From the Senator's Desk . . .
April 17, 2007
The real question is this—what does S.B. 1 do? Does the budget pay for the needs of Texas? Will Texas grow and prosper because we wisely invested the people’s money? When the El Paso Times runs a series on poverty in our region, what investments made today will help end poverty tomorrow?
Let’s visit about my vote on Senate Bill 1, the budget bill.
Written by Senator Eliot Shapleigh, www.shapleigh.org
Voting on the Budget: What matters more? What matters more—tax cuts for the wealthy few, or standing tall for our children? Let’s visit about my vote on Senate Bill 1, the budget bill. First, let’s deal with the claim by some that a vote against S.B. 1 is a vote against the medical school. It's not true. Since 1993, no one has worked harder than our office to deliver the medical school. So, let’s be clear--the medical school is safe—it is in both the House and Senate version and will pass when the Budget passes. So, the real question is this—what does S.B. 1 do? Does the budget pay for the needs of Texas? Will Texas grow and prosper because we wisely invested the people’s money? When the El Paso Times runs a series on poverty in our region, what investments made today will help end poverty tomorrow? Budgets are moral documents. In government, budgets speak for all of us about what matters. So, what matters more in Texas today? Like you, I believe that children are important. In our state today, the reality is more students drop out and more kids are uninsured than any state in America. For me, our priority is clear—investing in the next generation. Instead, S.B. 1 fails children and profits the few. When $9b of a $14b surplus is banked for tax cuts for the wealthy few (not today, but four years from now) S.B. 1 tells the children of Texas tax cuts for the wealthy few are more important than you. And that is why I voted against S.B. 1. When times are good, we must invest in children. Instead, in S.B. 1, money that we might invest in education is banked in tax cuts for 2010, right when political primaries start. Let’s go back to 2003. Remember the $10b deficit? Back then Republican leadership basically cut 500,000 kids from CHIP and Medicaid, cut after school programs and teacher benefits in public schools, then cut more at universities so students had to pay more in tuition. Four years later, it is true to say the $14b surplus was built on the backs of children. So now, when times are good, it’s time to take care of kids. Right? Wrong. This budget takes care of millionaires, not children. Nine in fourteen dollars goes to tax cuts. 95% of the tax cuts go to people who make more than $85,000. That’s right. Instead of caring for kids today, this Republican budget banks tax cuts for the wealthy tomorrow. So, what can the surplus fund? 200,000 more children in CHIP; pay for the Frew Settlement outright, not rob Peter to pay poorer Paul; 181,000 more students in TEXAS Grants, which under S.B 1 now covers fewer than 50% of the students it was intended to cover; eliminate wait lists for the desperately ill, who now wait up to 20 years for basic care; restore higher education funding to pre 2003 levels (including inflation) to stop 47% hikes in tuition at places like UTEP and Pan Am; fund CPS at national norms to get foster kids out of hotels; pay for state parks so Texans can enjoy our great state; and restore diversions from the highway fund, so Texas does not have to toll. Just last week, I got an email from an El Paso librarian about the cuts to her budget. "We can't provide a 21st century education, because the money is not there, she said. "I am run ragged." During the campaign, I heard from many mothers whose children had lost CHIP. Students voiced concern about 47% tuition hikes. For most of us, making ends meet gets hard each week. After 10 years of Republican rule, the really sad part is that Democrats have forgotten that all this is possible. At the federal level, Democrats work to reverse tax cuts for the wealthy to pay for children's health. Here Republicans vote for tax cuts for the wealthy to deny health care to 200,000 CHIP kids. Middle class Texans want programs for them, not tax cuts for millionaires that destroy the programs for the middle class. In a recent Pew poll, 69% of Americans now support universal health care and want the government to get it done. Had eleven Democrats presented this list of key investments in January 2007, every single one of these programs would be funded in S.B. 1 today. To me, making that happen is the most important statement that I can make with your budget vote. As Democrats, we should stand tall for our values and the values of middle and low income families. And that means standing for children. Respected leaders across the state say that this budget is even worse than 2003, because today, we have the money. If we were called to sacrifice when we had no money, why do Republicans ask children to do it again when we do have money? What do we tell our children about the choice in S.B. 1? I invite you to let me know what you think. Keep the faith,
Your Senator
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