News and Articles
Below are listed articles that should be
useful to those concerned with state finances. The articles are from newspapers,
magazines, and
websites.
Jan. 7 - Comptroller Combs BRE transcript |
Press reports on the BRE: | Robert T. Garrett, Dallas Morning News Combs estimates revenue growth will cool, lawmakers will have $101 billion for general-purpose spending Peggy Fikac, San Antonio Express-News Revenue estimate soars on eve of 83rd Texas Legislature Paul J. Weber, The Associated Press Texas revenue estimate brighter on eve of session Kate Alexander, Austin American Statesman State leaders urge spending restraint as revenues increase David Mildenberg, Bloomburg Texas Starts Budget Debate Flush With Energy Boom Cash Aman Batheja, Texas Tribune Combs: Lawmakers Will Have $101.4 Billion for Budget Jan. 1 - Expected surplus won’t lessen 2013 Texas budget fight | Paul J. Weber of the AP writes that even given the expected robust surplus, there are concerns that that won't be enough to fund all the reductions imposed by the 82nd Legislature. With my "tax savings" maybe I'll purchase a calculator for members of the 83rd Legislature so they can better crunch the numbers. :-) | Dec. 29 - Texas' GOP budget writers are in no hurry to restore billions cut from schools | Robert Garrett of the Dallas Morning News has an informative story concerning what should be expected from budget writers when the session commenses January 7. According to Rep. Pitts who, "expects Comptroller Susan Combs’ two-year revenue estimate, which limits what lawmakers can spend, 'to be pretty conservative, and so we’re being very conservative.'" Given the negative growth in the current estimate, how much more conservative can the Comptroller be? | Dec. 27 - 2012: The Year in Graphs | Ezra Klein of the Washington Post's Wonkblog "asked our favorite professional wonks — economists, political scientist, politicians and more — to see what graphs and charts they felt did the best job explaining the past year." The link presents these graphs. They are quite informative. | Dec. 23 - Much of extra income for state already spent | Peggy Fikac of the Houston Chronicle has an informative piece concerning the upcoming robust state fiscal condition. While revenue will substantially increase, this increase is already obligated. | Dec. 21 - State budget scholars: Texas’ fiscal outlook good for now, though eroded sales tax is among ‘warning signs’ | Robert Garrett of the Dallas Morning News has another informative post to the Trail Blazers Blog concerning former Chief Revenue Estimator and Deputy Comptroller Billy Hamiltonan's comprehensive study of the Texas fiscal outlook. One should pay special attention to the writeup on tax volatility, pg. 32, as it contains quite useful analysis. | Dec. 17 - Retired fiscal analyst Greenfield says state flush enough to undo all the school cuts | Robert Garrett of the Dallas Morning News posted to the Trail Blazers Blog an extensive writeup of my recent analysis. I must also commend him for the picture displayed. | Dec. 15 - Texas budget looking sunnier in 2013 | Kate Alexander of the Austin American-Statesman has an informative piece on the state's forthcoming budget situation. Her reporting of the state surplus is consistent with my recent analysis
| Oct 29 - Texas Wants More Medicaid Control | Ben Philpott of KUT provides a good overview of the Medicaid issue. One might also view Ray Perryman's analysis of the benefits of implementing ObamaCare, the ACA, for the Texas Medicaid program. Finding the $4 bil is a no-brainer, WTF3
| Oct 19 At Budget Meetings, Policy Decisions Few Voters Notice | Ross Ramsey of the Texas Tribune as an excellent analyze on how legislators are reviewing "key "process" decisions — adopting an official prediction of how much the economy and population will grow, and deciding how big a patch to put on the current state budget — could limit state spending for the next two years." What is interesting is that the revenue estimate in January should provide more than enough funding to remedy this biennium's budget adjustments and for substantial growth in FY14-15. | Oct 18 Texas Lawmakers Take Aim at Accounting Tricks | Ben Philpott of the Texas Tribune provides insight into how legislators will remedy the "accounting gimmicks used to help balance the current budget." As the person who suggested moving the employee payday by 1 day, I'm somewhat heartbroken. :-) | |