The Texas Budget Starts With One Number. Publish It.

Every budget bill in Austin has to clear one number.

Right now the two people fighting over the comptroller's office cannot agree on whether that number is late.

Show me the number. Then show me the people who wrote it.

Plain English summary

Texas voters elected Sarah Eckhardt comptroller on November 3. She does not take office until January. The day after the election, she said she would ask Governor Greg Abbott to appoint her early, because she says the office is behind on the revenue estimate the Legislature needs. The current comptroller's office, under Don Huffines, says she is "misinformed" and that the estimate will be published in December.

So the voters picked. The calendar has not caught up. And the one number every budget writer in Austin depends on is caught in the middle.

Why it matters

The comptroller is not a ceremonial job. Under the Texas Constitution, the comptroller has to hand the Governor and the Legislature a sworn statement of what the state has and an estimate of what money will come in. Then no appropriation bill counts as passed until the comptroller certifies it fits inside that estimate.

That means your school district, your county roads, your water projects, and every line item East Texas fights for in Austin all run through one office and one estimate.

If that estimate is late, sloppy, or political, the whole session starts on a bad foundation. If it is on time and honest, everybody, Republican and Democrat, is arguing from the same set of books.

The receipt

FACT: Article 3, Section 49a of the Texas Constitution requires the comptroller, in advance of each regular session, to submit to the Governor and the Legislature "upon its convening" a statement under oath, including "an itemized estimate of the anticipated revenue." It says no appropriation in excess of available cash and anticipated revenue "shall be valid," except in an emergency with a four-fifths vote of each house. No appropriation bill goes to the Governor until the comptroller endorses a certificate that it fits inside the estimate. Texas Constitution, Art. 3, Sec. 49a (text also at Justia)

DOCUMENTED INFERENCE: Eckhardt defeated Huffines on November 3. Texas Tribune

DOCUMENTED INFERENCE: At a news conference on November 4, Eckhardt said the revenue estimate is behind schedule and that she plans to ask Abbott to appoint her before January. "I need to be involved as soon as possible so that we can right that ship," she said. KXAN / Nexstar, Houston Chronicle

DOCUMENTED INFERENCE: A spokesman for Huffines, Jeff Norwood, said in a statement that "Senator Eckhardt is unfortunately misinformed" and that the comptroller "will gladly publish the revenue estimate in December." KXAN / Nexstar

DOCUMENTED INFERENCE: Abbott's office did not respond to either outlet. Reports conflict on whether Huffines would step down early. KXAN / Nexstar, Houston Chronicle

DOCUMENTED INFERENCE: Abbott appointed Huffines to the office this summer after he beat the acting comptroller, Kelly Hancock, in the March primary. In July, the Texas Senate Democratic Caucus said moves like that "are not explicitly prohibited" but "undermine the checks and balances that Texans expect." CBS Austin

NEEDS AUTHENTICATION: How many people have left the agency. KXAN cites a Dallas Morning News report of 41 firings in Huffines' first weeks. The Chronicle reports Eckhardt has talked with some of an estimated 400 employees let go. Those numbers are far apart. Reports also differ on whether Huffines took over in July or August.

What Ryan says

I am not here to pick a side in a staffing fight inside an agency I do not work in.

I am here for the number.

In July, Senate Democrats, the caucus Eckhardt sits in, said that kind of move undermines checks and balances. Now their own nominee wants an early start. Same office. Same calendar. Same rule should apply no matter whose name is on the door.

Here is what I want, and it does not cost the taxpayer a dime.

Publish the revenue estimate on time. Publish the date it will be released, today. Publish the agency headcount on November 1 of last year and November 1 of this year. Let the people of Texas see the books before the session, not after.

If the estimate is ahead of schedule, prove it. If it is behind, say so and fix it. Either way, East Texas families should not have to guess.

What this does not prove

It does not prove the estimate is late. One side says late. The other says ahead of schedule. Neither has shown the document yet.

It does not prove anyone was fired for political reasons. The staffing numbers are reported, not confirmed.

It does not prove Abbott will or will not make an early appointment. His office has not answered.

What it does prove

It proves the Texas Constitution puts one office between every budget bill and the Governor's desk.

It proves the voters have already picked who runs that office next.

And it proves both sides have now taken a position on early appointments. The record will show if they keep it.

The bottom line

The budget starts with one number. Whoever writes it, write it straight, write it on time, and put it where we can read it.

The record does not lie.

Do not threaten anyone. Do not harass anyone. Do not contact anyone in my name. Read it. Share it. Send receipts, evidence, witnesses. Put eyes on the record.