The Grits for Breakfast blog throws out an interesting question: Will the recent injection of federal stimulus money into Texas' state budget mean the Department of Criminal Justice will be able to follow through on a plan to boost prison guard pay by 20 percent?

The agency is facing a big-picture staffing crisis that seemed insurmountable before the infusion of federal funds. Now, with the federal pork flowing so freely, in theory, at least, the state has enough money to increase guard pay ...

Governor Perry and some state budget writers have been adamant that stimulus money should not be used for expenses that obligate the state to ongoing, future costs. In that light, raising guard pay by 20 percent would directly violate that pledge.

Grits suggests the state could use the money to pay other expenses, then use the difference to offset an increase in guard pay.


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