Texas Budget Cuts/Poor Perry in "rental mansion"

Republican leaders order Texas budget cuts





By JAY ROOT Associated Press Writer © 2010 The Associated Press

May 18, 2010, 5:10PM





















AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Republican leaders ordered state agencies Tuesday to
immediately cut their budgets to brace for a shortfall of up to $18
billion.
With some exemptions for crucial programs, Gov. Rick Perry, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and House Speaker Joe Straus said they ordered the
Legislative Budget Board to tell government agencies to implement the
reductions, designed to save $1.2 billion.
State agencies were asked in January to provide Texas leaders with recommendations on how to cut their budgets by 5 percent.
At the time, leaders exempted health care benefits and eligibility levels in the Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance program. They also exempted certain teacher and state employee
retirement programs, contributions to the state Higher Education Fund
and debt service for ongoing obligations.
On Tuesday, the top three state leaders expanded the exemptions to cover certain programs involving homeland security, job training,
emergency health care and student financial aid.
The budget shortfall, which officials has said could be as high as $18 billion, is largely a result of the national recession. It's the
projected difference between available revenue, mostly from
lower-than-expected sales taxes, and the cost of maintaining services at
their current levels. The state's Rainy Day Fund is expected to have a
balance of about $8.2 billion.
Straus has raised the possibility of unpaid furloughs and four-day workweeks for state employees as way of saving more money.
Texas lawmakers will confront the budget shortfall when the Legislature meets in January.
During an appearance in McAllen on Tuesday, Perry was asked what changes he would make to his own living accommodations in light of his
call for state agencies to find savings in their budgets. Perry has
drawn fire for living in a rental mansion in tony West Austin, costing
taxpayers around $600,000 so far, at a time when lawmakers are demanding
cuts.
Perry said "every agency that deals with the mansion has been asked to make the same five percent reductions."
The governor said that he would direct his own office to make deeper reductions than other agencies, perhaps by more than 10 percent. He said citizens expected the government to cut its own spending to
avoid tax increases.
"We look at this as a project together, no different than what the citizens have to deal with," Perry said. The governor is living in a rental mansion while repairs are being made to the badly burned Texas
Governor's Mansion.
____
Associated Press Writer Chris Sherman in McAllen contributed to this report..

Views: 32

Comment

You need to be a member of 12160 Social Network to add comments!

Join 12160 Social Network

"Destroying the New World Order"

TOP CONTENT THIS WEEK

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE SITE!

mobile page

12160.info/m

12160 Administrators

 

Latest Activity

MAC posted videos
yesterday
tjdavis posted photos
yesterday
Doc Vega posted photos
yesterday
Doc Vega posted a blog post

Veteran’s Day a Time That Should Be Honored

 At a time in our confusing and idiotic history when a Democrat can’t define a woman when being…See More
yesterday
Michael A. Pinson posted a photo
yesterday
cheeki kea commented on tjdavis's blog post Mountain Miracle
"Thumbs up to this awesome school. Isn't it amazing that some of the greatest teachers are to…"
Sunday
cheeki kea commented on cheeki kea's photo
Sunday
cheeki kea commented on Doc Vega's blog post This is Incredible! Trump is Already releasing Plans to Dismantle the Deep State and Purge the Corrupt Players
"Oh wow he is not wasting any time. May the power of the words he just spoke resonate across America…"
Sunday
tjdavis favorited cheeki kea's video
Sunday
tjdavis favorited rlionhearted_3's photo
Sunday
tjdavis posted a blog post
Sunday
Doc Vega's 4 blog posts were featured
Saturday
cheeki kea's 2 blog posts were featured
Saturday
Doc Vega commented on tjdavis's blog post Mountain Miracle
"A creative way to get hands on participation with students and the community."
Saturday
Doc Vega favorited tjdavis's blog post Mountain Miracle
Saturday
Doc Vega posted a blog post

The Perfect Lies

The Perfect Lies Time is like an ocean with its secrets running deepLike all the lovers you’ve…See More
Saturday
tjdavis posted blog posts
Saturday
tjdavis posted a blog post
Friday
Doc Vega posted blog posts
Thursday
rlionhearted_3 posted a photo
Thursday

© 2024   Created by truth.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service

content and site copyright 12160.info 2007-2019 - all rights reserved. unless otherwise noted