Yes, the economic and political future of our state will be on the line next year. If you think this is hype, consider these facts. In two short months, Texas will be either dead last or close to dead last in a large number of categories that measure our state’s investment in the future. Two of the most critical benchmarks for our future are public and higher education. Unfortunately, toll roads are given a higher priority in Texas’ 2012/13 budget than either public or higher education. In ten short years, we’ve gone from the middle of the pack (25th) in public education funding per capita to 50th (dead last). What businesses or individuals want to move to a state that doesn’t care about public or higher education, the foundation for its future?
The University of Texas experienced a 16% cut in this budget, with Texas A&M University receiving a 13% cut. Southwestern Medical School in Dallas received a 22% cut. U.T. now receives approximately 13% of its total funding from the State of Texas and is essentially a private university as a result of increasingly draconian funding levels appropriated by our legislatures in recent years. How much longer are we going to tolerate the destruction of education at all levels in Texas before we finally take action to replace the people who have made these inexcusable choices?
We’re already tied for first with Mississippi in the overall percentage of minimum wage jobs. Texas is fast becoming a banana republic, with an enormous gap between rich and poor and a regressive and antiquated tax code that is incapable of generating enough revenue to provide even the most rudimentary state services for our population. If present trends continue, we will soon become a state with a poorly educated population that will attract only those industries that offer minimum wage jobs. Do we want to accept a future comprised of widespread economic decline that is designed to benefit only the richest members of our society? Clearly the answer is “no,” so we need to become politically involved and make sure that the next Texas Legislature reflects the will of the people and places them ahead of the special interests.
Did you know that our 82nd Legislature repealed a 1949 legislative compact guaranteeing a funding formula for public education? Our legislature now appropriates whatever level of funding it considers appropriate for public education, and the state pretends that Texas public schools have no new students for funding purposes. Unless it is changed, this new law will remain in effect during the 83rd Legislative Session that will convene in January 2013. Our current Legislature has made it clear that it will not provide adequate funding for public education and is thus willing to violate the following provision of the Texas Constitution adopted in 1876:
Article 7: “A general diffusion of knowledge being essential to the preservation of the liberties and rights of the people, it shall be the duty of the Legislature of the State to establish and make suitable provision for the support and maintenance of an efficient system of public free schools.”
Please join us in our efforts to inform the people of Texas about this effort to destroy the very foundation upon which our state was built. We will soon announce an advertising campaign to inform Texas voters of the truth about the Texas budget crisis and how it was created by those we elected to serve us. Before and during this campaign, we will continue our efforts to enlist a new group of citizens willing to dedicate the time and energy to win election as our representatives in Austin and make the necessary changes to ensure that we can be proud of our state government once again. To take back Texas, everyone needs to get involved. The details will follow soon.