Recently I was made aware that some portion of the country, and the world is under the impression that Texas wants/is hoping to secede from the Union. I was surprised, since I am a Texan and don't have any interest in seceding. My friends, family, co-workers, classmates, and even casual acquaintances have never expressed any feeling of wanting to secede, so I thought,"Why would anyone take that seriously?" Turns out Governor Perry brought it up in 2009 during and after a speech addressing Tea Party types at the capital. Referring to secession as a reasonable consequence of continued federal budget problems, he brought the issue from the fringes to the forefront and gave a tint of credibility to an otherwise ludicrous topic.
So now I'm wondering... is it feasible? Regardless of what I would choose for the state (I would not choose secession, so you know), is it possible? If Texas could secede would they be able to make it with out federal funding? What would happen at the border with no one to keep Perry in check? With the public schools already considered sub-standard by the nation and obviously not a priority for Perry, what would happen to the already crappy education standards?
Apparently Texas utilizes more federal funding than it pays in federal taxes, just this month Perry asked for federal funding to help cover the cost of tornado damage to the state (wait, didn't Perry say that's what the Rainy Day Fund is for? Didn't he just turn down federal aid ear market for the schools that would save teacher's jobs, because he doesn't want handouts?) So it looks like... no. Texas needs federal funding now, there is no reason to think seceding would magically clear up our budget problems less the aid.
Then we need to know, is secession even possible without some sort of civil war? The Texas Nationalist group says it should only be a matter of gaining interest in the Legislature and passing a Bill declaring Texas as independent from the US. Others say no, that when Texas re-entered the Union the option to split into as many as 5 five states was given, but the option to secede was taken off the table. I'm pretty sure starting a civil war would only add to Texas' budget woes, and then where would Perry find the money to build that giant wall he wants at the border?
So it sounds like talk of secession is a solid bluff. Thank goodness, when I say I'd like to spend time in another country I really don't mean Oklahoma!
Friday, April 29, 2011
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Education for Inmates Should Stay a Priority
Texas' budget crisis has recently been a favored topic of discussion for political blogs across the country. A large part of my blogging has focused on the ways public education will be affected by the budget short falls. I have been entirely concerned with primary to high school and the children that will be dealing with larger classes and the potential lack of art class. I had no idea that I was overlooking another form of state funded education; The Windham School District is the district set up to provide college education and degree programs for Texas' prison system. This district is potentially losing funding as part of the budget cuts that are stripping Texas of all that makes it glitter(okay, maybe that's a little dramatic.)
Pat Culpepper of Texan Affairs, a student political blog, has written a great commentary in favor of keeping funding for The Windham District. Culpepper states that the average year long stay for a Texas inmate costs the state $18,000. The percentage of inmates that return to prison within three years drops drastically for those that attain associates degrees during their time in prison, at a cost of $4,000 (figure based on community college tuition) per degree. The tone of the article is reasonable and firm, with well placed supporting facts and nicely organized over all. Culpepper has a fantastic and hard to argue with defense for Texas to continue to support efforts to provide college educations to inmates. I agree with all points and appreciate having my attention drawn to a subject that before today, I had no idea existed!
Pat Culpepper of Texan Affairs, a student political blog, has written a great commentary in favor of keeping funding for The Windham District. Culpepper states that the average year long stay for a Texas inmate costs the state $18,000. The percentage of inmates that return to prison within three years drops drastically for those that attain associates degrees during their time in prison, at a cost of $4,000 (figure based on community college tuition) per degree. The tone of the article is reasonable and firm, with well placed supporting facts and nicely organized over all. Culpepper has a fantastic and hard to argue with defense for Texas to continue to support efforts to provide college educations to inmates. I agree with all points and appreciate having my attention drawn to a subject that before today, I had no idea existed!
Friday, April 1, 2011
The Rainy Day Fund: Intended for Long Slow Drizzles or Tsunamis?
The House is voting today on a bill that would use $3.2 billion of the $9.4 billion in Texas'
Rainy Day Fund to close the budget gap for this fiscal year. Governor Rick Perry is publicly against the use of the Rainy Day Fund for what he calls "recurring expenses", which amounts to anything budget related. Perry is insisting that the Fund is for emergencies more on par with the natural disaster sort, and referenced Japan's recent tragedy. He seems to be forgetting that the Rainy Day Fund's real name is The Economic Stabilization Fund. It was created for precisely this kind of situation.The recession slowly starved the state of sales tax that normally would supply the funds for a balanced budget and The Economic Stabilization Fund is meant to help the state meet basic needs during times of down turned economics. The basics are not being met and I think this long slow drizzle counts as a rainy day.
Perry also stressed that he wanted every budget chopping option exhausted before considering the Fund.
I see what he is saying, Texas is facing a $15-27 billion dollar deficit for next fiscal year. The current fiscal year is more than half way through so if they can't figure out how to close a less than 4 billion dollar gap now, how will they do it for the five times larger deficit they will be facing in a few months?
Well, there are a few things that should be considered when discussing Texas' budget crisis. First thing is that Governor Perry refuses to accept $830 million in federal aid. Perry won't take it because he would have to agree to put it towards education, and only education. Last time he was given a stimulus package ($3.2 billion) meant to go to schools and improving education standards he used to to cover other budget gaps he felt were more urgent. It isn't too late for him to accept the aid, and $830 million would take a nice chunk out of the existing deficit. The second thing to consider is the still changing number placed on the deficit. The comptroller originally placed it upward of $7 billion. A number of things have shifted that figure. Just this month the comptroller was able add another $300 million in funds for the budget from unexpected sales tax revenue. That means people are spending again,at a rate the state didn't predict, which makes it more difficult to accurately predict what funds will be available next fiscal year. Oil prices have also been on the rise, which historically means good things for Texas, and again, makes it difficult to predict the budget deficits. Perhaps if Perry accepts the federal aid and (goodness forbid!) raises taxes and some state fees we could continue to support Texans, get through a fiscal year on budget and not need to touch The Rainy Day Fund.
As it stands, Perry would rather cut teacher's jobs, college grants, and medicaid benefits than be told how to spend *free* money. I don't think we can count on this man to recognize a rainy day even if he were drowning in a puddle.
Rainy Day Fund to close the budget gap for this fiscal year. Governor Rick Perry is publicly against the use of the Rainy Day Fund for what he calls "recurring expenses", which amounts to anything budget related. Perry is insisting that the Fund is for emergencies more on par with the natural disaster sort, and referenced Japan's recent tragedy. He seems to be forgetting that the Rainy Day Fund's real name is The Economic Stabilization Fund. It was created for precisely this kind of situation.The recession slowly starved the state of sales tax that normally would supply the funds for a balanced budget and The Economic Stabilization Fund is meant to help the state meet basic needs during times of down turned economics. The basics are not being met and I think this long slow drizzle counts as a rainy day.
Perry also stressed that he wanted every budget chopping option exhausted before considering the Fund.
I see what he is saying, Texas is facing a $15-27 billion dollar deficit for next fiscal year. The current fiscal year is more than half way through so if they can't figure out how to close a less than 4 billion dollar gap now, how will they do it for the five times larger deficit they will be facing in a few months?
Well, there are a few things that should be considered when discussing Texas' budget crisis. First thing is that Governor Perry refuses to accept $830 million in federal aid. Perry won't take it because he would have to agree to put it towards education, and only education. Last time he was given a stimulus package ($3.2 billion) meant to go to schools and improving education standards he used to to cover other budget gaps he felt were more urgent. It isn't too late for him to accept the aid, and $830 million would take a nice chunk out of the existing deficit. The second thing to consider is the still changing number placed on the deficit. The comptroller originally placed it upward of $7 billion. A number of things have shifted that figure. Just this month the comptroller was able add another $300 million in funds for the budget from unexpected sales tax revenue. That means people are spending again,at a rate the state didn't predict, which makes it more difficult to accurately predict what funds will be available next fiscal year. Oil prices have also been on the rise, which historically means good things for Texas, and again, makes it difficult to predict the budget deficits. Perhaps if Perry accepts the federal aid and (goodness forbid!) raises taxes and some state fees we could continue to support Texans, get through a fiscal year on budget and not need to touch The Rainy Day Fund.
As it stands, Perry would rather cut teacher's jobs, college grants, and medicaid benefits than be told how to spend *free* money. I don't think we can count on this man to recognize a rainy day even if he were drowning in a puddle.
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