In discussions and many blogs regarding Texas fiscal state one issue that always comes to the fore is the pros/cons of the two economic development funds controlled by the Office of the Governor. On various incarnations of this blog these funds have been opposed and categorized as "slush funds" which promote crony capitalism in it's worse form.
From an ideological perspective there is no difference between Solyndra and American Stem Cell, the latter of which is the subject of this pay-walled article:
Lawmakers seek better return on Emerging Tech Fund Investments. Lauren McGaughy, HoustonChronicle.com ($)
You might think, taking the lead from the head of their National party, that the main drivers behind the "make it better" movement would be Democrats. After all, they view themselves as a group of intellectual betters existing only to make life bearable for the gormless and dim. You would not be wrong to think that Texas Democrats want to keep these programs, in fact, Demographic darling Van de Putte has suggested they need to be expanded, but you might be surprised to find that your so-called fiscally conservative Republicans are leading this fight as well....
Why the Texas Enterprise Fund is Worth it. Jason Villalaba (R-Dallas) TribBlather.com
Fortunately, Republican gubernatorial nominee Greg Abbott has come out against the existence of both of these funds. What should be concerning to Texas Republican voters is that their elected representatives in Texas lower chamber seem to have caught a case of good-governmentitis.
When Dan Patrick first ran for State Senator he was fond of suggesting on his radio show that his first thought would be 'to get government out of the way'. After his first term in office this mantra was replaced with "we have to see what WE can do to fix the problem". This is a problem with many politicians who suddenly, upon election, feel themselves to be experts in any and all fields for which they've been convinced by lobbyists that they are suddenly authorities.
We're constantly warned (by those of a Republican persuasion) that, should Texas turn Blue, the United States of America as we know it is headed down a progressive pit of financial and moral ruin. As more and more Republicans start acting in financially irresponsible ways it's more likely that the Nation is going to spiral downward regardless.
Even more surprising is that ending/keeping crony capitalism is now an ideological issue. If your political ideology supports the government picking and choosing winners and losers then you've already lost the plot. IF both Texas Republicans and Democrats coalesce behind this issue then it's Texas citizens who will lose.
