BOR: - Kirk Watson

Jan Soifer Elected Travis County Democratic Chair

Michael Hurta — Mon, 20 May 2013 14:30:00 GMT

Andy Brown, running for County Judge, is no longer the Travis County Democratic Party Chair. Yesterday, the Party's County Executive Committee, made up of the county's Democratic precinct chairs, met to appoint a replacement.

This meeting saw high turnout, as over 70 precinct chairs were present to choose their new leader. Congressman Lloyd Doggett and Senator Kirk Watson were present, too.

Both Doggett and Watson expressed their gratitude for outgoing chair Andy Brown's hard and diligent work. For that work, that CEC would pass a unanimous resolution praising Andy Brown for his service to the party.

Doggett and Watson also expressed their support for Jan Soifer. Soifer was the only candidate nominated to fill the role in an interim basis -- there will be a full election in the March primary -- and she was elected by acclimation.

Soifer is currently a Democratic precinct chair. She's a practicing attorney who has been long involved in Democratic politics in Austin. Like Andy Brown, who lost an election to a different political office before running for Chair, Soifer's involvement includes a run for District Judge in 2004. Her experience will undoubtedly help her in the chair's most frequent and important function - raising money for the Travis County Democratic Party. The transition is already off to a good start in that manner, as Kirk Watson handed over a $15,000 party right before Soifer was elected.

Soifer started immediately, as she chaired the rest of this May's CEC meeting. In remarks to the precinct chairs, she enumerated several immediate goals: continue the party's solid fundraising immediately, recruit more precinct chairs (~~over half~~ many of the county's precincts are without Democratic chairs), and finally hire a full-time Executive Director to replace former ED Laura Hernandez.

Soifer is the first female chair of the Travis County Democratic Party in over three decades, and she plans to run in the 2014 primary to finish the term.

9:37 pm 5/20 Correction: The original posting said that over half of the county's precincts were without Democratic precinct hairs. That is not correct. Depending on semantics, one might be able to say that almost half were without chairs -- but the CEC approved about 15 new chairs on Sunday.
Clarification: While Andy Brown ran for HD48 in 2006, he dropped out and endorsed Donna Howard, but too late to take his name off of the primary ballot.

Demand an Honest Budget

Kirk Watson — Tue, 14 May 2013 00:42:33 GMT

This was supposed to be the year when Texas finally did better when it came to budget honesty.

We were going to use parks money to pay for parks; clean air money for cleaner air; utility fees for utility relief ... The list goes on.

But taxpayers aren’t seeing the reform they expect, which means your money – tax dollars, fees and such – still aren’t being spent the way you were promised they would be.

Are you ready for an honest budget and an end to diversions? Sign this petition!

Here’s how they get you:

The state budget is honeycombed with hundreds of "dedicated" funds – little piggybanks where those in control collect your taxes and fees. The state promises to spend the money on a specific, usually popular purpose that you probably support.

But then, much of that money is hoarded in the accounts, diverted from its intended purposes and used to cover other costs.

Over the years, the state has allowed those accounts to get bigger and bigger, starving necessities (like parks, trauma care, 911 service and clean air) that it was meant to pay for and covering up for the failure to fund basic state functions (like schools and healthcare) in more honest, transparent ways.

And, as a result, nearly $5 billion was diverted away from its dedicated purposes in the current 2012-13 budget.

Do you think Texans deserve more transparency and fewer diversions? Click here.

At the start of this session, folks like the Governor and Speaker of the House promised to start weaning the state from its addiction to diversions. But, if anything, things are getting even less transparent.

Right now, those in control of the legislature are pushing a pre-election utility rebate gimmick that would divert more than $700 million from its purpose. That’s money Texans have given the state to help low-income families in deregulated electricity markets pay their utility bills.

The reason the money was collected – the need it’s meant to address – still exists. Hundreds of thousands of poor and elderly Texans still can’t afford their bills in brutally hot months.

Do the math; sign the petition!

Budget writers are using that broken promise to underwrite another one: they pledge to divert no more than $4 billion -- $4 billion! -- in the next budget.

That’s close to the $4.95 billion they’re diverting now, minus the $700 million they’re writing off in the rebate scheme.

In other words they’re still addicted to diversions, pursing business-as-usual while shrouding it in fake reform. Worse still, budget writers have rejected calls to craft a plan to wean the state off of this practice over the next few budgets. I filed a proposed constitutional amendment that would bring true, long-term reform to this process; it hasn’t even been given a hearing.

That’s not real reform. That’s like someone promising he won’t keep drinking any more without promising to drink much less, either.

Texas can do better. Demand honest budgeting. Fight diversions. Sign this petition.

A Down Payment, Not a "New Normal"

Kirk Watson — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 16:42:08 GMT

Yesterday, the Senate passed its draft budget for 2014-15. It passed overwhelmingly – 29-2. Obviously, most Democrats in the Senate voted for it. So did I.

Does that mean this session’s budget undoes the damaging budget cuts that our schools endured two years ago?

Does it mean there's a permanent solution to the school funding crisis?

Does it show that this budget makes real progress in creating honest accounting and paying down the billions in dedicated funds that have been diverted from their intended purposes over the years?

Does it mean that the state is making needed investments in Texans’ health and the Texas economy by securing more Medicaid funding?

Umm ... no.

This budget passed with many Democrats’ votes for one reason: it’s a start, a down payment on the change we need to make this session. But no one should think our work is done.

I certainly don't.

The Good News

Even if it's a long way from perfect, there’s some good stuff in this budget.

The budget was put together in a very open, inclusive way. That's not been my experience with past budgets.

A chunk of the $5.4 billion that was cut from schools in 2011 has been restored. There’s substantial, meaningful investment in mental health programs. Most state employees will get a raise – and so many of my constituents who are state employees will tell you that it's been too long since they saw one. The state's retirement systems for former employees and teachers also will see funding increases.

(It was a remarkable moment in the Chamber yesterday when the gallery, packed with retired teachers wearing red T-shirts, burst into applause as they heard what the budget would mean to them.)

And let’s just say it: As horrendous as the budget was in 2011, when the legislature slashed $5.4 billion from Texas schools, pretty much anything that didn’t take out the state’s hard times on its kids is comparatively good news.

But we wouldn’t have been for this budget if we’d thought this was as good as it’ll get this session.

The bad news

This isn’t as good as Texas can do. It just isn’t. I love this state with all my heart, and I know that Texas can do better than this budget.

The state has been sued by most of its districts over the school finance system. A state district judge ruled more than a month ago that the system isn’t fair, isn’t adequate, and isn’t even constitutional. This legislature could – and should – have been working to craft a permanent solution to this crisis. Instead, it’s waiting on a ruling from the Texas Supreme Court, as if the state might yet get off on a technicality.

The fact is that this budget doesn't offer a permanent solution to Texas' running school funding crisis. It maintains a broken, inadequate formula – asking Texas kids and families to wait for the critical investments they need and deserve. We rank 49th nationally in per pupil spending, and after you adjust for inflation, we're actually spending less money per-pupil than we were in any of the last three years.

Really, from the first day of this session, it should have been the goal of every legislator to restore the resources that were cut from our schools in 2011 and renew the state’s investment in its future. That’s still the goal, and there will still be ample opportunities to do that between now and Memorial Day. If the legislature fails to do that, this session will be remembered as a failure – as it should be.

The danger of the “New Normal”

I see the budget passed yesterday as the beginning of our work to do better by Texas and its future. What’s scary – what we need to fight – is the perception that this budget is all we need, or that it represents some sort of “New Normal.”

I worry that some legislators may consider this budget to be a new benchmark for what’s considered adequate or acceptable, even as teachers and students look for ways to do more and more with fewer resources, and Texas women, seniors and kids struggle to get health care.

Texas can, should and must do better by our schools, our kids, our people and our future – not just leave them all a little less worse off.

So this budget vote needs to set the stage for the changes we know we need: a permanent school finance solution that creates great schools, fundamental reform of the budget process, and major investments in health care, water supplies, transportation and Texas’ future.

Yesterday was a vote for progress and process. It’s going to take all of us – not just those who almost single-handedly cut $5.4 billion from our schools two years ago – to make the changes that will meet Texas’ needs, prepare its future, and lay the foundation for a 21st Century economy.

The Legislative Session's Low Moment

Kirk Watson — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 16:36:09 GMT

Every session has its ups and downs, its highs and lows.

This session is no different, though the lowest point seems to have arrived early this session. It usually comes later – after short-sighted behavior, ridiculous lack of discipline, and terrible (albeit easily foreseen) outcomes.

This low point is my new high: I’m officially back to being fat.

I usually put on some serious pounds during a session. But I’ve porked up much earlier this year than ever before.

This is a session of firsts: the first time my pants have been let out before March; the first time I’ve eaten a sleeve of cookies by declaring to myself that “I deserve these” before I’ve even passed a bill out of the Senate; the first time I’ve stood behind my desk chair for a picture with a page to hide my belly (and the strained button on my coat); and the first time I’ve methodically eaten a box of beef jerky in an afternoon while telling myself it was okay since jerky has no carbs.

I’m way up, which means I’m sort of down.

A big fat falsehood

One of my biggest priorities remains ending the diversion of money that you pay for specific things like clean air, trauma care, or state parks, but that’s used instead to pay for other budget items.

I’ve written repeatedly about the dishonesty of this practice. I’ve worked session-after-session to curtail it. And I’ve even filed a proposed constitutional amendment this session to end this process with a big dose of openness and accountability.

My amendment does four things that I believe are essential to ending diversions:

It puts this vital decision in the hands of Texans by allowing them to vote on the amendment.

It enshrines these limits in the state constitution so future legislatures can’t simply write around them with a bill.

It creates a responsible “glide-path” that gives the legislature more than six years to end this practice.

It allows disciplined discretion that permits a supermajority of the House of Representatives and Senate to redirect this money, but only in the most open and transparent way possible.

I’m very proud of this legislation, but it’s not like my ideas were handed to me on a stone tablet. I’ll work with anyone, from either party, who’s willing to stop playing games and get serious about acknowledging this deep honesty deficit and what it will take to close it.

It’s time to get real

The problem, I guess, is that old habits die hard, and this is one of the oldest bad habits in the state budget. As I’ve said repeatedly, the budget is balanced with a toxic mix of debt, diversions, deception and denial, and it’s not clear that everyone’s willing to throw out those rotten crutches.

In 2001, the state diverted about $1.6 billion in dedicated funds. For the current budget, the total is about $4.95 billion, an increase of more than 200 percent. The state now diverts nearly as much in parks fees, clean air charges, utility bill surcharges and other fees as it collects in business taxes.

That $4.95 billion represents years of broken promises to Texans and spells out the size of the state’s honesty deficit. You simply can’t address this issue without at least coming up with a plan to pay down that debt or creating a mechanism to prevent budget writers from diving back into these diversions in the future.

New normal

That $4.95 billion total is a 10-figure indicator of how badly those in control of the budget have allowed this reliance on diversions to get. This isn’t a matter of just letting bygones be bygones. The legislature has to reckon with its past actions. It’s not enough to say, “We won’t let it grow any more than this.” That’s the equivalent of saying the system is too broken to fix.

It also isn’t possible to fix this deception without constitutional language ending it and a plan for paying back this debt.

Some may claim this measure of responsibility is too hard to live up to. They say they need discretion to write the budget. But “discretion,” and the abuse of it, created this problem, deep distrust among Texans, and distaste for these diversions and broken promises.

So those in control can’t simply say, “Trust us; we mean it this time.” How can anyone believe that this practice will end for more than a session or two without a constitutional provision short-circuiting it?

Besides, approaches like mine still allow some flexibility. Legislators could redirect dedicated funds with a two-thirds vote. They’d simply have to do it in the light of day, declaring fund-by-fund what they were doing and explaining why to their constituents.

That’s what I call “disciplined discretion.” It offers a real change, not just more promises. It allows taxpayers to trust the state by verifying that the legislature’s doing what it’s supposed to be doing. And it requires those in control to be honest about how they’re using taxpayer dollars while still allowing them to do what they need to do to balance the budget.

These diversions have been going on for more than 20 years. They now total billions of dollars. I think Texans will be willing to trust the state with this money again, but the state is going to have to earn it.

Texas Kids Deserve Better

Kirk Watson — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 16:21:00 GMT

On Saturday afternoon, about 3,500 people (according to the Texas Tribune) from around the state marched up Congress Avenue for a rally in support of Texas’ children, its schools, its economy and its future.

I was honored to welcome the crowd to the Capitol and to talk about what’s going on with Texas schools — and what we can do to make sure the state does better by them.

Please take a few minutes to watch the video of my speech. My prepared remarks are below, but I’ll bet you already know the gist of it:

“When our kids make a mistake, we expect them to fix it. When our kids have an assignment to do, we don’t let them procrastinate. When our kids have a test, we expect them to show up and do well. It’s time to demand as much from this legislature as we demand from a child.”

Thank you all for being here … Isn’t it a great day to be in Austin, Texas?

And isn’t it great to be supporting Texas schools?

I’m honored to welcome you all here to your state Capitol, and I’m proud to stand with you today.

We’re here because we love Texas and we love Texas schools. We’re proud of our state’s great history when it comes to fighting for our schools and defending them from harm.

And we know Texas can do better, Texas has done better, and Texas children and schools deserve better than they’re getting from this legislature.

Now, we all know our state’s future depends on whether our kids will learn enough to thrive in the 21st Century economy. That isn’t news to any parent or teacher in this audience or in this state. And let’s face it: you have to talk a lot about the economy to get anywhere with the folks in control of this building.

But it’s time — it’s past time — to talk about the kids, too. Let’s focus on the young Texans who will owe so much of their lives to the things they’re learning in school right now.

And let’s imagine how great the Great State of Texas would be if every single child could get a world-class education right in their neighborhood school. No matter what she looks like. No matter where her parents are from. No matter where she lives — in the ’burbs or the barrio; the gated community or the ghetto.

Just imagine what we could become if every last one of Texas’ children was prepared to succeed and prosper in the 21st Century.

People under that Dome speak all the time about issues like individual liberty, individual prosperity and economic development. But as soon as the subject changes to how to help those kids, it’s like these so-called leaders forget how to talk.

There’s no excuse to wait any longer. The verdict is in, and it says Texas’ school system isn’t adequate, isn’t fair, and isn’t even constitutional.

This legislature is failing our children.

It’s failing them by refusing to restore the $5.4 billion that was unconscionably cut away from schools, teachers and kids two years ago. It’s shameful and immoral that the legislature isn’t working right now to restore these resources — especially now that we know Texas has the money to do that.

The legislature is failing by refusing to even talk about finding a permanent solution to the school funding crisis. Instead, those in control are sitting around like some litigious, deadbeat dad, waiting for an even higher court to force them to meet their responsibilities.

It’s failing by entertaining a deceptive, destructive voucher scheme that could take money from public schools and funnel it to unaccountable private ones.

Those in control fail every time they refuse to be honest, open and accountable in describing what’s happening in our schools. Every time an elected official uses deception and denial, or plays fast and loose with basics like funding levels or graduation rates, our kids suffer.

And the legislature is failing our kids by trying to stake out this new normal — one that allows Texas to do less and less for our kids even as the 21st century demands more and more of them — at this instant where the state’s changing demographics and economy make free, public schools more important than ever.

The good news is that we can fix all of these things. Your state representatives and senators could walk into this building right now and start addressing all of these failings.

So it’s time to stop waiting to do the right thing.

When our kids make a mistake, we expect them to fix it. When our kids have an assignment to do, we don’t let them procrastinate. When our kids have a test, we expect them to show up and do well.

It’s time to demand as much from this legislature as we demand from a child.

Thank you for being here, and thank you for fighting to save Texas schools and to build a better Texas.

Four Promises, No Labels

Kirk Watson — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 16:25:29 GMT

With all due respect to Congress, nobody’s nailed down the “politics at its worst” thing quite like Texas’ State Board of Education.

Our board has one policy area to not screw up: what kids learn in Texas schools. And yet, for years, it’s been wrought by conflicts that have been initiated, in my estimation, by folks who care more about propagating what they themselves believe rather than what kids actually need to know.

The dynamics have gotten so bad that two legislative sessions ago, in 2009, the Senate actually busted the Governor’s appointee to chair the board. Last session, there was so little support for the Governor’s chair that she didn’t even get a vote. There's even a PBS documentary about it called "The Revisionaries," which you can watch online until Feb. 27.

Well, yesterday, the Senate Nominations committee, on which I’m the only Democrat, took up the nomination of Barbara Cargill, the third nominee for SBOE Chair that the Governor’s given us in the last three sessions.

And the committee recommended her confirmation. Unanimously.

Why vote yes? Find out below the jump.

As I said yesterday, this was a tough vote, and it’s one I thought about a lot.

Chairwoman Cargill and I will always disagree on some big issues. We think about and approach politics and public education – at least on some fundamentals – from different places.

But I used the nominations process and my position on the committee to ask her important questions and to be sure we got answers to those questions. She's made the commitment – to me, the Senate and the people of Texas – that she won’t allow her personal politics to dictate how she leads the board or what kids learn in schools.

Specifically, there were four big commitments I got from her during last week’s hearing that promise she’ll do her job in a way that’s less political – and better for children and schools – than either of her previous two predecessors (or, significantly, the likely alternatives that the Governor might appoint if she’s rejected):

1. No creationism in school, no pressuring publishers: Texas deserves a (to borrow a phrase) fair and balanced Board of Education chair, and Cargill has agreed to work in this way. Regardless of her personal beliefs, she assured us that if creationism is going to be taught, it should be taught at home or in church . . . not in Texas textbooks. Critically, she also pledged not to use her position to put pressure on national publishers or try to force them to teach a single set of beliefs.

2. No political litmus tests: Cargill admitted she'd made a mistake in the past when she applied a political litmus test (i.e. “Is this person a conservative”) to potential curriculum experts and fellow board members. She said she no longer asks potential experts about their political beliefs, and she spoke to the importance of reconciliation and communication with her colleagues. She also said clearly that she values diversity among the board members and diversity of opinion on the Board.

3. Better definition of an expert: She also promised to clarify and strengthen the definition of an expert through SBOE rules. That’s a big deal: right now, you’re considered an “expert” (at least for curriculum-writing purposes) if you have nothing more than a bachelor's degree in a particular subject. We all love Texas schools, and I hope we all agree that Texas can do a better job establishing basic education standards for all of its schoolchildren.

4. Board transparency: Cargill pledged to make the Board more open and accountable. This is a big priority for me, and I truly believe it will pay off in better a better education for Texas kids. I'll work with her and with other Board members to see to it that this happens – and she committed to do the same. I also have legislation to improve transparency on the board.

No Labels

I’ve often preached the importance of throwing away labels. It’s my most important ground rule for governing.

This is a case, I believe, where it’s better for everyone – and especially our kids – if we put aside political preconceptions and consider that the board is better under Chairwoman Cargill than it has been in the past, and better than it could be under other potential appointees.

Regardless of the alternatives, from several conversations with her and from her testimony last week, I do believe Cargill approaches her role as chair very seriously. She seems to be working to lead the board in good faith, and I appreciate that.

She didn't answer every question perfectly, and there's plenty for people to legitimately point to as revealing ideas and approaches they – and I – disagree with.

Frankly, I naturally wish every nominee would agree with me on all (or at least most) issues. I wish each appointee would be able to eliminate everyone's fear about how they will serve.

But that's not realistic, particularly in a political environment. We have a nominations process that's meant to mitigate that fear and protect our state from harm. Because of that process, two SBOE chairs rightly weren't confirmed. That process also allowed me to ask hard questions of Chairwoman Cargill and have her make public promises about how she'll serve.

We all must work to hold her accountable for what she's committed to do. And I'm looking forward to working with her to make sure the Board operates fairly and in the best interest of Texas kids.

We've given the SBOE a lot of responsibility for our curriculum and Texas’ future. I take this responsibility seriously and hope she will too. Her testimony gives me sufficient confidence that the process will make her a better chair than she would have been otherwise. I'm also confident we’ll all be watching her actions closely.

2014 Texas Governor's Race: Democratic Primary Preview

Ben Sherman — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 18:00:00 GMT

The Republican primary is already getting spicy as donors choose between Attorney General Abbott and Governor Perry.

But what's happening on the Democratic side? With Battleground Texas swooping in to give our state the Democratic voter push it needs, the Democratic effort will be one to watch. There are a number of good candidates who may run, but little besides speculation to go on for now. We can expect to see candidate announcements in June, when fundraising commences.

Who's On Deck for 2014?

State Representative Mike Villarreal: Representing San Antonio in the Texas House since 1999, Mike Villarreal has gained a name for himself as a serious legislator with an appealing personality. After growing up in San Antonio, Villarreal went to Texas A&M and then Harvard's Kennedy School of Government and is now pursuing a PhD in public affairs at UT's LBJ School while teaching as an adjunct professor at St. Mary's University. He has spent the last three years focusing on education (a perfect issue to bring statewide) and budget transparency. Villarreal is young, a strong campaigner, and would certainly appeal to Texas's growing Hispanic voting population. The 123rd House District is safely Democratic, making Villarreal an even more appealing potential candidate for Texas Democrats.

Former Houston Mayor Bill White: The Democratic nominee for governor in 2010, Bill White has spent couple of years laying low in Houston while working in investments. White ran an impressive campaign all over Texas in 2010 that garnered national attention, and his loss is blamed in large part on the year's difficulty for Democrats nationwide. A poll released a few weeks ago by Public Policy Polling shows White leading Perry in a 2014 matchup, making a strong case for White's electability. White was a hugely successful mayor, and has a down-to-earth persona appealing to a broad swath of Texans. Earlier in 2010, White sought Kay Bailey Hutchison's Senate seat before she took back her promise to retire. So it's not impossible that White will seek Sen. John Cornyn's Senate seat in 2014. But no one knows what White will do yet - he hasn't said anything either way.

State Senator Kirk Watson: Austin's former mayor is a well-known, personable legislator who would appear to have the energy for a run at the governor's office. He ran for Attorney General in 2002, losing to Greg Abbott, but 2014 is a very different year. Watson might be able to capitalize on his ability to rev up Democrats, six years of experience in the Texas Senate, and plentiful ideas to make a serious run at the governor's office.

Longer shots include...

State Representative Rafael Anchia: Representing Dallas in the Texas House since 2004, Anchia is known as a likable, hard-working legislator. Anchia would certainly run a good campaign with his appeal to both Latinos and Texas's growing 18-35 year old Demographic. Any plans about future runs for office are not yet known.

State Senator Wendy Davis: An energetic and charismatic progressive who singlehandedly forced a special session in 2011 by filibustering the state's inadequate education funding, Davis would be a very good candidate for governor. She's been representing Fort Worth since 2009 and regularly makes lists of state legislators to watch. Even if she doesn't run in 2014, Democrats will be hoping she does soon. Texas Democratic Party Chairman Gilbert Hinojosa recently said of Davis, "From the perspective of electability, she's one of our top superstars in Texas. Her sensibility and approach to politics will just automatically propel her as a top candidate for statewide office."

San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro: San Antonio's mayor is the top Democrat in Texas and arguably the brightest rising star of Democrats nationwide. From his celebrated keynote speech at the Democratic National Convention to his upcoming autobiography, it's only a matter of time before Castro runs for higher office. But which office will that be? Castro just announced his re-election campaign in the 2013 San Antonio mayor's race, and says he's "not running" for governor in 2014. That's probably true, but he certainly deserves his place on this list - if only for all the buzz you'll hear about him around this race and others.

Whoever the candidate is, expect 2014 to be a year of energetic Democratic campaigning as Texas comes closer and closer to voting blue statewide.

What "Unconstitutional" Means

Kirk Watson — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 16:39:06 GMT

I wrote some last week about a judge’s ruling that the way Texas finances schools and education is unconstitutional.

But that word, “unconstitutional,” doesn’t really do it justice. The ruling was a sweeping condemnation of the way Texas has failed to invest in our schools and our future, even in violation of our history, our identity and, yes, our constitution.

“The Court declares that the current school finance system violates ... the Texas Constitution," state District Judge John Dietz declared. He called the system "inefficient, inequitable and unsuitable," and he found that it "arbitrarily funds districts at different levels below the constitutionally required level.”

He later called the school finance system “inadequate,” saying it doesn’t give schools the resources they need to achieve that constitutional standard of “a general diffusion of knowledge.”

It’s hard to think of a way that the system could be much more broken. Maybe if someone were stealing something ...

Read more below the jump.

Time for action? Not so much

In a normal world, this ruling would bring, at the very least, some level of shame for the folks who created this system.

Something like this should fire up legislators – folks who are already in Austin to pass laws on things like, you know, school finance.

It should end the charade that our schools are good enough – that they don’t need to be better or that Texans don’t deserve better.

It should jump-start reforms leading to a permanent solution in how we finance Texas schools, ensuring that our kids all have access to an equitable and excellent education.

But in the world of the Capitol, this ruling has become a reason NOT to take action. That’s because it’s going to be appealed to the Texas Supreme Court. Those in control have made it crystal clear that they aren’t going to take action until the litigation wraps up, despite the roadmap that the lawsuit and ruling lays out.

So no matter what the ruling says – no matter what truth it reveals about the state of our schools, no matter what it tells us about what our teachers and kids are dealing with right now, no matter how much we all know that something must change – it’s not something they’re going to deal with.

Those in control don't even seem to be seriously entertaining our work to restore the roughly $5.4 billion that was cut from schools two years ago.

What else is there to talk about

So what are those in control talking about this session?

Well, there’s vouchers – or, if you prefer, backdoor vouchers that reward companies with tax breaks for putting money into private schools, thereby reducing funding for public schools that our constitution is trying to protect.

Actually, scratch that. The concerns about backdoor vouchers (and doubts about their chances for passage) are so deep that last week, the voucher talk was actually talk about whether we should be talking about vouchers at all.

And what about the Governor? Well, he devoted precious little of his State of the State speech last month to even the possibility of providing more funding for public schools – backdoor vouchers seemed like a bigger focus for him, especially when it came to education funding.

So where was he in the days after this critical ruling, this moment that cries out for leadership? Naturally, he was in California.

Wouldn’t it be nice if he were thinking about kids in Texas and making sure they were educated enough to seek and create these jobs?

Better schools for a better Texas

One of the things about Texas that folks should be proudest of is our shared commitment to schools and education. That commitment was clear from Texas' declaration of independence.

The truth, once again, is that Texas can do so much better – and Texans deserve so much better – when it comes to providing this essential economic infrastructure.

Texas kids and parents deserve a fair system that produces truly excellent schools and opportunities, not excuses or delays. They deserve the necessities that vanished with the 2011 budget cuts.

It’s ridiculous that, instead of helping these hard-working middle-class Texans, those in control are instead waiting on another court ruling that may or may not help them fix something they know is broken.

Texas can do better.

We're ALL Popeye the Sailor Man ...

Kirk Watson — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 17:12:20 GMT

Some political commentary is just timeless.

I’m 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; that’s how timeless it is): Things are bad in ... whatever town it is that Popeye lives in. He’s 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, it’s totally appropriate to ask why he didn’t 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 state’s metaphorical shirt. The Comptroller revealed her estimate of the state’s 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 state’s 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 you’re a teacher who’s been laid off – or who’s 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, let’s try to set aside the fact that the Comptroller’s revenue forecast was off by ALMOST $9,000,000,000 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 2011’s education cuts – the first time in memory that the state cut funding for enrollment growth in our schools.

Now, there’s only one real question: are we going to make things better, fix what’s broken, and undo the damage that’s 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 wasn't encouraging.

Read more below the jump.

Budget writers in the Senate laid out an initial draft budget that wouldn't even try to fix what's 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 that's supposed to be dedicated for specific purposes such as parks, hospitals and clean air, but that isn't used for those purposes. Ending these diversions has been a priority of mine since I was elected to the Senate, and I'm glad to see budget writers and others responding.

But there's still a deceptive gimmick to intentionally underestimate the state's 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 state's 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 doesn’t 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; everybody’s got to be able to trust the water supply; etc.

In all of these areas, Texas can do much better than it's been doing. At some point, those in control of the Capitol will run out of tricks and diversions covering up the problems they’ve created.

So as we begin this year's budget debate, and especially as you hear budget writers talk of tightening belts while bragging about an alleged “surplus,” it’ll be helpful if you remember a few things:

If your state isn’t paying its bills, you don’t have a surplus.
If your state ranks near the bottom in vital necessities like education funding and health care, you don’t have a surplus.
If most of your state’s school districts are suing you over an inadequate and inequitable school finance system, you don’t have a surplus.
And if there’s an honesty deficit in the way your state balances its books, you don’t 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.

It’s time for Texas to do better.

Round-Up of Voter ID Press Statements Part 2

Shelby Alexander — Sat, 01 Sep 2012 18:00:00 GMT

Here's another round of statements from our elected officials on the federal court's voter ID decision. Read statements from the following after the jump:

Senator Kirk Watson
Representative Carol Alvarado
Representative Charlie Gonzalez
Senator Carlos Uresti
Chairman Steve Maxwell, Tarrant County Democratic Party
Representative Rafael Anchia
Chairman Gilberto Hinojosa, Texas Democratic Party

Senator Kirk Watson

"During the upcoming legislative session, we will continue to fight in defense of civil liberties and the right to vote. We will also continue to push for greater transparency and openness in government, avoiding bad policy and legislation which results in expensive litigation and the misuse of state resources.
We love Texas. But Texas can do better. And Texas deserves better from its elected leadership. The Texas Senate Democratic Caucus prioritizes the values of middle class Texans ̶ from voting rights to public education to access to quality health care."

Representative Carol Alvarado

"The federal court's decision reaffirms what many of us have contended all along which is that the Voter ID law disenfranchised women, senior citizens, minorities and low-income voters. Last session the legislature overreached their authority in passing a law in which the sole purpose was to discriminate against certain groups. The Voter ID law was a solution in search of a problem; however, this misguided attempt would only have suppressed the vote of eligible voters. Texans can rejoice in knowing that every voter will continue to have the opportunity to exercise this fundamental right."

Representative Charlie Gonzalez

"The judges noted that one third of Texas counties lack offices where people could secure an acceptable identification card and, 'a 200 to 250 mile round trip-especially for would-be voters having no driver's license-constitutes a "substantial burden" on the right to vote.' Even those who could make it would find 'none of Texas's DPS offices are open on weekends or past 6:00 PM, eliminating for many working people the option of obtaining an EIC on their own time [and] forces poorer citizens to choose between their wages and their franchise unquestionably denies or abridges their right to vote.' They did not note, but everyone should know, that the Texas legislature took no steps to lessen this burden."

Senator Carlos Uresti

"The judges affirmed the very arguments that opponents made back during the session, that a picture ID requirement to gain access to the ballot box is an unfair and improper burden on a vast segment of society. It imposes strict, unforgiving burdens on the poor and racial minorities in Texas. The ruling lays bare the true intent of the Republicans' Voter ID law, which was designed to discourage racial minorities and poor people from participating in the democratic process."

Chairman Steve Maxwell, Tarrant County Democratic Party

Two of the top Republican legislative priorities have now been revealed as exactly what they were meant to be by the repressive and backward-thinking Republican leaders of the legislature: nothing more, or less, than the disenfranchisement of Texas citizens.
Fortunately for Texas, no matter how these laws were dressed up and distorted, the United States Court system saw through the deception and called it exactly what it was-- discrimination and disenfranchisement at its very worst. If this wording sounds familiar, note that this was the same thing being said about this legislation by the courageous Democrats who tried to defeat these bills in the legislature. Texas voters deserve better representation than what they are getting from the legislators who tried to enact these shameful bills."

Representative Rafael Anchia

"I applaud the D.C. District Court and U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder for defending the rights of Texas voters. The great threat to our Texas democracy is low voter turnout. Texas is dead last in the country in voter participation. Instead of working on that problem, Republicans in the legislature sought to further restrict our precious right to vote. Next session, I stand ready to work on bipartisan electoral reform that doesn't leave thousands of Texas voters behind. Other states have come up with legislation that both increases confidence in elections and protects our sacred voting rights."

Chairman Gilberto Hinojosa

"On the heels of open hostility toward the Hispanic community through attacks on the Dream Act and support for Arizona type immigration laws, two US District Court panels have found that Texas Republican Legislators intentionally discriminated against Hispanics and other minorities in both their legislative redistricting plan and their harsh Voter ID law.
Almost as soon as each of the Court rulings was released, Attorney General Gregg Abbott pledged to continue to waste more Texas taxpayer funds in an effort to have both Court rulings overturned. They're doubling down on discrimination and voter suppression against Hispanics in Texas. It will be interesting to see if the Great Republican Latino Hope, Ted Cruz will support the Federal District Court's ruling and embrace the most fundamental American right - THE RIGHT TO VOTE."