The San Antonio Express editorial, Dems, GOP debate school funds, by Gary Scharrer discusses the debate between the democrats and the GOP over school funding. Since Texas seems to be recovering from the recession it seems logical that state leaders would not continue with more budget cuts.  However, apparently Gov. Perry opposed having a special session to address school funding. Republican leaders would prefer instead use the budget surplus, if there even is one, to be used for unfunded Medicaid expenses and unexpected costs. The author’s intended for his work to be read by fellow Democrats, asking that the GOP seats be changed out. He provides some interesting points and backs them up with valid solutions.

This is where I have to agree with Gary and disagree with the GOP. I fail to understand why so much funding should go to the uninsured. Taking your 5 year old to the doctor every time they have sniffle doesn’t seem justified when school programs are being slashed and more teachers are cut every year, so that those that were paying for their own healthcare now cannot. Hence, you’ve thus dug the hole deeper and created even more families that will be applying for your free Medicaid.  Seems counter-intuitive to spend those dollars on Medicaid.

State legislature cut school funding for public schools by $2 billion dollars and its expected that another $2 billion will be cut again next year. Rep. Sylvester Turner (D) doesn’t understand why those funds cant be restored if the economy is improving and neither can I.  All in all public education will be down $6 billion by the start of the next session. These cuts seem unlikely to change unless the powers that be are no longer in power.  According to Jim Pitts (R) from Waxahachie doesn’t foresee his fellow GOP politicians holding a special session to cease to stop more budget cuts.  In the end there’s got to be another way. Something must be done before there is no solution. Either a special session must be held to re-distribute budge surplusses, qualifications for Medicaid recipients need to be evaluated or a change out the people who hold those seats in the Capitol. 

Occupy Austin's eviction from City Hall was timely

It was Saturday afternoon when we were driving through downtown Austin. As a new resident I always like to see park and take a walk through just so I can say I’ve been there and feel more like a local. We saw the tents and people sleeping on the sidewalk and I asked if they were in line to buy Van Halen tickets perhaps. My fiancée advised me this was actually the Occupy Austin aka Occupy Wall Street. To me it just seemed as if that’s about all they were doing… occupying the street.

I came home to google more information so I could find out just what was the point for Occupy Austin. According to this article, http://www.statesman.com/opinion/occupy-austins-eviction-from-city-hall-was-timely-2155182.html found on the website for the Austin American Statesman, the protesters were removed from City Hall on 2/3/12. The article explains that the Occupy Wall Street movement began in New York in September 2011. Apparently the entire point of it all was to put a spot light on income inequality. The protesters were supposed to represent the 99% of Americans that are not rich. They also said that they were being denied their ability to voice their opinions through free speech.

However, they are indeed free to speak their mind without sleeping on the south plaza’s steps every night for weeks at a time. Yes, it makes sense that homelessness is an important issue that needs to be addressed. However, it cost the city an additional $800,000 for police patrol and sanitation. Not to mention the amount of money nearby businesses lost from patrons avoiding the area because of the protesting. The most important issue in the article is not just in regards to Occupy Austin but the bigger picture, voting. 

People who complain about policies usually don’t understand the issues at hand. In this era, we have more access to information than ever before. If there’s something we don’t understand, Google is just a few clicks away. Just like the protestors, instead of just occupying space, we too should become organized, informed and actually turn out for voting day. There will be a city council meeting on February 16, 2012. Will you be there?