Texas House moderates’ lean to Dem fiscal policy is dangerous

Robert Pratt photo Copyright Pratt on Texas

Robert Pratt

One Texas Senator said of the proposed budget in the House: “This House budget contains some real Dr. Evil type stuff. It’s maniacal.”

A bit hyperbolic? Yes, but it is true that the proposed House budget relies on some budgeting gimmicks that are unwise and spends billions out of savings.

In each session of the Texas Legislature, we have a budget war between the House and Senate versions with the Governor’s proposed budget being ignored. That’s how it works and is fine but what is not fine is how House leadership of late is pushing to back the Democrat Party idea that we should freely spend large sums from the state savings account so that we can avoid tough choices on spending priorities.

It’s a bit fake to say you’re a fiscal conservative and back folk who want to join the Dems in spending billions out of savings when no fiscal emergency exists.

For years Democrat leaders have seriously called for spending some or all of the Rainy Day Fund not only to avoid cuts but to increase spending in good years. The Straus crowd has been pushing us the Dems way with San Angelo’s Representative Drew Darby saying in 2011 that he wished to spend part of the fund.

Fast forward to this year and Darby said the state’s savings account is like “the sacred cow that seems to be untouchable,” and suggested the money might as well be stuffed in a mattress. He was in a huff, along with other Straus moderates and Democrats that we won’t just spend it.

If no other reason exists for you to replace Joe Straus and his cabal with conservatives, this one should be enough. It’s a bit fake to say you’re a fiscal conservative and back folk who want to join the Dems in spending billions out of savings when no fiscal emergency exists. Do it once and it will be done budget after budget.

Share Pratt on Texas

Speak Your Mind

*

© Pratt on Texas / Perstruo Texas, Inc.