[simmons latex mattress]

I know this is about Texas, and rick perry and his gang here.
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But I wonder if other states are doing the same thing?

Longview News-Journal | 1 comment

It was a cringe-inducing week for proud Texans.

It wrapped up with our presidential-campaigning governor, in a discussion with the editorial board of the largest newspaper in Iowa, misidentifying a Supreme Court justice and misstating how many justices serve on the high court. And that Supreme Court, by halting our march toward spring primary elections so it could take yet another look at the shoddy work our Legislature did this year, reminded us how dysfunctional our process of redistricting has become.

But to our way of thinking, the low point may have been when our Parks and Wildlife Department came begging for donations from Texans to keep their state parks open. The department held out its tin cup in 11 news conferences across the state.

“We need to raise $4.6 million to keep state parks operating, and we can’t do it without you,” the parks department said on its website.

The reasons: Historically, about half of the department’s $69 million operating budget has come from fee-paying visitors. But heat, drought and wildfire have broken that model; there just haven’t been enough visitors.

In addition to entrance, campsite and other fees, Texas state parks have long depended on tax allocations and contributions to a parks foundation. But those streams are not getting the job done now, and — surprise! — lawmakers have made a tough situation worse.

As it has done by baiting and switching taxpayers on the use of other targeted funds, the Legislature has long reneged on arrangements to give the department its full share of the sales tax on sporting goods that is supposed to go to parks. Legislative Budget Board figures show the tax was projected to generate $236 million in the current two-year budget cycle. But as it has done many times, lawmakers cut the portion sent to Parks and Wildlife. The rest went to “balance” the budget.

The Legislature also threw in another gimmick: an optional $5 contribution from motorists registering their vehicles. If that doesn’t raise the intended $1.6 million, our 94 state parks will be in even worse shape.
In its news conferences, the parks department said that in addition to paid visits and the automobile registration donation, Texans could help by making a tax-deductible year-end donation directly to the department.

What’s next? Red kettles and bell ringers in front of our under-funded schools?


http://www.news-journal.com/opinion/...2c1b30985.html

[deermealec]

I will know that we are back on the road to recovery only when I see the City Mayor with his own tin cup while trying to keep his job.