Statement on the Governor’s “Texas Budget Compact”
Although I disagree with much of Governor Perry’s new plan, I am glad that he is finally admitting that those in control of the Legislature — including him — have been using smoke-and-mirror budgetary tricks for years. We must stop delaying payments and diverting dedicated funds, and find new sources of revenue to balance the state budget.
STATE SENATOR JOSÉ RODRÍGUEZ RESPONDS TO PERRY’S “TEXAS BUDGET COMPACT”
AUSTIN — Today, state Senator José Rodríguez released the following statement regarding the unveiling of Governor Perry’s “Texas Budget Compact”:
“Asking Texas legislators to support the ‘Texas Budget Compact’ is tantamount to Governor Perry asking lawmakers to pledge to continue to shortchange Texans.
“Although there are many things to be proud of in Texas, the state needs improvement. After decade under Perry’s leadership, Texas still has the fewest number of citizens with a high school degree, the highest number of citizens without health insurance, and the worst environment of any state with the highest rates of carcinogens released into the air and toxic chemicals released into the water.
“There are millions of Texans fighting day-to-day to make ends meet. Nationwide, Texas has the 4th highest percentage of kids living in poverty. In my own community, over a quarter of El Pasoans live in poverty.
“Perry and other state leaders need to stop focusing solely on how to lower taxes for multi-million dollar businesses and find ways to help average Texas families put food on their tables, pay for health insurance, and send their kids to college.
“Although I disagree with much of Governor Perry’s new plan, I am glad that he is finally admitting that those in control of the Legislature — including him — have been using smoke-and-mirror budgetary tricks for years. We must stop delaying payments and diverting dedicated funds, and find new sources of revenue to balance the state budget.
“Next biennium, it’s only going to get worse. The Legislative Budget Board recently projected that in 2013, public education will face a $6.3 billion deficit, nearly a billion dollars more than last year’s deficit. In addition, the HHSC Executive Commissioner announced that we will start next session with a $17 billion shortfall just for Medicaid.
“The tenets outlined in Governor Perry’s compact do nothing to reverse this reality. We must look at ways to increase revenue in order to provide the services needed to ensure that the people of our state succeed and to remain competitive in the world economy.”