Thank you all for coming out today and taking time out of your schedule to think about the upcoming Texas Legislative Session.

Now, I particularly want to thank you for being here because, if you follow what’s going on up at the Capitol at all – and by that I mean, if you occasionally find yourself reading or talking about something besides, y’know, the arguable success of Baylor football (for Baylor, I mean).  Or, for that matter, the inarguable lack of success of other teams in Texas right now – then you’ve probably heard things are going to be a little rough under the dome this session.

Really, the only question that’s left is … how rough will things be?

Well, there’s a fascinating answer that you’re starting to hear from some insiders up at the Capitol. I’ve heard it a few times myself in the last few weeks – the same six words, always from very smart, very accomplished folks who have been around that building for a long time.

The response – these folks’ own legislative preview – their quick synopsis of what to expect next session boils down to this:

“Nothing. Good. Is Going. To Happen.”

“Nothing good is going to happen.” That’s the big quote at the top of the movie poster: Texas Legislature; Opens January 11th; “Nothing good is going to happen.”

This thought, this growing consensus – where there’s an incredible apprehension that crosses party lines and philosophical boundaries – is on the budget.

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