Don’t just listen to the speeches, watch the budget

One of the first lessons I learned working in the Texas Capitol was that speeches are written for voters. Budgets are written for governing.

That's why when I report on the happenings in local and state government, I always watch the budget just as closely as I watch the speeches.

Last week Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dustin Burrows instructed state agencies to prepare their next budget requests with a 3% reduction from current spending levels.