More Evidence Of Texas Republican Incompetence

The above image is of a small piece of Palo Duro Canyon in the Texas Panhandle -- the second largest canyon system in the United States (behind the Grand Canyon) and one of the wonderful state parks belonging to the people of Texas. But the state park system in Texas is currently in trouble, and it's possible that many of them might have to close down. They might have to close down because the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) doesn't have the money to keep them all open. The TPWD is now reduced to begging for donations from the general public. Here is the appeal from the department's executive director:

Record drought and heat, devastating wildfires, and a drop in visitation have led to a critical situation for state parks.

We need to raise $4.6 million to keep state parks operating, and we can't do it without you.

There are three simple ways you can help:

1. Make a year-end, tax-deductible donation.
2. Make a donation when it's time for you to renew your vehicle registration.
3. Most importantly, because visitor fees pay for about half of all park operating costs, visit a state park this holiday season.

Please act now, to help keep Texas State Parks open for everyone to enjoy. Our state parks won't be the same without you.

Thank you,
Carter Smith
TPWD Executive Director

Mr. Smith blames the shortage of funds on the drought, wildfires, and a drop in visitation. That's just what I would expect from a Republican-appointed state agency head. But the truth is that the TPWD should have been funded well enough to survive weather-related problems. After all, it's not like drought and wildfires are uncommon in Texas (and there would naturally be a drop in visitation in the years they occur. The fact is that the Republican governor and legislature under-funded the TPWD (along with dozens of other state agencies and the state's public schools).

During the last legislative session, the state did face a huge biennial budget deficit (about $27 billion). They could have broadened the sales tax base, fixed the faulty franchise tax, put a surtax on millionaires, eliminate unneeded subsidies for oil and gas companies, or done a myriad number of other revenue-enhancing things, but they didn't. They just fell back on the only solution Republicans seem to have -- cut the budget (except for giveaways to corporations).

And they cut so deeply that all Texans (except the rich) are hurting. Education was slashed by about $5 billion (even though the state already had the nation's lowest per pupil funding level). Most state agencies are now seriously underfunded and unable to perform at expected levels. Now we see that the TPWD is another of those agencies that did not receive adequate funding -- and thanks to this Republican incompetence, many state parks may now have to close down.

Republicans have been talking about the Texas "miracle", but there is no miracle -- just a legacy of mismanagement and incompetence.