This link to a video of the Center for Fiscal Policy’s panel discussion at the Texas Public Policy Foundation’s 2014 Policy Orientation on how much government is enough, provides insight on downsizing government.

Our panelists discuss approaches to shrink the footprint of government and lessen the burden for taxpayers, including: a contracting model of governance that better leverages private sector efficiency;  a sales tax reduction fund that allows lawmakers to use surplus monies to buy down the state sales tax rate;  using zero-based budgeting to write a budget from scratch; and never passing an income tax.

Each of these has substantial merit and should be strongly considered in Texas’ 2015 Legislative Session.