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.