Pierpont is pleased to feature the following guest post from John Pitts. One of the most influential lobbyists at the Texas Capitol, Pitts is Managing Principal of Texas Star Alliance, an affiliate to Pierpont Communications.
My mentor, former Lt. Governor Bob Bullock, used to talk about his love affair with Texas. He loved Texas so much that he had this carved into his headstone: Only death will end my love affair with Texas. But what about the New Texas, with the proposed budget cuts on the table? Would Governor Bullock still have his long-running affair with the New Texas?
What does this New Texas look like? Here’s a peak into the future – based on the present:
- Currently, compared to the other states, Texas ranks third from the bottom for state spending per resident. In the New Texas, our ranking will drop even lower. After this legislative session, even less money will be spent on the citizens of Texas.
- In the New Texas, children born in Texas may or may not be US citizens. Children born in Texas may or may not be allowed to attend our state-supported public schools, colleges or universities. Children born in Texas may or may not be allowed to live in rental housing. Children born in Texas may or may not be able to obtain medical treatment.
- In the New Texas, either we will release a greater number of prisoners early, raise the charge and require more prison time, or go on a building spree and continue our top ranking among states with the most people in state and federal prisons.
- In the New Texas, we will raise our ranking of eighth in the nation for the number of state residents living below the poverty level. Currently, over 17 percent of Texans fall in this category. With educational opportunities diminishing for our young Texans, good jobs will be replaced by lower hourly wage jobs.
- In the New Texas, as our colleges and universities become more expensive to attend and financial aid becomes harder to obtain, more of our youth will be unable to obtain a college education. Today only 25% of Texans over 25 have a college degree.
- In the New Texas, as salaries decrease and cost of living increases, fewer Texans will have the opportunity to be homeowners. Today Texas ranks 45th in the United States for homeownership.
- We rank second in the country for the number of state residents who are below 18 years of age. We are a young state, but in the New Texas, are these Texans going to be equipped for the modern world? Will they find themselves competing for jobs on the world stage rather than along Main Street?
- Currently, over two-thirds of Texans are either obese or overweight. In the New Texas, are we going to be an even fatter state with obesity-related diseases plaguing Texans and burdening our state Medicaid coffers? As reimbursement rates continue to drop for doctors treating Medicaid patients, fewer doctors will accept these patients.
- If our children and grandchildren are able to go to a college or university in the New Texas, will they be safe or will they be dodging bullets as we allow students to bring guns on campus?
- Currently, Medicaid pays over 50% of all births at a cost to the state of over $10,000 per birth. In the New Texas, will our state resources be depleted as this number increases?
- In the New Texas, will our air be safe and our water drinkable?
It appears to me that this is the direction for the New Texas. It can and must be reversed.
Proposed budgets cuts across the board will lead Texas in a new direction. Without additional sources of revenue to the state and without using the Rainy Day Fund, draconian cuts will lead us to the New Texas described above.
Texas can do more with less if we are committed to be smarter: to work smarter, to educate smarter, to eat smarter, to be smarter about our own health and healthcare delivery and to be smarter about how we allocate the state’s resources.
I love Texas. The best days for Texas are before us...I pray.