James Talarico, the Democratic nominee for the Senate in Texas, once pressed Democrats to consider cuts to healthcare benefits a nonstarter — regardless of the consequences for the state’s finances. The remark came during a podcast interview in which Talarico discussed how Texas might balance its budget amid COVID-related shortfalls. He feared Republicans would look for savings in healthcare services.
"I don't care where you get the revenue. I don't care what taxes you have to raise," Talarico said in a 2020 appearance with Texas Rising, a progressive YouTube channel focused on political engagement among younger voters. The resurfaced moment adds to the pile of past statements dealing with gender, immigration and fiscal management, complicating the political calculus for Talarico as he aims to convince voters in Texas that he could represent a Republican-leaning constituency, even as a Democrat.
TALARICO SAYS HE 'MISSED THE MARK' AS HE BACKTRACKS ON CONTROVERSIAL WOKE STATEMENTS At the time, Texas was facing a bleak financial outlook. The pandemic had crippled key sections of the state’s regular revenue streams. As oil demand crashed nationally, tax revenue that would normally come from hotels, bars and restaurants also faced steep reductions.
Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar projected a $4.6 billion shortfall. "The economic contraction associated with COVID-19 has resulted in revenue collection this fiscal year that is much lower than our earlier projections," Hegar said in a statement. "This estimate also assumes that restrictions on businesses and individuals will be lifted before the end of this calendar year and that economic activity will strengthen." As a part of the COVID response, Texas ordered most agencies to look for ways to cut their spending by 5% in the 2020 – 2021 budget.
In a letter, Governor Greg Abbott largely shielded Health and Human Services (HHS) from the reductions, sparing the state’s Medicaid program, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, the foster care program and disability services, among others. Even so, $2.6 billion of HHS’s budget remained subject to cuts, according to the agency's estimations. That left the Health and Human Services Commission with a target of $132,716,600 in cuts. 'FAKE' MODERATE TALARICO'S TEXAS SURGE TESTS PAXTON IN FIGHT TO HOLD CRUCIAL GOP SENATE SEAT Despite the reduced figure, Talarico blasted the idea of making spending reductions geared towards healthcare.
"You're not going to make our students and our teachers — you're not going to make the sick and the elderly pay for this pandemic we are not going to balance our budget off of the most vulnerable people in this state," Talarico said. He argued that Democrats should create a similar kind of stigma against cuts to HHS as the one surrounding raising taxes. "Sometimes you get the reaction in the capitol that's an unreasonable position to take.
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