Budget Leaders: It's Up to the Texas House
If the House doesn't pass legislation that adds $2.6 billion to state revenue with a mix of delayed payments, increased penalties, government efficiencies and the like, the state budget won't balance and a special session will probably be required, House and Senate leaders said today.
That legislation is slated for House debate on Wednesday, and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, in a press conference this afternoon, and House Appropriations Chairman Jim Pitts, in a presentation to the full House a short while later, said it is critical to passing a budget during the regular session. Lawmakers have until ...
Comments (10)
Debbie Wiley via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Is Dewhearst going to run for Senate or not? Does anyone know?
Darrel Mulloy via Texas Tribune on Facebook
But he will waste money up to that point? Get ready for our new governor. Perry is flirting with a presidential run.
Charlene Warfield via Texas Tribune on Facebook
does dewhurst still wear makeup?
Stuart Greenfield
Why don't these guys ask the Comptroller over for coffee and have her provide them the reason why the $1.5 billion increase in tax collections for FY11 was not included in her revision and why this increase only translates to a billion dollar increase over the next biennium. If they require documentation, they might take a look at, http://www.sgreenfield.net/state2011/revsitapr2011.pdf . I know what Article 3 states, but asking for additional information is not barred by that Article.
Jose B. Gonzalez via Texas Tribune on Facebook
There is no strong GOP candidate for president in sight... If the GOP plans on regaining the WH, they better dig DEEP for a strong candidate. GOP is sadly mistaking if they believe just any candidate will be able to beat a sitting president.
Texascattleco
So the choices seem to be between massive cuts to essential programs and excessive damaging extreme cuts at the time we have a Rainy Day Fund that could mitigate either. Texas can and should do better for the youngest and elderly citizens of our state.
Aldo Merino via Texas Tribune on Facebook
That quote would be more substantive if the legislature didn't already pass numerous measures that do precisely that.
As for Dewhurst's potential Senate/Governor run, who cares? There are plenty of other horrible candidates with similarly horrible records that could throw their hat in the ring.
Gritsforbreakfast
"Dewhurst contends that isn't a deep enough cut to force local districts to look to property owners for more money."
Ross, I wish you'd called any ISD superintendent in the state for a response quote on that one. I call BS.
Michael JJ Messer via Texas Tribune on Facebook
I don't think any of them really want to run this round. The few that have thrown their hat into the ring don't have what it takes to really run against Obama, and it will be easier for them to run against a new Democrat in 6 years. They will be able to claim that all of the jobs lost due to the incredibly large state budget cuts were the Democrats' fault. They won't have that power in 2 years.
Brett Baldwin
It would be very easy to balance the Budget without raising taxes if the Texas Legislature would stop spending over $8 BILLION dollars per year on illegal aliens and their children.
All the Texas Legislature has to do is pass a new Business License bill that requires every business in Texas to pay an annual Fee of $10,000 per employee. If the business certifies/documents that they have used E-Verify to prove that all of their employees are legal to work in the US, then the business gets a rebate/credit of $10,000 per employee for each legal employee.
There are over 1 million illegal aliens working in Texas each year. If just 50% of Businesses choose to NOT us E-Verify it would raise over $5 Billion dollars every year.
Budget problem solved. Any solution that ignores the illegal alien problem is trivial.