Outside Groups Lobby Texas Budget Writers
Various special interest groups have been pushing their budget ideas since before the legislative session began. Now, with the House budget already passed and a Senate version set for debate this week, the battle over which budget is right for Texas has intensified — and, in one case, taken to the airwaves.
In a TV commercial produced by the Texas Public Policy Foundation, a conservative state-policy think tank, the group highlighted its wishes.
“It’s time for us to wake up and remind them who they work for,” the commercial says. “Texans want a fiscally responsible conservative budget. Texas works because ...
Comments (7)
Chris Reynolds via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Protests in the USA ???, are they gonna call out the USMC to beat them down ???, or the Cops with body armor and tear gas ? .... the American authorities don't like freedom of speech, which is why they have the Patriot Act.
Lance Lowry via Texas Tribune on Facebook
The Texas Public Policy Foundation use of a commercial with former U.S. Sen. Phil Gramm to push for less spending is not a wise ideal. Isn't Gramm's banking policy one of the reasons we are in this predictament??? As a Republican I am alarmed by the actions of the far right promoting failing ideals. The base of the party is not the Tea Party or groups such as the Texas Public Policy Foundation. I hope other Republican Party members will wakeup and realize we are only setting up the party for failure. The Senate Republicans are in touch for reality. These new House freshmen will see payback come primary time.
Phillip Sanders via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Lance unfortunately you're correct. The republican party in Texas is out of touch with the people. They have mixed Texas politics with national politics. We don't have the same problems here in Texas as are national government does.
Alice Crenshaw
I just don't understand why they haven't passed something to let us decide on gambling. It would bring in a lot of money we really need. Many of us may not like it but I don't think anyone can deny that as long as people are going to gamble (and they will), we might as well get some tax revenue from it rather than see that money pay for schools and roads in Louisiana.
jpt51
True conservatives would criticize that since George Bush’s leadership of the state two-thirds of state contracts are no longer subject to competitive bidding. True conservatives would be demanding why millions are wasted fingerprinting food stamp applicants when the pilot, back in the 90s, and ongoing use, clearly demonstrates people aren't trying to apply under different names. There are tons of ways to make Texas state govt. more efficient but since 94, the 'Open for Business' slogan touted by Bush and Perry has been an open invitation for well connected crony business friends and contributors to come feed at the taxpayer trough.
The TPPF is a cover organization for these groups who want to keep their existing chummy relationship with those in power and avoid having the wealthiest Texans pay their fair share in taxes. Texans with incomes under $30K have 14% of their incomes go to taxes. People earning over $130K pay 3%, The Red McCombs, Chris Harris and Bob Perry don't want to change the good deal they enjoy at the expense of the poor and middle class. In this last election Perry reaped $18 million just from his political appointees. Who says govt. can’t be bought? We’re a shining example it can.
While a legislator the TPPF's current Executive Director, Arlene Wohlgemuth was instrumental in privatizing the states nationally recognized and award winning welfare department (under GW no less) and turned it into a fiasco so bad it’s still trying to recover and is currently under federal sanctions and the worst performing state in the nation. The TPPF subscribes to Grover Norquist's belief, "I don't want to abolish government. I simply want to reduce it to the size where I can drag it into the bathroom and drown it in the bathtub." They have no regrets about the current attempt to destroy the already underfunded Texas education system and what little social safety net exists. They’re satisfied as long as their ideological wealthy backers keep their influence. To heck with the rest of us!
Karen Cummings
Wasn't it Phil Grahm who said this?
Phil Gramm: Recession Is "Mental," America Is "Nation Of Whiners"
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/07/10/mccain-adviser-americans_n_111857.html
Roy Rogers
This entire scenario is what happens when people vote to cut services, meaning for others-not them .Remember who you voted for next time.In short if you need services you need to pay for them