By J. Lyn Carl, GalleryWatch.com
Austin, TX –
In the Texas Legislature, lawmakers vote "aye" on a motion by holding up one finger and "nay" by holding up two.
It's not unusual sometimes to see them hold up one finger with one hand while holding their noses with the other.
It signifies an "aye" vote, but on a bill that smells to high Heaven.
You have to believe that when State Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn today certified HB 10, she was holding her nose.
By law, Strayhorn must review the legislation and ensure that it is balanced.
"While I am certifying House Bill 10, that does not mean that I agree with all the budget decisions made," Strayhorn said.
Her biggest complaint that probably drew the nose-holding was that HB 10 drains $1.9 billion out of the state's Rainy Day Fund.
"Since I was sworn in as Comptroller I have said we need to be like hard-working Texas families - spend wisely, invest wisely and save for a rainy day," she said. "That is not the case here." Strayhorn has long been a supporter of a hands-off approach to using the Rainy Day Fund for anything except emergencies, for which she said the fund was initially created.
With the certification of HB 10, the total appropriation approved by the Legislature for the 2006-07 biennium is $139.4 billion. Strayhorn notes that HB 10 also appropriates $2 billion in a supplemental appropriation for the current 2004-05 biennium.
The total amount appropriated by the 79th Legislature is $141.35 billion.