Texas to Legalize Gambling?

hell yes! for all the crap this recession has caused, gambling and marijuana legalization have got to be the silver lining.

Will $11B Shortfall Force Texas to Roll the Dice?
An expansion of gambling has been suggested as Texas faces a projected shortfall that some lawmakers say could hit $18 billion.

Republican Speaker Joe Straus told House budget writers Tuesday that they'll have to handle a state shortfall of at least $11 billion without new taxes, but he raised the possibility of unpaid furloughs and four-day workweeks for state workers.

"Increasing taxes would restrain economic growth and hinder our ability to create jobs," Straus said at a meeting of the House Appropriations Committee. "Come next session, I'm confident that we can make thoughtful, responsible decisions to balance our budget, but this will require tough choices, significant cuts in some areas and perhaps totally new thinking in others."

Texas' current budget is more than $182 billion in state and federal dollars. The biggest chunks of spending are on education and health care.

full story via nbc news