Communicating Progressive Values in Texas

MEMORANDUM
To: Interested Parties Re: The Impact of the Romney/Ryan Budget in Texas Date: August 14, 2012 The following is an overview of the impact the Romney/Ryan budget would have in Texas, followed by specific figures that demonstrate the impact on jobs, health care, and education. Also of note: Paul Ryan didnt say Mitt Romneys name when he spoke at the Texas GOP convention. (Dallas Morning News) The Romney/Ryan budget would cost Texas $2 billion in federal dollars in FY 2014, and up to $17.5 billion in the next eight years. Those are cuts to public education, health care, transportation, and law enforcement. (Center on Budget & Policy Priorities) In the Romney/Ryan budget, 62% of the cuts come from low-income Americans. (Center on Budget & Policy Priorities) The Medicaid cuts in the Romney/Ryan budget would result in 4.99 million jobs lost nationwide, including 4.77 million in the private sector. (Economic Policy Institute) In the Romney/Ryan budget, Mitt Romney would pay almost nothing in taxes according to Mitt Romney. (The New Republic)

Jobs
Medicaid cuts in the Romney/Ryan budget would result in nearly 400,000 to 431,000 jobs lost in Texas. Here's the breakdown, from the Economic Policy Institute: 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 TOTAL 848 to 1,025 jobs lost 69,227 to 73,716 jobs lost 98,078 to 106,640 jobs lost 113,316 to 122,887 jobs lost 118,498 to 127,380 jobs lost 399,967 to 431,648 jobs lost in Texas

In Texas, education cuts in the Romney/Ryan budget would result in 18,910 job losses in 2013/2014. Cuts to Head Start would result in 8,050 job losses (NEA), cuts to grants for local education agencies would result in 6,230 job losses (NEA), and cuts to special education grants would result in 4,600 job losses (NEA). Job training: In 2013 & 2014 under the Romney/Ryan budget, 346,000 fewer Texans would have job training and employment services. This includes 85,000 adults, 10,000 dislocated workers, and 4,000 youth. (White House)

Communicating Progressive Values in Texas Health Care

The Romney/Ryan budget could cost Texas $192 billion from 2012 to 2021 through cuts in Medicaid, Medicare, and tax credits. (Families USA) In the Romney/Ryan budget, Texas share of federal Medicaid funding from 2012 to 2021 would decrease 38.4% compared to current baseline. (Kaiser Family Foundation) The Romney/Ryan budget cuts to Texas existing Medicaid program would equal $50 billion from now to 2021 before factoring in funding forfeited through the refusal of Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act. (Families USA) The cuts to Medicaid in the Romney/Ryan budget would result in 717,700 fewer seniors on Medicaid, and 2,573,600 fewer children on Medicaid. (Families USA) In Texas, Romney/Ryan budget cuts to SNAP total $10 billion in the next ten years, an important program for over 4.9 million Texans. (Center on Budget & Policy Priorities)

Education
In Texas, the Romney/Ryan budget reduces the average amount of Pell Grant funding per student by $820. There would be 5,610 work study opportunities eliminated, and Texas would lose $438.7 million in cuts to elementary and secondary education and special education, if the Romney/Ryan budget were signed into law. (White House) The Romney/Ryan budget cuts to Head Start would result in 8,050 job losses and 19,067 fewer enrollment slots for eligible children in Texas. (NEA) The Romney/Ryan budget cuts to grants for local education agencies just in 2013-14 would result in $335.2 million in funding cuts, 806,697 students with reduced or limited services, and 6,230 job losses in Texas. (NEA) The Romney/Ryan budget cuts to special education grants -- just in 2013-14 -- would result in $247.3 million in funding cuts, 108,918 students whose costs would be shifted to states & local districts, and 4,600 job losses. (NEA)

Progress Texas communicates progressive values in Texas. We are a multi-issue organization focused on holding elected officials accountable and empowering Texans to improve their community. Our mission is to provide a strong, credible and enduring progressive voice that will ensure more inclusive, just and sustainable policies for Texas. We work with diverse coalitions and partners to implement media techniques that enrich and inform Texans about what is happening throughout the Lone Star State. Ask us questions at info@ProgressTexas.org.