perry's remarks at his recent press conference, a special session may not end up being called after all.
Straus said agencies will continue to operate and a special session may not be necessary. “It’s possible we could avoid one,” he said, deferring the topic to Gov. Rick Perry, who has the sole authority to call special sessions.
“I don’t consider this a crisis,” Straus said.
...
“Overblown,” he said of senators’ frets about the bonds.
In his 11am press conference this morning, Perry echoed Straus' uncertainty about a special session as he told the press that it was "way too early to make any calls on a special session."
Update (Matt): Here is the full text of Rick Perry's statement.
Here is the short story. The House put a band aide on a bullet wound and then went to the bar to celebrate. The Senate was left to clean up the mess or put off the hard work to a later date. They went with the latter and now the Governor has decide whether the threats for special session were rhetoric or policy.
Here is the long story.
The Texas Department of Transportation and the Texas Department of Insurance are under threat of sunseting before the next regular legislative session.
The next session won't start for a little under 2 years, but both agencies begin the sunset process in a little over a year and a half. The gap required legislators to discuss a Sunset safety net to fix the gap.
The House put a quick and dirty solution together and voted out HCR 291. HCR 291 was the proposed solution to keep TDI and TxDOT operating until next session since HB 1959 didn't get through the deadlines.
When the Republican led Senate couldn't figure out what to do in response to the Republican led House, Republican Troy Fraser made the motion to simply adjourn the Texas Senate Sine Die without fixing the problem.
According to Quorum Report, Leticia Van De Putte opposed the idea and told her colleagues in the Senate exactly what she thought.
San Antonio Democrat Leticia van de Putte was not satisfied with the response. She pointed out that the Department of Insurance is also in danger of being sunsetted.
"What happens to consumers should be leave here with out authorizing the continuance of the Texas Department of Insurance (and TxDOT)?" Van de Putte asked.
[...]
"I'm afraid that we are shirking our responsibility. Just because the House has acted irresponsibly, does that mean they have to drag the Senate into it, too?" Van de Putte said. "We are possibly facing legislative suicide with those two agencies."
Needless to say, the nearly 2/3rd Republican chamber voted to adjourn without fixing the problem.
Now, Rick Perry has to decide whether addressing the agencies before the sunset really is a top priority of his or not. If it is a priority, his only solution is to call a special session. If it was all political pandering and posturing, then say goodbye to TxDOT and TDI.
Regardless, this is what failed leadership looks like on every level. This a failure of the House, Senate, and the Governor. There wasn't a leader at any level and because of it, Republicans decided to go home instead of working through the problem.
Windstorm insurance was a huge priority for Rick Perry. The hard work and push doesn't mean much without the Department of Insurance.
A clarification on the choices that lay ahead today.
House rules do not provide for any kind of Calendar or sequence of bills to be considered. Ironically, this may be the one time the Speaker's power to recognize is absolute. According to one parliamentary aficionado, what happens today will depend on whom, if anybody, Straus chooses to recognize for a Motion to Suspend. The Motion will require 2/3s.
The Speaker has not yet announced his intentions
Meanwhile, the Senate adjourned yesterday with upwards of 30 bills still to be considered. Since they had suspended their deadline rules earlier in the week, they are free to work pending the recognition of the chair.
You may remember last session when former Speaker Tom Craddick stated the Speaker of the Texas House had absolute power and could recognize members for a motion at his discretion. During this session, Speaker Straus has made the same claim to prevent key legislation to come to the floor during the legislative slow down last week.
Maybe that's how he got the new nickname Straddick?
Regardless, there is less than a day left in the 81st session. Speaker Straus is the sole person responsible for any bill that lives or dies today. Keep that in mind as you watch the session, read tweets, hear bills pulled up, or read blogs and newspapers.
Speaker Straus is calling the shots today and his future and the future of Texas are in his hands.
