Mansion Fire Sparked by Crisis of Leadership
Gov. Rick Perry is expressing “disappointment in lapses” at the Department of Public Safety that allowed an unknown arsonist to torch the Governor’s Mansion earlier this month. But the spark that set the building ablaze in the early hours of June 8 was set in the offices of the state’s top three political leaders, including Perry, who consistently confuse their radical anti-government ideology with their duty to safeguard the public.
Their misplaced priorities save a buck today and cost taxpayers even more tomorrow.
According to news reports, the infrared security system at the Governor’s Mansion may have been broken for two months before the fire. Or maybe the DPS troopers assigned to guard duty had simply been led to believe it was broken, like nearly half of the surveillance cameras were. The troopers complained about the lack of a backup security plan and proposed posting additional guards on the grounds until the surveillance technology could be repaired. Their bosses rejected the idea, citing the cost of overtime pay for the officers.
No one wants to admit this penny-wise policy was handed down from on high by Perry, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, and House Speaker Tom Craddick. But this much is certain — what might have cost taxpayers a few thousand dollars in extra pay for troopers may now cost taxpayers $100 million or more to rebuild the landmark. Not to mention the $1.8 million in taxpayer money that had already been spent on the renovation project that was underway before the fire.
All of which is symptomatic of the rush to deregulate government’s responsibilities in recent years, which has left far more than the Governor’s Mansion vulnerable. Texas families and small businesses are getting squeezed by hands-off policies that:
* pushed public schools to the brink of bankruptcy
* stripped thousands of eligible children of their health insurance while forfeiting federal funds that went instead to other states
* doubled the cost of college tuition, pushing higher education out of the reach of many middle-class families
* led to an infamous veto of community college funding
* sent utility rates soaring an average of 56 percent between 2000 and 2007
* forced Texas homeowners to pay more than twice the national average to protect their homes and settle for less coverage
* unfettered the juvenile justice system from any meaningful oversight
Nearly three years after Hurricane Rita, about one dozen of the many thousands of taxpaying citizens victimized by the storm have received the aid they applied for. But a private firm whose lobbyist used to be the Governor’s chief of staff was given a multi-million-dollar contract to conduct the relief effort — if and when there ever is one.
“Too little, too late” state policies imposed by political leaders in Austin inevitably lead to “even less, even later” results for the taxpayers who foot the bills and expect vital services to be safeguarded.
Like the inability to get aid to the victims of Hurricane Rita nearly three years later. Like underfunding public schools while pushing plan to funnel tax dollars into private-school voucher schemes support by campaign contributors. Like making children’s health care less accessible, not more, and college harder to afford, not easier. Like looking the other way as powerful power companies increase electricity costs while Big Insurance takes state regulators to court to prevent them from stopping unwarranted rate hikes. Like the two years during which political leadership tried to keep the lid on brewing troubles in the Texas Youth Commission until they erupted into violence.
Whoever damaged the Governor’s Mansion should be caught and prosecuted to the full extent of the law. But the crisis of leadership that left a historic building unprotected will only be fixed when taxpaying voters insist that their public officials stop starving public services.
Posted on June 24, 2008 – 11:21 am by APR