Meanwhile Down Here in Texas

After spending the last few years lecturing the country about how his supposedly “prudent fiscal decisions” stood in stark contrast to fiscal policy at the federal level, Gov. Rick Perry (R-TX) is being forced to grapple with a huge hole in his own state’s budget. At $27 billion (more than twice what Perry had expected it to be), the state’s deficit puts it about on par with California.

It isn’t only Perry that’s been holding out his state as a model of economic performance. The “Texas miracle” has long been touted by conservatives as a success of an economy that is low-tax, low-regulation, and low-social service. But as a new report from the Center for Public Policy Priorities noted, Texas’ child poverty rate is going through the roof, with nearly one in four children living beneath the poverty line.

At the same time, Perry and the state’s Republican legislature are aiming to gut the child support services in his state to address his budget gap.

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Not only are child services and health care coming up for cuts, but so are funds for education, highways, and law enforcement.

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The worst part of this story is that Texas is currently sitting on a $8.2 billion rainy day fund

  Think Progress

That’s only if it rains on the governor, I guess.

Texas Governor Rick Perry said he will introduce emergency legislation requiring women seeking abortions to first get a sonogram of the fetus and listen to a recording of the heartbeat.

Why? Well when someone has all the information, according to Perry, “the right choice will be made — the choice for life.”

I find it funny how universal healthcare is big government gone bad, but somehow the government crawling up my uterus and telling me what choice to make isn’t.

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Rick Perry is a jackass. Period.

  Margaret and Helen

I must agree.

The “choice for life” for children he can then starve to death.

....but hey, do what you want....you will anyway.