Some Cuts to Texas Budget Actually Cost Money

by Ross Ramsey
April 8, 2011
12 Comments

Cutting the budget can be expensive. Something that appears to save money can, on further inspection, cost more.

Family planning, for instance.

The House amended the two-year 2012-13 state budget in debates last Friday and Sunday before sending its $164.5 billion proposal to the Senate, which is expected to pass its version later this month.

In a series of amendment forays, House conservatives raided the state’s family planning programs and sent the money to other areas like autism programs, crisis pregnancy centers and mental health services for children. Most of the conversation was couched as a this-versus-that choice ...

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Comments (12)

April 8, 2011 @ 11:21 a.m.

Michael Choate via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Sensibility and logic... really wish there was more of it in the TX Lege.
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April 8, 2011 @ 11:24 a.m.

Ken Collier via Texas Tribune on Facebook

I'm happy to see someone take a reasonable, moderate stand on the issues surrounding abortion.
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April 8, 2011 @ 11:35 a.m.

Bob Brown via Texas Tribune on Facebook

I am amazed at the change our Senator has shown this session. Moderation has not been his stance in the past. It is good to see this and I congratulate him.
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April 8, 2011 @ 11:36 a.m.

Perry Dorrell via Texas Tribune on Facebook

I don't care for Bob Duell (or any other Texas Republican, for that matter) but in this case he's absolutely right. I mean, correct.
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April 8, 2011 @ 11:36 a.m.

Meredith Miller Hodgkinson via Texas Tribune on Facebook

PP helps prevent unwanted pregnancies. Duh!
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April 8, 2011 @ 11:38 a.m.

Obed Manuel via Texas Tribune on Facebook

I think only about 3% of the service Planned Parenthood provides are aborions; the rest goes toward preventing unwanted pregnancies.
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April 8, 2011 @ 11:39 a.m.

Meredith Miller Hodgkinson via Texas Tribune on Facebook

I don't care for @Warren Chisum, either...
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April 8, 2011 @ 11:45 a.m.

Lauren Ford Crawford via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Sen. Deuell has done nothing but earn my respect this session. He's proven himself to be a public official who puts the public first, and doesn't allow himself to be led down the garden path of getting political brownie points at the expense of public health. Kudos.
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April 8, 2011 @ 1:46 p.m.

Mary Lynn VanZandt Neill via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Come again,he doesn't like this,but not funding that,etc.Wonder what he'd do if his daughter was pregnant. Have you guys ever noticed that the people with definite ideas in concrete are past procreation time? We need our peers. Moronic thinking,preventative medicine,please,and be very,very quiet about telling me what to do with female bodies.Wait until you've nursed a septic AB,seen the girl die,or know an 18 year old who killed herself because she didn't want to tell her parents.
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April 8, 2011 @ 2:29 p.m.

Stuart Greenfield

these won't cost anything, http://www.sgreenfield.net/msp.pdf .
April 8, 2011 @ 9:07 p.m.

Vibeke Mendonca Lee via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Only 3% of Planned Parenthood activities are abortion - 3%
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April 16, 2011 @ 10:29 p.m.

Rudy Gonzales

Abortion - It's a woman right and a couple's decision to make. Everyone trying to force their religious belief's on the general population. Everyone will have to answer to God, their actions here on earth. Abortion is a sin! Liberty is a concept in political philosophy that identifies the condition in which human beings are able to govern themselves, to behave according to their own free will, and take responsibility for their actions. It's NOT up to politicians to make or pass laws to in strict their personal religious beliefs.