So What's the State of the State?

Gov. Rick Perry has just delivered his state of the state address to the gathered masses of the House and Senate. Anyone expecting some big shockers or major new programs are in for a disappointment. The Perry prescription is to double-down on existing programs and try not to scare off business.

On the big themes, there were no overt to reference to new tax cuts. As for the Rainy Day Fund, he didn't openly oppose dipping into it, but he did suggest that legislators use it solely for "significant one-time expenditures, not recurring items."

Not that Perry's completely averse to spending cash. Flanked by Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and Speaker Joe Straus, he talked about better funding for the Emerging Technology Fund, Film Incentives, the Skills Development Fund, and the Enterprise Fund, plus education incentive cash. He argues that all have had pay-off in attracting business (Considering the massive delays in payments under the film program and their low levels compared to rival states, that will bring back the question of how the money is distributed, rather than how much is available.)

So what about specific expenditures?

On the education front, Perry proposes a hybrid college tuition freeze. Instead of fixing the rate, Perry wants fees locked in for four years at the freshman rate (giving individual families the ability to predict costs, but not closing the door to colleges jacking up the price for new students every year. His plan to give in-state tuition rates to all veterans might be an easier sell.

As for infrastructure, he wants proper investment in the state water plan and a diversified energy mix, with lots of boosting for nuclear, wind, and non-food based biofuel (That said, considering the needs for more long-distance high-tension lines, his plans for an eminent domain constitutional amendment might not solve that issue.) In the normal Washington-bashing, he warned that the Environmental Protection Agency might come after the oil refineries. His solution? Rather than getting big polluters to cut back, he calls for a $5,000 incentive towards buying a plug-in hybrid car in non-attainment areas.

As always, there were the normal statements about immigration, throwing border insecurity, transnational gangs and the specter of millions of foreign voters into the mix. Against that context, Perry called for an end to sanctuary cities and put his weight behind voter ID.

As for health, the only comments were on funding for research, with no mention of insurance. He did take particular time to boost Houston GOPer Sen. Dan Patrick's bill that would have women seeking an abortion getting an ultrasound waved in their face by their doctor.