Pitts: Cut and Eliminate Agencies, Furlough Workers
State budget writers will propose eliminating agencies, cutting others to a quarter of their current size and laying off state employees to balance the budget without raising taxes or using the state's Rainy Day Fund.
House Appropriations Chairman Rep. Jim Pitts, R-Waxahachie, told an Ellis County group that the shortfall is also the reason lawmakers have talked about leaving the federal Medicaid program.
"We're making huge cuts," Pitts told the group. "There are agencies that are in existence today that we are eliminating when we introduce the bill. We are making some large cuts to some agencies that ...
Comments (14)
WUSRPH
Not use the "rainy day fund"? Wonder how the "leadership" defines a rainy day?
I wonder how Pitts intends to explain why mom and dad or grandmother will no longer be eligible for government funded nursing home care (unless they cut aid to children and the poor to a level equal to that during the Hoover Administration)? I understand how Chisum could defend it on the grounds that it their kids responsibility, but Pitts has always seemed more sensitive to reality than that.
The only possible good outcome of all of this is that, assuming they are rational, after cutting public education by billions one would think that there will not be enough money to fund vouchers for private schools. Of course, one can not assume that they will be "rational", logical or even give a damn when it comes to the ideologs who will be running this show.
WUSRPH
Also, I assume Pitts will followup the budget with specific bills to abolish the state agencies on his hit list. He certainly knows that YOU CAN NOT CHANGE GENERAL LAW WITH A PROVISION IN THE APPROPRIATIONS BILL. If you just unfund an agency it still legally exists and it still has the same legal responsibiliites. If he doesn't, I can see a whole slew of law suits seeking mandamuses against the State to force it to fulfill its legal duties.
Tim Collins via Texas Tribune on Facebook
They need to consider a plan to transition state employees (grand fathered of course) from a defined benfits retirement plan to a 401K type plan. The carrying costs of retirement benefits are staggering. This should include elected officials
Scott Chase via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Of course, the legislators will continue to get their per diem and office expenses.
WUSRPH
Lt. Gov. Dewhurst was all for changing all state workers over to a 401 K pension system BUT that plan kind of got sidetracked by what happened to all those folks who were depending on their 401ks when the stock market tanked. I guess some folks, like Tim Collins, just didn't hear about that. Maybe he thinks state employees should have to share the pain with all those who havd had to pay the penalty for the Bush economy policies.
Erika Holzinger via Texas Tribune on Facebook
It's starting to sound like california!
Danny Jensen via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Jeez Mr. Chairman, I thought the Grinch came out at Christmas not Thanksgiving.
Dusteen J. Barber via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Wasn't Pitts one of the RINOs who supported Straus over Craddick and *then* got his cushy postion as Chair of the Appropriations Committee...or did he get the chair first...I forget?
Patrick Fortner via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Should have seen the full event video. His constituents did not appear to like his support of the Speaker.
Neil Aquino via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Maybe we could have an income tax and live like human beings.
Joey Dauben
There are four to five videos in all that we took (we=Brannon and The Ellis County Observer), and nope, the majority of the crowd showed their displeasure with his support of Straus.
If The Texas Tribune doesn't delete this, I can post the link to the other videos here: http://www.elliscountyobserver.com/?p=16885
Phyllis McKenzie
I am constantly hearing about the budget short fall. Now the state law makers are talking about cutting and eliminating agencies and doing away with medicaid. What I do not hear in all of these discussions both state and nationally is what cuts are our state law makers willing to take themselves. Should we cut the retirement and benefits of law makers? Are they willing to take a cut in pay and fringe benefits the state provides for them? If this is going to happen and work we need to fair and do this across the board to everyone, including our law makers. Phyllis McKenzie
ronkabele
Lawmakers created much of this problem themselves when they passed the 2006 property tax cuts. Now we're having to "pay" for it through reduced services, higher fees, and (likely) a raise in our own property taxes to offset the reduction that school districts will have to pay. So, I understand why lawmakers are saying they have to cut programs. I just wish they didn't say it with such glee.
Brannon Bridge via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Patrick, If you haven't already just go to my youtube page and I have all parts on there, it's 4 parts, never mind I'll post em all here:
http://www.youtube.com/user/Gnut23?feature=mhum#p/a/u/0/XtzZr-tnHMw
http://www.youtube.com/user/Gnut23?feature=mhum#p/a/u/1/NxocXLNBZJg
http://www.youtube.com/user/Gnut23?feature=mhum#p/u/3/iAWYstNtTJw
I didn't put 3 on it, cause I think that's the one The Trib did already