How do I explain Texas' structural deficit at a cocktail party?

Texas has a structural budget gap of roughly $9 Bilion, while it has $11 Billion in its Rainy Day Fund.

11 is still a greater number than 9, right? Math is complicated. 4 Easy Steps to Explain the structural deficit:

Chalk the Rainy Day Fund balance up to strong oil and gas revenues, and the spending thereof up to politics. Then tuck that away because of politics.
As for the $9 Billion structural deficit:
- Texas has a $2 Billion Medicaid shortfall. Healthcare costs are a driver of the state budget.
Texas dedicated $5 Billion in revenue to transportation. $5 Billion that use to be in the coffers were taken away from spending discussions. Its like the road funds went out of the state checking account, and went into a money market with limitations.
Texas other spending driver is education, and that money has to be paid upfront. Almost 1.2 of the education funding is paid every September, October and November. The timing sucks for Texas because the money goes out before Texas tax revenues flow into the state coffers.

Finance & Revenue