Perry says state not to blame for school woes

[djohn2oo8]

AUSTIN — Gov. Rick Perry said Wednesday the state's not to blame if teachers lose their jobs as school districts grapple with the potential loss of billions of state dollars.
S
chool groups took issue with Perry's effort to distance the state from the effects of budget cuts, which by one estimate could cost up to 100,000 school district jobs through the next two years.

"The lieutenant governor, the (Texas House) speaker, and their colleagues aren't going to hire or fire one teacher, best I can tell. That is a local decision that will be made at the local districts," Perry said when asked about a Texas Capitol rally planned Saturday by teachers, parents and others concerned about the potential cuts.

Families and small businesses across Texas "are making decisions about what's a priority," Perry said, "… and I think school districts are no different."

He said if he were deciding, he'd focus on "non-teaching" staff - which a number of school districts have said wouldn't suffice to meet the cuts.
"Let there be no mistake, the decisions being made in school districts across the state regarding staff layoffs are a direct result of state funding cuts proposed by lawmakers," an alliance of education groups said in a joint statement.

"We urge lawmakers to use a balanced approach in developing a state budget, including accessing the rainy day fund" state savings account, said the Texas Association of School Administrators, Texas Association of School Boards and Texas School Alliance.

Texas could fire every school superintendent, all principals and assistant principals, every school counselor, every librarian, every school nurse, all cafeteria workers, custodians and bus drivers - all 329,574 non-teacher jobs - and still not save the $11.6 billion in public education cuts, according to average salary figures on the TEA website.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/...n/7465134.html

[George Gervin's Afro]

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/...n/7465134.html

This guy is a piece of ...

[boutons_deux]

Texas budget mess got started with 2006 property tax cut

The economic downturn isn't helping the shortfall, but it's not driving it, either. The driving factor is a decision by Gov. Rick Perry and the Legislature in 2006 to reduce property taxes by $14 billion every two years and raise only about $9 billion to replace that money.
In other words, the Legislature committed $5 billion every two years to holding down property taxes instead of spending that money on education, public safety or other priorities.
Then the state's new business tax brought in drastically less than projected, and that $5 billion gap turned into a nearly $9 billion gap. Lawmakers from both parties did little to address that reality when they met in 2009, and in fact they made the gap a little wider by exempting 40,000 small businesses from the new tax.

http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/02...#ixzz1GD5ciK4l

[George Gervin's Afro]

Texas budget mess got started with 2006 property tax cut

The economic downturn isn't helping the shortfall, but it's not driving it, either. The driving factor is a decision by Gov. Rick Perry and the Legislature in 2006 to reduce property taxes by $14 billion every two years and raise only about $9 billion to replace that money.
In other words, the Legislature committed $5 billion every two years to holding down property taxes instead of spending that money on education, public safety or other priorities.
Then the state's new business tax brought in drastically less than projected, and that $5 billion gap turned into a nearly $9 billion gap. Lawmakers from both parties did little to address that reality when they met in 2009, and in fact they made the gap a little wider by exempting 40,000 small businesses from the new tax.

http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/02...#ixzz1GD5ciK4l

No boutons it was Washingon's fault...


Rick reminds us all the time... that is in between his taking credit for the friendly business environment and that Texas is the conservative model for the nation....

[boutons_deux]

"No boutons it was Washingon's fault..."

What? Isn't it all HUSSAINcare's fault?

[TeyshaBlue]

this guy is a piece of ...

+10.

[coyotes_geek]

This guy is a piece of ...

Yep.

[Marcus Bryant]

So the $ will come from Santa Claus.

[Das Texan]

Why people elected this ing clown to yet another term when he has ed Texas is beyond me.

[Spurminator]

Because he's a Republican and he doesn't talk all gy and .

[Marcus Bryant]

Sure, Goodhair the Secessionist is a buffoon.

Who's up for paying more in property taxes and a new state income tax?

[TeyshaBlue]

Who's up for paying more in property taxes and a new state income tax?

I don't know bout property taxes, but I'd be able to tolerate a .25/gal gas tax.

[CosmicCowboy]

I would support using the "rainy day fund" along with across the board cutbacks now to balance the budget, then ins uting another .25 % sales tax that would be dedicated to building the "rainy day fund" back up to 10-15 billion, then ending the tax.

[coyotes_geek]

Because he's a Republican and he doesn't talk all gy and .

Pretty much. Perry's got Texas politics figured out. Be a loud, angry, white guy in the republican primary because loud, angry, white guys are the only ones who bother to vote in republican primaries. Then in the general election just shut up knowing that while independents and moderate republicans may not like you, they can't bring themselves to vote for a democrat.

[Wild Cobra]

I would support using the "rainy day fund" along with across the board cutbacks now to balance the budget, then ins uting another .25 cent sales tax that would be dedicated to building the "rainy day fund" back up to 10-15 billion, then ending the tax.

No matter what state we speak of, or even the federal government, I believe we need a tax that affects everyone. I have mentioned the social tax before. How about reducing income taxes, and reducing sales taxes in states with no income tax. Them implement a low rate of taxing all gross income. No exceptions, no credits, etc. A strait small percentage from everyone. Then as government revenue needs to increase or decrease, we increase or decrease this new tax. A tax that affects everyone, so that they will be more conscience of the spending habits of the people they elect to office.

[coyotes_geek]

I would support using the "rainy day fund" along with across the board cutbacks now to balance the budget, then ins uting another .25 % sales tax that would be dedicated to building the "rainy day fund" back up to 10-15 billion, then ending the tax.

I'd be okay with that.

[Stringer_Bell]

Wow, so much butthurt just because Texas is open for business. I'm sorry we're not some other s -sucking state that accepts Obamacare, bloated school budgets, and don't want to secede with our guns in hand and country music on the stereo. If you disagree, there's 49 other states that would love to be your nanny.

Signed, a real Patriot willing to make difficult fiscal decisions

[rjv]

Texas budget mess got started with 2006 property tax cut

The economic downturn isn't helping the shortfall, but it's not driving it, either. The driving factor is a decision by Gov. Rick Perry and the Legislature in 2006 to reduce property taxes by $14 billion every two years and raise only about $9 billion to replace that money.
In other words, the Legislature committed $5 billion every two years to holding down property taxes instead of spending that money on education, public safety or other priorities.
Then the state's new business tax brought in drastically less than projected, and that $5 billion gap turned into a nearly $9 billion gap. Lawmakers from both parties did little to address that reality when they met in 2009, and in fact they made the gap a little wider by exempting 40,000 small businesses from the new tax.

http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/02...#ixzz1GD5ciK4l

but hey-he didn't raise taxes ! isn't that all that really matters anymore ?

[boutons_deux]

"so much butthurt just because Texas is open for business"

When the Repugs defund the EPA, the Houston ship channel will be open for inflammability, again.

[The Reckoning]

a new state income tax?

i dont understand why a fixed income tax couldnt solve everything....

[boutons_deux]

Just uncut the 2006 property tax cut, duh, and see how that goes.

What royalty fees does TX get from resource extraction? I'm sure the compromised, owned Good Ol' Boys on TX railroad commission would love to raise those fees.

[ChumpDumper]

Just build more F1 tracks with tax money and everything will be fine.

[RandomGuy]

Pretty much. Perry's got Texas politics figured out. Be a loud, angry, white guy in the republican primary because loud, angry, white guys are the only ones who bother to vote in republican primaries. Then in the general election just shut up knowing that while independents and moderate republicans may not like you, they can't bring themselves to vote for a democrat.

Bingo.

[RandomGuy]

No matter what state we speak of, or even the federal government, I believe we need a tax that affects everyone. I have mentioned the social tax before. How about reducing income taxes, and reducing sales taxes in states with no income tax. Them implement a low rate of taxing all gross income. No exceptions, no credits, etc. A strait small percentage from everyone. Then as government revenue needs to increase or decrease, we increase or decrease this new tax. A tax that affects everyone, so that they will be more conscience of the spending habits of the people they elect to office.

Becasue it is perfectly moral and reasonable to take 22% of the income of a single working mother who has to choose between shoes, electricity, or food for her kids.

[DMX7]

Pretty much. Perry's got Texas politics figured out. Be a loud, angry, white guy in the republican primary because loud, angry, white guys are the only ones who bother to vote in republican primaries. Then in the general election just shut up knowing that while independents and moderate republicans may not like you, they can't bring themselves to vote for a democrat.

lol, I was thinking the same thing. It's funny because Bobby Knight loves the guy and said it on TV, and I was thinking that's really the kind of person who got him elected.