"Dewhurst questions senators' move toward using rainy day fund."

In an article published by the Austin American Statesman titled "Dewhurst question senators' move toward using rainy day fund," it talks about how Lt. Governor Dewhurst is not sure that using money from the state's rainy day fund to soften spending cuts to schools and nursing homes is a good idea. The Senate Finance Committee approved to use up to $3 billion out of the rainy day fund. Senators are starting to vote this Thursday on rather we should cut out $11 billion over the next two years. Although that sounds like a lot, it is still less than what the house approved earlier this month. David's idea is to use the nontax revenue items instead of the rainy day fund. This would include selling some of the states land and trying to liquidate state tobacco settlements. However, Senators did not side with Dewhurst.

Personally, I believe that using the rainy day fund is not a good idea either. Although I do believe we are in a time of need, I don't believe the need is great enough to tap into the fund that much. Maybe meeting in the middle would solve the endless battle. Realistically we are going to need to make up that shortfall somehow, so I do believe pulling funds would help make up the difference. But not $3 BILLION. That's an astounding amount!! I also see where David is coming from and believe we should sell off some of our states land and property. Although that may sound like a long shot, I believe Texas is in a position now where that might just save us. Yes, the economy is defiantly down the toilet, but we don't have it nearly as bad as the west or east coast so business/contractors would possibly be interested in buying that land. So to make a long story short, I believe meeting in the middle and taking half the amount out of the rainy day fund and selling our states property may just be enough to make up the shortfall and be the answer.

My response: Financial aid and student future

In Sovanna Dangol's article titled "Financial aid and student future" she talks about the affects of budget cuts for college students. Her stance, I believe is against budget cuts. She states that by next year the cuts could could take a plunge and decrease by 85 percent! That is very unsettling to the billions of students who receive that aid. That could essentially make college no longer an option for them.
Personally, I agree with Sovanna. I believe these cuts would hurt our generation along with our kids generation drastically. Not only would they not be able to attend college, most would also be stuck at minimum wage jobs- with little room to advance. This would most likely result in more people living in poverty. With those statistics rising the crime rate would also increase right a long with it. Also, not to mention the children of these parents would then continue the cycle. I do think that putting a more strick regulation on the funds would help save money as well as help students who are really serious about continuing there education. However, cutting it across the bored by such a drastic rate just doesn't seem like the answer.