Simpson Explains “No” Vote on Budget
Posted/updated on: May 31, 2011 at 1:26 pm
AUSTIN — East Texas State Representative David Simpson explains why he voted against HB 1, the state budget bill whose final version was passed by the House on Saturday, 97-53. Simpson says HB 1 is the 2012-13 budget, or at least the bulk of it. According to Simpson, “Despite conservative boasts of cost cutting, not raising taxes, and not using the Economic Stabilization Fund or ‘Rainy Day Fund,’ the budget still preserves about $500 million of pork for special interests including film and music makers, video games, and commercials for Fortune 500 companies. Of course this is deemed economic development, but in reality it is a handout to concentrated special interests. These funds could be used for other priorities that promote the general welfare, such as education and care for the weak, or just cut from the budget and returned to the people.
“The ‘conservative’ budget also defers about $4 billion in payments, which is just one of several accounting gimmicks used. Another trick: the budget does not fund the whole biennium. Funds for Medicaid run out in February 2013 and the next Legislature likely will be forced to use the Economic Stabilization Fund to cover the anticipated shortfall. The final spending plan includes $1.5 billion more than the present biennium when you discount the one-time federal stimulus funds, add back the deferrals, and count the anticipated use of the Economic Stabilization Fund in 2013. Funds for K-12 public schools actually increase slightly over the present biennium, but schools will receive about $400 less per student due to population growth.” What Simpson terms “a critical piece of the budget,” education finance, remains up in the air and will now be addressed in a special session.
