The 89th Texas Legislature wrapped up this week, and minus a huge bail reform package that was passed to Governor Greg Abbott, there was more bark than bite to the session. Not a whole lot got accomplished. The Texas House alone took a few months before even voting on legislation. It all ended with a $338 billion budget, and no real Conservative priorities addressed.
Instead, what we got was numerous packages that will spend billions, with very little in the way of property tax relief or true universal school choice. The latter did pass, and there were packages for teachers that will help education. But all in all, it was an underwhelming session that lacked true Conservative principles.
Economist Vance Ginn says all they really provided was overspending without purpose, similar to what California does.
"They are also putting a lot of money in new funds that will be outside the constitutional spending limit, for things the private sector should be doing instead of government," he says.
Austin doubled down on corporate welfare for Hollywood stars and contractors through taxpayer money. There was no real reform to Medicaid, and as mentioned, there was no real substantial attempt made at property tax relief. Meanwhile, they passed more regulations on Hemp/THC and app usage for minors.
In what has been known as a truly free state, those actions lean a little more toward overreach than helping Texans flourish.
"There are a lot of things people across Texas need, and it is not banning hemp...it is allowing for liberty and freedom to thrive," Ginn says.
The THC ban was a brainchild of Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, who has spent years in a war against marijuana. While some might agree with that, does it really help Texans? Adults can make their own decisions. The government does not need to tell them what they can and cannot do. Especially when it is fully legal in multiple states.
The record-breaking budget the legislature sent to Governor Greg Abbott is questionable at best, with rife overspending and no real solutions for Texans.
So, what Texas really needs to rein in the problem, is its own Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
"The budget is up 43 percent in the last two cycles...which is about twice as fast as population growth plus inflation in the state," says Ginn. "This is too much spending, which means we are then getting taxed too much."
A lot will be said in the midterm elections next year, and whether or not many people in Austin keep their seats. But they might be at risk of losing them if there is no flip back to fiscal Conservatism.
Photo: Gann, Brian (uploader)