State Money For Events - But Not For Schools

As I've posted several times before, the state of Texas has a serious budget shortfall for the next biennium -- a shortfall of at least $27 billion. The legislature is currently in session trying to create a budget that will make up for that missing money. And since the Republicans control both houses of the legislature, they are trying to do it without raising taxes (or broadening the tax base) or cutting subsidies for the corporations.

The budget they have proposed so far has cut the money for schools (even though Texas was already last among the states in per student funding of schools). These drastic cuts will mean perhaps as many as a hundred thousand teachers could be laid off for the next school year. In addition, there have been huge cuts in all social programs and all state agencies. The mantra the Republicans keep repeating is that the state just can't afford these things.

But while the Republicans can't seem to find the money to help children, the unemployed, the poor, or the elderly, they always magically seem to be able to find the money to do the things they like. For instance, the state has a fund (the Major Events Trust Fund) that will spend millions of dollars to bring major athletic, entertainment and political events to the state.

An example of this was the Super Bowl recently held in the Dallas-Ft. Worth metroplex. The state spent $31.2 million dollars to help defray the expense of the host cities in hosting the event. The excuse they use for spending that money is that the events bring in a lot of money to the area hosting the event. My question is if the events bring in so much extra money, why can't that extra money defray the cost of hosting the event instead of using state funds -- funds that could be used to finance schools or social programs?

Now the House has passed a bill (and the Senate probably will also pass it) that would add many new events to the ones that can tap the state fund for money, especially in bringing new events to the recently built Cowboys Stadium in Arlington. Events that could get state money include the Country Music Awards, political conventions (of both parties), and the Cutting Horse Triple Crown. The Super Bowl, Collegiate Basketball Final Four, and the NBA All Star Game are already on the list for state money.

Now I have no problem with these events being held in Texas -- and the new Cowboys Stadium would be a good venue for a vast array of events. But the state should not spend any money to bring the events to Texas, especially since we can't even properly finance our schools (which is much more important to all Texans, whether the Republicans realize it or not).

I will go even further. If schools and social programs can't be properly funded, then the Major Events Trust Fund should be abolished. That money should go to education. If the state has a serious budget crunch then priorities must be established -- and hosting a major event can never be more important than educating our children.

But this law will be passed, because for Republicans there is no higher priority than funding the rich -- and besides, they'll probably get complimentary tickets to the events.