WITH THE RIGHT ENERGY POLICY, THIS COULD BE AMERICA: Texas Starts Budget Debate Flush With Energy Boom Cash. Of course, we’d probably face the same pressure to squander the money on vote-buying. . . .

And we wouldn’t have this: “Governor Rick Perry, a Republican who has held the office since December 2000, wants to tighten limits on spending growth, and opposes new levies or tax increases, according to a ‘budget compact’ he released in April. Disciplined spending policies have helped Texas retain top credit grades from Moody’s Investors Service and Fitch Ratings.”