No Money. More Problems.

The Editorial Board at Austin American Statesman published an article on federal spending. This is following the news on the ever so near Sequestration that will cut budgets on wide variety of public programs effective March 1 should Congress and the President fail to reach a middle ground. That is quite the feat given the party-line rhetoric that renders our elected officials the least productive in recent memory. The editorial focuses on the effects of sequester on the state of Texas. This is evident given the fact that $46 billion of the spending cuts will come from the defense department, which, among other things, affects our state significantly given the number of military bases and installations. 30,000 civilian employees and 5000 construction, contract and related civilian jobs will be lost from the two major bases in Killeen and El Paso alone. This will result the loss of over $180 million in salary and related payments that would have otherwise benefited the Texas economy. In total, Texas will suffer a loss of $2.4 billion as a result of sequestration that will mainly dent its Army, Air Force and naval facilities.

The Editorial also reports the effects of non-defense jobs that are at risk. According to a report by the Pew Center, 5.4 percent of the state’s economy is federal spending. Cutting that would harm public schools and universities, health care and most importantly (at least for those who rely on student aid to go to school) financial aid. I wish to leave the domino effect of all this up to everyone’s interpretation, but we will all agree that this is a personal matter and daunting to say the least. None of it could be taken lightly. And to those who claim to “get (or git) nothing” from the government, it will only be timely to say so otherwise.

Let’s face it, Sequester is an ugly word. And parties on both sides need to address this issue with much more resolve than what is at play. No one is interested in a crippled state and it does not warrant a lesson worth learning. Not at the expense of the deprived and desperate. However, The Statesman offers very little in the way of calculated, evidence driven analysis of the state’s predicament and the failures of both parties. Big numbers (job losses, et al) and a somewhat emotion driven, strong worded statement is destined to inflict fear to those in way of harm and instill despise towards those with different views. Republicans have the same stake at saving this state as Democrats. Emotions aside, the effects of the financial crisis are only here to stay until a resolution is reached based on empirical understanding of the American economy and the implications of spending based on a guarantee for reelection.

The Editorial fails to offer any tangible solution to the growing concern of national debt and its implications on our state. Like any other state, Texas receives federal grant for its programs. Part of the estimated $47 trillion that will be spent in the next ten years will certainly make its way to the state of Texas. If Congress has time to preach the cuts they wish to introduce to the amount of $1.2 trillion in ten years, then they should certainly be able to help the public understand why carving so little is not possible. The intended audience is certainly expected (or so The Statesman wishes) to rally behind not allowing the sequester to run its course. However, Texas is a largely conservative state. What is otherwise a mostly accurate analysis could have been fortified to voice the desperate concern: Cut federal spending responsibly. 

Exonerated, unhappy, rich and suffering!

Timothy Cole

The Austin American Statesman published on Sunday a very interesting aspect of the Judicial/Penal system in Texas. Texas is notorious for Capital Punishment and the "Ultimate Justice" was boastfully adorned my Gov. Perry during the Presidential elections (when people are most mindful of American Politics). In this Sunday article, however, Mike Ward indicates the State's generosity in compensating its exonerees with the same passion it punishes criminals. With the advancement of DNA testing, groups like IPOT are ramping up their efforts for inmates with credible claim of innocence. The stark example is the rise in the amount of compensation the State doles out every year. It has increased over 750 fold since 1992, averaging in excess of $65.9 million to date. Part of the increase took place following the Tim Cole Act of 2009. This was in honor of Timothy Cole, who died in prison fighting his innocence to a wrongful rape conviction. The other determining factor is the fact that former inmates, including those exonerated find it incredibly challenging to integrate to society. Legislators will be discussing bills that would require additional measures to curb wrongful convictions. These include video recording interrogations, implementing laws barring prosecutors from withholding any evidence that may prove them wrong and ensure those that claim their innocence while incarcerated have the scientific testing available to prove it. Although the state of Texas pays one of the highest compensations to exonerees, some of the bills that will be introduced do not suggest a measure that would eventually cut down on the exuberant spending we have seen thus far. A bill filled by Rep. Anchia, D-Dallas is one example. Rep Anchia introduced a bill that extends "health insurance benefits to the exonerees' families,” arguing that families suffer as much when a loved one is wrongfully convicted.  

Indeed touching, especially if one takes a moment to imagine such a circumstance in themselves. However, it begs the question of reality. By dolling out more in caring for the affected, are we truly to achieve what seems to be a growing problem of spending on what could have been prevented in the first place? I think not. Advances in science and technology have given us the opportunities needed to prevent, at the very inception, such a sad story from occurring. Laws that prevent a short-lived glory of prosecutors as well as law enforcement, at the expense of the suffering of many and the loss of taxpayer cash must be what the State should aim its attention.