Perry: "No Faith" In LBB; Leave Rainy Day Fund Alone
Gov. Rick Perry says he is unswayed by estimates that the state's Rainy Day Fund may end up being more flush than previously anticipated and blasted the Legislature's budget office as an unreliable source of numbers.
During an informal meeting with reporters outside the House chamber Tuesday afternoon, Perry criticized a provision in the Senate Finance Committee's budget draft that would allow the comptroller to withdraw $3 billion from the Rainy Day Fund if no other revenues can be found. The Senate is expected to vote on the bill as early as Thursday.
Perry also took a ...
Comments (21)
Teresa Saldivar via Texas Tribune on Facebook
So he's calling the comptroller incompetent? Because the numbers are'nt what he hoped for...what a complete idiot!
Daniel Day via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Sounds like what I hear from people complaining that My local Transit agency has plenty of money. If they did, my bus service would be great.
Sharon Arnoult via Texas Tribune on Facebook
classic blame the messenger.
Mary Lee via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Not the Comptroller, the Legislative Budget Board (LBB), a "non-partisan" office of the Legislature (how "non-partisan" depends on the composition of the Leg ;). In effect, he's saying he doesn't trust the Republican Legislature - a bit odd, coming from a Republican Gov - but then, one must consider the past behavior of this Republican Gov.
Francesca Di Poppa via Texas Tribune on Facebook
No honor among thieves, eh?
Tom Sullivan via Texas Tribune on Facebook
There is a big difference between estimates that are based on bad methodology and estimates that don't fit your political view. The gov needs to learn the difference.
Barbara Avila Marvin via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Hell, trust anyone's numbers other than the comptroller's!...Estimates that are billions off or not even released before elections? Personal information released by her office but, she only fires her staff?...
Ben Martinez via Texas Tribune on Facebook
In this case the person doing the finger pointing is the one that is trying to divert the attention away from his incompetent self. Won't work gov, everyone can see through that ploy.
Matt Martinez via Texas Tribune on Facebook
no business!!!
Mark Wentlandt via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Coincidentally LBB is the airport abbreviation for Lubbock International, for all you fans of unintended irony.
Karen Cummings
Has Perry given up anything? Reduction in salary? Nope! Decreased budget? Nope! Lavish lifestyle? Nope! Cuts to his health care or pension? Nope!
If you will recall, Perry claimed Strayhorns numbers were incorrect too. Guess what? She was spot on! Too bad no one listened to her. We wouldn't be in this mess we are in now would we?
Phillip Sanders via Texas Tribune on Facebook
The legislature needs to here it from us. Make the phone calls. Send the emails. Put the pressure on them. While you're at it bombard the governor's office with letters and emails. Let your voice be heard!!!
Marcus Cunningham via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Clearly Perry himself doesn't see the difference between want and need. That or he truly doesn't care about education.
Brian Lindsey via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Do we lose faith in Perry...the head of state government?
Phillip Sanders via Texas Tribune on Facebook
What has he done to prove otherwise? What faith should we have in him?
Debby Valdez
Who is distilling want from need here? We must wait for that big hurricane, in the mean time we will have our most vulnerable living out in the streets, homeless, dying with no medical attention, our school children waiting for an education, small business shutting down, 600,000 jobs lost, and all waiting for that big hurricane heading our way. Yes, it is easy to understand that most Texans WANT to wait for that Hurricane, don't we? We will just NEED to wait.
Will somebody please tell Governor Perry that the Hurricane has already hit, and we will be seeing the devastation for years to come.
It's raining, it's pouring, and the Texas Governor is snoring!!!!!!!!!!!
Dale Curry
If it wasn’t so tragic, this story would be rich. Let’s start with what he said. (Considering this Governor, perhaps not the most stable place to start a dialogue, but here goes.) Perry said, “"I've lost so much faith in the (LBB) and their ability to estimate what's going on”. This from the man whose leadership gave us the 2006 tax swap, We could also mention this is the ‘leader’ two years ago when the state accepted billions in federal dollars (designated for education) and promptly used it to cover other areas of the budget. Why? It was because the proverbial chickens were starting to come home to roost even in the previous budget cycle. But instead of admitting that Carole K. had been uncannily correct; he lies and used the money to cover his failure in management and leadership.
This statement would have been sadly funny enough, but Gov Perry is a gift that keeps on giving. He actually said, “When they put up a report that said there's going to be 600,000 jobs lost, that pretty much told me that we got some people that don't know what they're doing over there.” Well, he is an expert at not knowing what he is doing. Just look at the decline in state revenue and the consequences to the state’s budget.
When he was asked about the impact of the House cuts which would include up to HALF of all nursing homes closing and effectively throwing grandma and grandpa out of their homes and care; does he even mention the devastation, hardship, and pain this will inflict on thousands of Texas families? No. Perry said, “I think those are, again, estimates that were not on my radar screen." Wow! Excuse me Governor; do you think you could get it on your radar screen sometime before we start throwing Alzheimer patients out of their nursing homes? He’s like a character out of Dickens but with hair product.
If I have a choice between Perry and the Comptroller and/or Legislative Budget Board (LBB); considering their track record, I will take the Comptroller/LBB. Perry has been our leader longer than any other. Is it any wonder funding for our basic government services now faces massive and draconian cuts and closures? Is it any wonder all his cronies sit fat and happy with a history of tax cuts, abatements, and incentives provided to them by this governor.
Debra Haas via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Having spent a sizable chunk of my career at the LBB I have plenty of faith in their estimates...but no faith in the Governor.
Karen Cummings
This is rather interesting. Perhaps Patrick needs to be reminded of this?
Patrick 'Patronizes' Perry Plan
excerpts
"Instead of replacing one tax with another, Patrick drew a line in the sand, suggesting "using the state's $8.2 billion surplus to cut property taxes, give teachers a pay raise, pay bills left over from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and boost security on the border" (Austin American Statesman, 4/22/06, "Taxpayer summit focuses on limiting government growth")."
http://plotshot.blogspot.com/2006/04/patrick-patronizes-perry-plan.html
Karen Cummings
Remember this too?
Saturday, May 27, 2006
Perry Tax Plan Leaves Texas Children Behind
http://muse-musings.blogspot.com/2006/05/perry-tax-plan-leaves-texas-children.html
Stuart Greenfield
While this March 2009 letter, http://www.texaspolicy.com/pdf/2009-03-31-ESF-letter.pdf to our elected officials states that the Rainy Day Fund shouldn't be used for a natural disaster and, "repair hurricane?damaged state facilities through other means." Instead the RDF should be held to address the anticipated FY12-13 budget shortfall. Can't wait for the next hurricane to hear what the Governor, et al say then.