How will we ever survive the summer without them?

The Governor of one of the largest states in the Union was on Hedgecock’s show last week. With a diverse economy and a diverse population, it is a challenging task and sharing an international border with Mexico, this state has also struggled with the issue of illegal immigration. But despite these hard economic times, the governor of this big ol’ state is not facing a budget deficit of $15 billion dollars…. So you know, now, who it is we are not talking about.

If you figured, though, the guest was Rick Perry, the governor of Texas, you would be correct. A state without an income tax, though, a slightly higher sales tax and admittedly higher property taxes still manages to post a surplus during this economic stretch to the degree that Texas is going to have a sales tax holiday. As Perry himself said: “We thought it would be nice to give back to the people”. Yes, he actually said that.

Now, how is California, the state whose Governor was not on Hedgecock’s show, going to give back to the people? Well, raise taxes, of course including a plan that will raise California’s high-end marginal rates to twice the national average. That, and attempt to pass (still) a $14 billion state-run health insurance program (and when Obama becomes President, there will be absolutely zero chance of any overlap, double-payments, he paid-she paid, abuse, fraud or any other general Charlie-Foxtrotting between the state and federal health insurance plans… none whatsoever) and the most expensive climate-change program in the nation.

So, how does Texas do it? How does Texas not only maintain a hard cap on spending and a rainy day fund but a surplus to the extent they can afford a sales-tax holiday in the worst economy since… whenever? We are neither economists nor political scientist types but we believe the answer is quite elegant in its simplicity and it resides in one of the largest differences between two states that are in many ways, very similar.

You see, when a state legislature gathers but once for a few months every two years, there’s only so much they can “accomplish”. “Doing the will of the electorate” takes on a different meaning given the time constraints. There’s only so much that can get done when they are limited to 140 days out of 730 in which to enact legislation and, you know, “give back to the people”.

So while Congress goes on recess for the summer without doing anything meaningful to lower prices at the pump yet decides to throw away more money on farming and ethanol subsidies and, via the mortagage bailout, people who least deserve a federal life preserver, be thankful for this 5-week respite where it will be physically impossible for them to “help”, “aid”, “assist” any more than they have already… so help us, god.