You know that old story about the frog and the scorpion?

From Speak South Texas, possibly the most ludicrous bemoaning of the Pitts budget of them all:

South Texas Republicans are voicing their opposition and concern to the proposed cuts. Valley Republican Aaron Peña was among the first, telling KURV Radio’s Daily Report with Colonel Ray “I don’t agree with it. I said that from the moment I read the budget. We are still dissecting it and it’s getting worse and worse.” In the words of the famous John McClane: Welcome to the Party pal.

You knew what they were when you hopped into bed with them, Aaron. If you didn’t, it’s no one’s fault but your own.

Almost as ridiculous:

Del Mar College President Mark Escamilla said the funding cuts seem to contradict the increases in student growth many community colleges are seeing across the state. The state can’t pay colleges what they are due.

“It’s a sad day in Texas when we have to start thinking about these kinds of cuts,” he said.

[…]

Rep. Raul Torres, whose district includes Del Mar College, said he has met with Escamilla.

“But I stress the budget is preliminary,” Torres said. “These Austin bureaucrats don’t take into consideration Del Mar’s growth, and I think together we will minimize the impact.”

Let me introduce you to Talmadge Heflin and Michael Quinn Sullivan, Raul. You know, the guys who have been saying that we don’t really have a budget shortfall at all, we just need to learn to live within the lessened means that we now have. I’m sure they’ll be open to hearing about Del Mar’s growth.

Rep. Connie Scott, R-Robstown, is hopeful state revenues from sales taxes will improve by the time the House votes on the budget later this year.

“I have met with our school boards and several school board members,” Scott said Wednesday. “We know cuts will come but we hope by May that the budget scenario improves. Regardless, as I have promised, a quality education system is one of my top priorities and it also is a constitutional duty for us to provide public education.”

First, any improvement in sales tax revenues will be used to pay off the $4.3 billion shortfall in the 2010-11 biennium’s budget. Second, how exactly did you intend to pay for that “quality education system” you promised? None of your Republican colleagues seem to share that interest.

All I can say is that if cognitive dissonance is something that can be detected externally, the levels of it in Texas must be off the charts by now.

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