Don’t be deceived by all the conservative talk coming out of Austin, the political royal class continues to write law to protect their political cronies and use the Texas taxpayer dollar to give money to those same special interests. The Austin American Statesman did a Politifact Check this weekend on State Rep. David Simpson’s observation that “the state budget lawmakers sent to Gov. Rick Perry spends money in the wrong places — such as on Walmart commercials.” PolitiFact Texas finds the statement TRUE.
Rep. Simpson wrote in an op-ed for the Longview News-Journal “Despite conservative boasts of cost cutting, not raising taxes and not using the Economic Stabilization Fund or “rainy day fund,” the budget still preserves about $500 million of pork for special interests including film and music makers, video games and commercials for Fortune 500 companies. Of course this is deemed economic development, but in reality it is a handout to concentrated special interests. These funds could be used for other priorities that promote the general welfare such as education and care for the weak, or just cut from the budget and returned to the people.”
Unfortunately, even with state-wide Republican leadership, the people of Texas continue to get intrusive, special-favors-for-special-friends-abuse-the-little-man legislation.
The question has to be, “will we vote differently in 2012?” And Noah Webster speaks from his grave: “When you become entitled to exercise the right of voting for public officers, let it be impressed on your mind that God commands you to choose for rulers, “just men who will rule in the fear of God.” The preservation of a republican government depends on the faithful discharge of this Duty; if the citizens neglect their Duty and place unprincipled men in office, the government will soon be corrupted; laws will be made, not for the public good so much as for selfish or local purposes; corrupt or incompetent men will be appointed to execute the Laws; the public revenues will be squandered on unworthy men; and the rights of the citizen will be violated or disregarded. If a republican government fails to secure public prosperity and happiness, it must be because the citizens neglect the Divine Commands, and elect bad men to make and administer the Laws, Intriguing men can never safely be trusted.”
