That thump you hear ...
Is the sound of Gov. Rick Perry's proposed budget hitting the trash can.
Disrespecting a governor's budget submission is not uncommon around the Legislature.
But I got all the confirmation I needed that it's DOA in 30 seconds yesterday. I hustled to the back of the House chamber to get House Appropriations Committee Chairman Warren Chisum's quick reaction. Very soon, as they filed out, Senate Finance Chairman Steve Ogden leaned into our conversation, followed by Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst. See the jump to read more:
Mr. Ogden grinned at Mr. Chisum and then pointedly noted that the budget bill originates in a different chamber each session, so it is state representatives who initially will dispose of Mr. Perry's recommendations.
"Hey, it’s a House bill this session," Mr. Ogden said. "You’ve got to go first."
Both men laughed.
Then Mr. Dewhurst approached and lampooned Mr. Perry's proposal to stop using $1.2 billion of gasoline-tax money to fund things like state troopers and to quit collecting $1.8 billion of fees on electric and phone bills, bad drivers and specialty license plates. The fees were supposed to be dedicated to specific programs but have gone unspent lately, helping lawmakers and Mr. Perry obtain the comptroller's vouching that there'll be enough money in the bank to cover the budget.
The dialogue:
Mr. Chisum (to Mr. Dewhurst): Governor, good to see you, man.
Mr. Dewhurst: Tell me how you’re going to balance the budget when you take out $3 billion in fees?
Mr. Chisum: Uh, we, uh, we’ll be working on that.
(Uproarious laughter.)