A Petition in Behalf of the
Forsaken Children
of Texas to the
Governor and the 76th Legislature
X. CONCLUSION
When the Legislature convenes in January 1999, it may have a budget surplus over eight billion dollars. Many claims will be made on that surplus. Claims may be made on behalf of taxpayers. Tax relief of course can benefit children if it fosters a strong economy that provides good jobs for parents. Claims may also be made on behalf of education. Schools of course are the front line of the fight to help children. As the economy slows, claims may be made for a rainy day fund. Undoubtedly there will be other worthy claims.
In behalf of the forsaken children introduced to you in these pages, however, as you plan for a new century in this historic legislative session, this petition urges you to set aside at least a penny for every dollar of the surplus to be appropriated to the Child Protective Service on top of its base budget to be spent on early intervention and permanency for abused and neglected children. When added to matching federal funds, this money would enable CPS to rescue many children.
This petition urges you to then set aside at least an additional penny for every dollar of the surplus to be appropriated to any agency (TDH, TDMHMR, TEA, CPS, TJPC, TYC) with a worthy plan for the prevention of the abuse and neglect of children. Resolve the dilemma of today or tomorrow by planning for both.
Texans would support such a bold move. According to the Children's Trust Fund 1997 Statewide Child Survey, the poll conducted by Texas A & M, over 90% of Texans feel that prevention of child abuse and neglect should be a very important priority for Texas, and almost 75% of Texans would pay additional taxes for prevention programs and services. Texans understand that their children are their future.
Lt. Governor Bullock ends each public occasion with a simple prayer: "God Bless Texas." With eight billion dollars in the treasury, one would have to say that God has blessed Texas. His economic blessing has given Texas--has given you--an historic opportunity on an historic occasion to act both in behalf of these children and in the state's own interest, and, an eternal opportunity by doing for the least of these, the forsaken children of Texas, something for the One from whom all our blessings flow.
