TexasbudgetBUSTERS.com

Here, you have the ability to vote on proposed budget cuts and other cost-saving proposals, post ideas for balancing the budget, learn about conservative budget concepts, and become involved in the state budget process. Your participation is important in preparing for the upcoming Texas Legislative session, and your solutions are needed in order to provide us with clear guidance. Check back often or sign up for Buster Alerts to be notified when new proposed budget cuts and other cost-saving proposals need your vote.

Trusted Programs in the Governor's Office

Should the state continue to use tax money to provide small, short term grants for individual businesses, emerging technology, and the film industry?

The Governor's Office operates three programs, the Texas Film and Music Marketing Program, the Texas Enterprise Fund, and the Emerging Technology Fund. Each of these funds is used to attract businesses to Texas and provide individual grants to be used to grow important industries in Texas, one business at a time. The Texas Film and Music Marketing Program is budgeted at $64.24 million in 2010-2011; the Texas Enterprise Fund is budgeted at $67.58 in 2010-2011; the Emerging Technology Fund is budgeted at $203.04 million in 2010-2011. In total, these programs cost $334.86 in the 2010-2011 biennium. Tax credits that every business can compete for coupled with small business tax cuts will provide greater economic benefit to the entire state and to each individual business without requiring a budget appropriation.

Do you support state employees having the option to participate in health savings accounts?

Currently in Texas, state employees and retirees are provided health insurance under a self-funded group benefit plan. State employees should be allowed to participate in a consumer-directed health plan that includes both a health savings account and a high-deductible health plan. State employees in Indiana were given the option of utilizing health savings accounts in 2005. Since then, the state of Indiana has saved $20 million in health insurance costs and nearly 90% of Indiana's state employees are voluntarily enrolled in a health savings account, according to an article in the March 1, 2010 edition of the Wall Street Journal. Indiana has found that employees participating in health savings accounts are spending 35% less per year on health care costs for their family because they choose which procedures and prescriptions drugs to purchase for their money instead of having the government or insurance company make that determination for them. Health savings accounts have proven to be a winning proposition to both save money in the state budget and allow state employees to save their own money on health care.

Governor Tim Pawlenty implemented a plan in Minnesota for state employees. There has been success in bring down state employee healthcare costs.

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>BUSTERS 1 - The $4.2million helicopter; Cut the legislature budget; Gas tax diversions.
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Pol. Adv paid for by Ken Paxton Campaign; Bill Bates, Treasurer; 5613 S. Woodcreek Circle, McKinney, Texas 75071