TEXAS WILDFIRES AND BUDGET CUTS....

In Texas firefighters aren't just battling the wild fires raging around the Austin/Bastrop areas. The state's firefighters have also had to deal with budget cuts affecting everything from fuel purchases to hoses and even apparatuses. This goes for all types of departments whether they are paid, volunteer, or combination.

There have been some cases, reported by fire officials, where firefighters have had to money out of their own pocket for proper protective gear and even fuel. There is one department that is battling the tragic Bastrop wild fire right now, that had to pay for a hose with firefighter collected money.

GOP front runner and presidential candidate Rick Perry signed off on millions in firefighting cuts as part of the state's most recent budget legislation. It is reported that the Texas Forest Service's funding has gone from $117.7 million in 2010-2011 budget years to $83 million in the 2012-2013 budget years.

These severe cuts have also hit assistance grants to volunteer fire departments throughout Texas. The grants decreased form $30 million per year in 2010 & 2011 to $13.5 million in 2012 & 2013.

There cuts might seem like they are coming at the absolute wrong time, with all the wild fires and severe drought that Texas is facing. But there is another reason that makes the timing of these cuts so bad. The cuts come at a time when Texas fire departments have already been slowing down on purchases of new fire fire trucks and other critical equipment as a way to save money, this according to the Texas State Assoc. of Fire Fighters. This is the same organization that endorsed Rick Perry for re-election for Gov. on 2010.

Firefighters also have been hit with millions in cuts from a state matching grant program that helps local departments pay for essentials like proper clothing and engine upkeep.

A rep. from the State Fireman's and Fire Marshals' Assoc. of Texas reported that one department in Bastrop county has had to literally beg for proper clothing to use in combating these huge wild fires right now. They cant simply wear their regular gear when fighting these wild fire, due to heat exhaustion and possible heat stroke. The normal structural fire fighting gear does not breathe very well and weighs way to much to walk walk miles in when fighting a wild fire.

The Texas Commission on Fire Protection, which regulates and inspects the personal protective gear such as breathing apparatuses and protective clothing, took a 25% cut. The Commission has gone from 41 employees to 31. It is also down 6 inspectors that cover 700 departments, which includes over 4,000 fire fighters in the city of Houston.

This is the same man, Rick Perry, that slashed the public education funding. Now our children sit in classrooms with a ratio of 25-30 students to one teacher. Now he has slashed the funding to our fire departments. These men and women risk their lives for our lives and property everyday. The least we could do is make sure they are well equipped to do so.

Is Rick Perry our next President of the United States? Only time will tell, but if he is at least we know where his priorities lie.