The true cost of Gov. Perry's doublespeak

[white cloud]

By Snehal Shingavi
Category:Local Share Published: Mon, June 14, 2010

Updated: Mon, June 14, 2010

Gov. Rick Perry just can't seem to make up his mind. When the cameras are rolling, he excitedly points to Texas as proof of the success of fiscal conservatism. Days later, he directs all state agencies to cut up to 15% of their budget – in an effort to shore up a projected $18 billion shortfall – all while the state is sitting on top of a $9 billion “rainy day fund”.

The implication is clear: for the purposes of the election, the state of Texas is doing fine, and if it’s not, then a little proactive “belt-tightening” will do the trick to get us back on track. The only
problem is that this isn’t a Jenny Craig commercial – it’s amputation above the knee. Once you cut, it doesn’t grow back.



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http://www.readthehorn.com/the_horn/local/973/op_ed_the_true_cost_of_gov_perrys_doublespeak

[sonias]

1. That picture is just begging to be photoshopped

Two headed Perry, forked tongue, horns on his head, fire on his coat, beadier eyes. You know how he looks like in real life. :)

I wish I had mad photoshop skills! :evilgrin:

[sonias]

2. By the way the OpEd is a really good read too

I liked this part:

In fact, those very low tax rates are now the source of the budgetary contractions – and the cheap labor is the first to get cut and can’t be relied on for economic growth or boosts in consumer spending and sales taxes. The primary reason that there is a budget deficit is not because the government overspends, but because the tax revenues are not coming in. Texas is after all the state that is home to more Fortune 500 companies than any other. (You’ll notice they won’t be asked to tighten their belts). Rick Perry’s government has literally handed them a roadmap which shows them how to drive their profits out of the state, fat intact.

So it’s time to face facts in Texas. We may in fact simply be California running in slow motion. Or worse, Greece. And everywhere they try the same tired solutions: corporate profits are protected while ordinary people are asked to foot the bill by giving up their jobs, losing necessary services, bailing out the banks and government. You would think that this was because there were no other options, but the solutions are desperately simple and that’s what makes the whole thing so maddening.

Reminds me of a similar theme the Texas Observer hit on last month too in their article Perry's Role in the Budget Mess

The idea was to cut property taxes and replace the lost revenue with a new business tax. It was pitched as a tax swap that wouldn’t cost the state any money. Problem is, it wasn’t a swap at all. The business tax doesn’t bring in nearly enough money to cover the loss in property tax revenue.

This means Texas budget is guaranteed to have a shortfall of several billion dollars every year.

Perry is a worse driver than bush. No only is he driving us into a ditch, he's driving with his eyes closed! :mad:

[hobbit709]

3. Ricky drives like Spongebob taking his driver's license test.