Reality Begins To Set In For The States: Texas Budget Cuts

Of course, there are cries of how unfair it all is from the NannyStateProfessionals, but math is math. Texas is 15 billion short, and spending must be reduced.

From Associated Press, who of course, never miss an opportunity to spit on a conservative:

AUSTIN, TX -- Public education in Texas is facing billions in proposed budget cuts that would include slashing arts education, pre-kindergarten programs and teacher incentive pay as lawmakers take on a massive deficit with the promise of no new taxes.

Lawmakers got their first glimpse of what the next state budget might look like late Tuesday, including the $5 billion cut to public schools, as Republican Gov. Rick Perry and his supporters were dancing at an inaugural celebration.

Texas is facing a $15 billion revenue shortfall, and few corners of state government were spared in the draft proposal for the next two years. The Texas Constitution requires a balanced budget, and Republican leaders have vowed not to raise taxes.

Now, one must understand that had the incoming governor been a Hopey-Changey type, the AP would have breathlessly detailed the details of the ball, down to the first lady's shoe buckles, and buried news of any revenue shortfalls. Or blamed them on George Bush.

But, math is math is math. Texas, unlike the Federal gubbmint, must operate on balanced budgets, and doesn't have its own magic unlimited money-printing machine down the street.

It's not just Texas, ya'll. It's a lot of places, like Tennessee.

Himself and Miz Nancy and Mr. Harry went and borrowed hundreds of billions (freshly printed up by Zimbabwe Ben), and threw it out of the gubbmint helicopter to the states, confident that they would sprout votes and employment and votes and growth, and votes, by 2012. It kills economies and cultures, just ask Argentina. And, it didn't work this time either.

Here's a partial list of ObamaPork for which the money has run out in Tennessee:

STIMULUS FUNDED PROGRAMS:
Coordinated school health: $15.3 million

Extended contracts: $15 million

Safe schools: $4.8 million

Statewide Student Management System: $3.7 million

Family resource centers: $3.5 million

Exemplary educators: $2.3 million

K-2 assessment: $2.3 million

TN early intervention services: $2.3 million

Public TV grants: $2.8 million

Internet connectivity: $2.4 million

Tennessee School for the Deaf transportation: $800,000

Science Alliance museum grants: $750,000

Professional development: $582,000

Governor's Books from Birth Fund: $340,000

Governor's Schools: $240,000

Arts Academy: $150,000

Early childhood education operational savings: $150,000

Holocaust Commission grants: $128,300

Little Tennessee Valley Educational Cooperative: $47,700

Obama went and borrowed money from the Chinese to fund this. Our grandchildren will be paying for it.

The states will have to lead the way. Hopey-Changey just wants to spend more.

Friday Afternoon, Small-Town Tennessee, Hot Day In August

You know it's hot when you go to the bank to deposit a few checks, and the teller hands you a bottle of chilled water with your deposit slips, and invites you to sit down for a few minutes.

It's so hot (How hot is it?) that the local golf club has had to build temporary greens in two fairways, because the heat has destroyed the original greens. They heat up all day in the 100+ heat, the rain comes in the evening. Instead of watering the greens, the rain ends up boiling on the greens. OS played five holes, two with the temp greens, and a third that really should be taken out of play and repaired.

It's really hot. OS usually walks, come what may, but reason prevailed and he took a cart. Even riding, five holes in the heat was it, followed by a long cool shower before heading home. The starter will be turning away anyone who attempts to play without a cart tomorrow, even the teenagers who are too young to drive carts. It's that hot.

OS hates shopping at WalMart. Period. He'll duck in for dog food if he has to, when the seed-and-feed is closed, but that's about all he can tolerate. Blessedly, there are still small grocers and a 50's-era-by-golly men's shop on Main Street. OS ducked in to buy socks, and the salesman was gossiping with a gent who had to be at least 85 years old. He had tales to tell, especially about the bootlegger from the next county who publicly held court at the diner across the street.

The 8th District Republican primary candidates have all decided to publicly kiss and make up after weeks of circular firing squad stupidity, and visited downtown yesterday. Salesman reports there was a large crowd there to greet them. This is new behavior. Candidates have never paid more than token interest in this county, and Republicans have never drawn a crowd here. Hmmm...they turned out in 100 degree heat.

More Planet Knucklehead stuff today, but OS won't use this space to bellyache. It's the weekend.

Kinda' Gives An Entirely New Meaning To The Term 'Red State': Illinois, Obama's Home State, Is About To Melt Down

Gosh. If you spend way way way more than you take in, borrow borrow borrow the rest, one day, you'll have a several billion dollar shortfall in the ole' state budget.

From the WSJ:

Illinois lawmakers were in disarray Thursday as they groped for stopgap measures to address a $13 billion deficit equaling nearly half of the state's general-fund revenue.

The state faces one of the nation's worst budget crises, spilled over in part from the broader national economic crunch, and its current bond ratings lag only California's. But the confusion in the legislature indicates that serious steps to fix state finances won't be taken until after the November elections—if then.

Illinois lawmakers have little appetite for drastic spending cuts. An income-tax increase proposed by Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn is going nowhere. Even temporary steps, such as borrowing to make pension payments, have stalled. Illinois is months late on many of its bills and has no plan for catching up.

The legislature may push the problem to the governor's office by granting Mr. Quinn emergency budget powers and adjourning Friday, about three weeks earlier than usual.

Yeah, baby! Talk about-cher' profiles in courage!

And they don't have a Reagan or a Bush to blame for it. The One is in the White House, and if he ponies up $20 billion or so to bail Illinois out, with no chance of repayment, then Katie-Bar-The-Door on Election Day.

Does sort of make one reconsider that definition of 'Red State'.

Tennessee, on the other hand, is grappling with a shortfall of about 100 million--a lot of money, but Democrat Governor Bredesen and the Republican-dominated legislature stoked away a bunch of cash during the good times. So now the argument is about if and how much of those funds to tap versus how much to cut. They'll get through it, and won't be adjourning early. It won't be pleasant, but everyone will survive.

Read more about the knock-on effect in Illinois at Doug Ross Journal.

Wrestling Midgets

As Jeff Foxworthy regularly reminds his audiences: "I can't make this stuff up!"

Here in bucolic Burns, Tennessee, thirty-five miles west of Nashville (and light years removed from civil society), we have a mayoral campaign underway.

For years, it was never a problem. Ed 'Shot' Grove ran unopposed for years, serving as both mayor and police chief. If someone needed the police, they wouldn't say 'Call the police'; they'd say 'Give Shot a call.' He'd eventually turn up, and everybody would calm down. Think Sheriff Andy and Mayberry.

But Shot was forcibly retired, at age 78, following revelations that he had hired police officers with felony records, and the State of Tennessee revoked accreditation from his police department.

So now we have Mayor Bishop, now up for re-election, opposed by the police chief he fired last month, running as a write-in candidate. (Ya'll keeping track of all this?)

The town is littered with hand-lettered signs. The Mayor did have a big ole' sign sporting the University of Tennessee logo, proclaiming 'Go Vols, Go Bishop!' or words to that effect. UT took a dim view, and two cease-and-desist letters later, that sign disappeared.

So what's an incumbent to do, here in Burns, to endear the voters to himself?

Why, wrasslin' of course!! So, on May 21, Jerry 'The King' Lawler will be bringing his wrasslin' show, complete with MIDGETS(!!) to perform in Burns, featuring as referee the beloved Mayor Bishop.

Remember, OldSouth, mere mortal that he is, can't make this stuff up. He took this picture this afternoon, May 15, 2009.

Somebody call Shot. This could get ugly...