AUSTIN, Texas -- Ooops. A $610 million deficit in Texas' famously balanced
budget just happened to G.W. Bush on his way to the White House.
Of all the things you know you shouldn't say in this world, is there any
sweeter satisfaction than, "Told you so"? I'm also telling you this deficit
is going to get a lot bigger.
As a Republican legislator remarked sourly several months ago, "I actually
hope Bush loses just so he'll he have to be here to face the mess he's
made."
Many and complicated are the ways of the Texas budget, and according to the
state comptroller, we should get a $1 billion surplus out of state taxes, so
the shortfall is covered for now. If the economy remains strong. If the
desperately poor in our "soft-landing, slowing economy" so shrewdly planned
by Fed chief Alan Greenspan don't decide to apply for the social services
that they are entitled to.
The dirty little secret of Texas government is that the way we keep it
solvent is by shorting the poor. We go to great pains NOT to let people who
are qualified for Medicaid know they are qualified, and then we make it
incredibly difficult for them to apply.