The State of the State for Texas (San Antonio, Kilgore: credit, how much)

[Paka]

For all the arguing and bellyaching that there is between those that do and don't appreciate San Antonio and Texas in general, it is important to acknowledge that like him or not, Gov Perry has managed to keep our state on track when so many others are in deep financial doo-doo.

THIS is a good reason to live in Texas alone...

California set to issue IOUs as fiscal crisis weighs | Reuters

Unprecedented number of states lack budgets with week left - Jun. 24, 2009

That says a lot given we have no state income tax (yes, I KNOW all to well high property taxes here), but no state income tax.

Sometimes you have to admit how bad things are in other locations to understand how good you have it in your current position.

[Dopo]

Originally Posted by Paka

THIS is a good reason to live in Texas alone...

California set to issue IOUs as fiscal crisis weighs | Reuters

Unprecedented number of states lack budgets with week left - Jun. 24, 2009

FYI, the US government also has a few IOUs

[majormadmax]

Paka

Absolutely agree, the only problem is it seems everyone in California also realizes that and are now moving here if they can. While there is nothing wrong with that for the majority of them, some feel they have to try and mess this state up like they did that one!

Oh, and this thread will be moved to the Texas section of the forum in 3...2...1...

Cheers! M2

[dvlpr]

Originally Posted by Paka

For all the arguing and bellyaching that there is between those that do and don't appreciate San Antonio and Texas in general, it is important to acknowledge that like him or not, Gov Perry has managed to keep our state on track when so many others are in deep financial doo-doo.

THIS is a good reason to live in Texas alone...

California set to issue IOUs as fiscal crisis weighs | Reuters

Unprecedented number of states lack budgets with week left - Jun. 24, 2009

That says a lot given we have no state income tax (yes, I KNOW all to well high property taxes here), but no state income tax.

Sometimes you have to admit how bad things are in other locations to understand how good you have it in your current position.

Interesting point. I think giving Governor Perry credit for "keeping our state on track" is an underserved accolade. What keeps the TX economy in relatively good shape is our very low tax structure and low regulatory approach to business and development. And Perry can't take much credit for either of those things.

But where I'd agree with you is that the economic policies of the Texas Republican party and its leaders (in our libertarian-leaning Republican state) have kept the economy quite healthy. And this is coming from someone who rarely votes "R". Of course, having such a concentration of oil & gas companies doesn't hurt!

And I think it should be pointed out that the lax regulatory environment that makes TX such an attractive place to do business also gives property owners, builders, developers, and businesses broad liberties on what they can do with their properties (and gives our cities and counties very limited authority on regulating their activities).

[cr1039]

Perry told reporters he expects lawmakers to finish their work in “72 to 96 hours. I think that's three to four days, right? My Aggie math — y'all kind of check me on that.”

You mean this guy? ^^

[texdav]

Igive h9im alot of credit in keeping the state budget in balance and not going itno debt. I also think that Bush did a great job in uniting the legidalture of democrats and republicans. I wil vote for Perry agin by his results period.

[bluescreen73]

Originally Posted by texdav

I wil vote for Perry agin by his results period.

His results? In his position he's largely powerless, but based on the things he _has_ done there's no way in hell he'll get my vote.

Between the Gardasil mandate - done as a favor to his former chief-of-staff turned Merck lobbyist, his incessant push to put toll booths on every highway in Texas, and his overall attitude of arrogance and unaccountability, he's the second-to-last person I'd vote for, right next to Larry Kilgore.

[loves2read]

it is NOT Perry that keeps the budget out of debt --- it is the STATE CONSTITUTION
which Perry had nothing to do with creating (thank God)...
Perry is just a jerk and perfectly typical of most Texas politicians--
I so hope that either Kay Bailey Hutchinson or ANYONE will beat him in next election
he is perverse in his desire to be all things to all people (as in his adoption of any stance that is popular with people he thinks he can get to vote for him--religious right, states' rights, oil interests, small business owners)...
You can't trust Perry because Perry is all about himself--NOT Texas...
what Perry is angling for right now is a national presence so that he can be considered for vp for next Republican ticket for president

[theloneranger]

Originally Posted by texdav

Igive h9im alot of credit in keeping the state budget in balance and not going itno debt. I also think that Bush did a great job in uniting the legidalture of democrats and republicans. I wil vote for Perry agin by his results period.

What on earth does Perry have to do with keeping the state budget in balance?

The State Constitution (don't bother to read it, it's about 500 pages long and confusing as hell) says that the budget MUST be balanced. It is not possible to pass a budget that isn't balanced because it will be stricken down.

Basically what happens is the Comptroller tells the Lege how much money they have to spend, and then the House and Senate start coming up with myriad ways to spend them. All Perry does is sign the bill at the end.

I don't even think a governor has vetoed a butget in a looong, looong, time.

[loves2read]

I wonder if the OP is from CA or just a Texan who does not know much about his state or state government--which would cover 90% probably