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Tradition is one of the budget’s first victims

Wednesday, May 04, 2011

Texas Senator Kirk Watson released the following statement Wednesday on the Senate's adoption of the proposed 2012-13 biennial budget:                                                          

Today, one of the Texas Senate's most important traditions became one of the first victims of this budget.

The quick and casual discarding of the Senate's two-thirds rule is symbolic of this budget's problems and processes. For years, the legislature has balanced the budget with a toxic mix of debt, diversions and deception. Those bad habits will become even worse under this budget.

It's ironic and unfortunate that this bad budget was passed in such a way.

The Senate rule and process exist to create consensus and care in the Senate's business. But the proposed budget has neither of those things. And by discarding this tradition on such an important and devastating bill, Texans are losing twice.