Mr. Pratt,
To some extent, I do not know where to begin. I want to do more to make sure that Texas exercises stewardship over all of its resources. Especially Texans’ tax dollars. I do not think our legislature cares about tightening our economic belts. In order for us to get what we really want: less spending and more accountability for the spending that we can’t yet get rid of, I believe, we must identify our priorities and push for less spending and more accountability in one state agency at a time. We need to be able to make a strong case that this one particular agency has misused, and therefore, should get less of, Texans’ tax dollars.
These legislators need to know at the time they go into session what they need to cut and work primarily toward that goal. I think we should use the sunset commission to get rid of these redundancies. I want to see at least three of these state hospitals closed. Also we should be able to close some of these state schools. These entities have failed to protect the safety of thier own clients-tell me anywhere in the world where an organization can do that and survive. The first step in our goal toward reducing the budget should be the elimination of the Department of Aging and Disability by means of sunset review.
I believe that the Department of State Health Services and The Department of Health and Human Services are good places to start when we begin to cut the fat out of this state budget.
I have talked to people in Abilene about their state school (these people were employees and former employees of the school); I asked them how many people they (rather, we, as Texans) employ. The estimate I believe was something like 2500. This is to watch over about 300 residents. One of these individuals added,”it used to be the other way around 300 employees kept track of 2500 residents-that was back when they had more freedom, but they (the residents and our fellow Texans by the way) are more cared for now”. This mentality is what wrong with Texas. Now, the way that we have to prove that we care about people is to hire enough government employees to do the caring for us. This same individual allowed that “some of the residents would be able to function in society, if we had not institutionalized them”.
The people who work for North Texas State Hospital (in Wichita Falls and Vernon), Abilene State School and others have part-time amounts of work with full-time amounts of pay and they are slow to respond to their own clientele. This situation works out OK for them though, because it gives them more time for their full-time hobby; lobbying our state legislature for more resources to perpetuate this lifestyle to which they have become accustomed.
The estimate I believe was something like 2500. This is to watch over about 300 residents. One of these individuals added,”it used to be the other way around 300 employees kept track of 2500 residents-that was back when they had more freedom…
I believe that the Department of State Health Services and The Department of Health and Human Services are good places to start when we begin to cut the fat out of this state budget. If you can get this man down at Rice University to study these specific problems, I believe me and him won’t be far apart in our assessments.
If we fail, as true blue Texans, to deal with these people who know better than we do how to spend our money and set our policies, then I think we should go ahead and change the name of our state to more honestly reflect our policies and spending habits-Welcome to Eastern California or the the state formerly known as Texas.
Hank W.
Speak Your Mind