Legislators in Texas, the biggest energy producer among U.S. states, will begin deliberating its next two-year budget with a surplus forecast today to match an $8.8 billion record set in 2007.

The Texas economy has topped budget projections over the past 15 months, as booming energy output fueled job growth and an 11 percent fiscal first-quarter gain in sales-tax receipts, the biggest source of general-fund revenue. Even after paying off $7 billion in health and school bills, Comptroller Susan Combs said today that the state will be flush heading into 2014.
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Republicans hold all statewide elective offices and run the Legislature.
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Governor Rick Perry, a Republican who has held the office since December 2000, wants to tighten limits on spending growth, and opposes new levies or tax increases, according to a “budget compact” he released in April. Disciplined spending policies have helped Texas retain top credit grades from Moody’s Investors Service and Fitch Ratings.

“Today’s revenue estimate is more evidence that we made the right decisions two years ago by budgeting carefully to meet the challenges of the national recession,” Perry said in a

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-01-07...-boom-cash.html

Wow! Almost makes me wish I were a Texan! Grown-ups running a state.

Ha! Our previous governor wanted to give over twenty million to the schools to fund the program that used to be called head start. Our republican congress & senate said no. She gave it anyway from the N.C. emergency fund. Democrats are so stupid!

Dont' know what they call it now. All I know is the local elementary school has a class for 3-4 year olds that is nothing but a glorified baby sitting class. Fed breakfast, lunch, taken to doctors, dentists, the entire responsibility that should be the parents.

It's especially resentful to the parents that have to work two and three jobs to support their children.
I think the age of five is young enough for the state to start supporting the kids in "education."

We now have a republican governor!

Quote: Justme wrote in post #3

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said state Senator Kirk Watson, an Austin Democrat. “Some people clearly want to starve the necessities of our people, things like schools, health care and transportation.

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I wish Rick Perry was the nominee, but to some people he wasn't pure enough...

Quote: kevindavis wrote in post #6

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I wish Rick Perry was the nominee, but to some people he wasn't pure enough...

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