Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas Following the release of the Biennial Revenue Estimate by Comptroller Susan Combs the leaders of the State Budget Task Force convened by the Texas Conservative Coalition Research Institute (TCCRI) announced that they will release budget recommendations this week to address the general revenue shortfall without raising taxes.
The TCCRI State Budget Task Force co-chaired by
State Senator Tommy Williams and
State Representative Warren Chisum which began its work in July 2009 has reviewed state spending priorities considered structural changes in state appropriations and management and identified areas for cost savings in anticipation of the Comptrollers announcement.
State Representative Warren Chisum (R-Pampa) TCCRI President and co-chairman of the budget Task Force stated: The challenge posed by the revenue shortfall is significant but the work of our budget Task Force should instill confidence in legislators and the public that we will balance the state budget without raising taxes.
The Task Force report will outline a range of possible budget reforms and spending reductions with a focus on agencies core missions and essential state services. The Task Force report to be released later this week will center on three key points:
- The 82nd Legislature can and must balance the budget without raising taxes.
- Reductions in government spending are both immediately necessary and inherently good to protect individual liberty and strengthen the economy.
- Reducing and reforming the public sector bureaucracy is a critical step to reducing current costs and long-term expenses for governmental operations. The explosive growth of the public sector must be challenged and changed.
State Senator Tommy Williams TCCRI Board Member and co-chairman of the budget Task Force added: New or higher taxes are a non-starter: they undermine economic growth and future prosperity for our state. Fighting for taxpayers means thoroughly reviewing the state budget reconsidering our priorities and eliminating spending that is duplicative wasteful or outside the constitutional missions of state government.
Rep. Chisum added: Addressing the shortfall announced today is the defining challenge of the 82nd Texas Legislature. Rep. Chisum continued Our report is clear in its message to legislators: balancing the budget without raising taxes is not simply rhetoric but a clear and achievable objective.
Sen. Williams concluded: Conservatives are united in the fundamental belief that low taxes and limited government are the keys to prosperity and our budget recommendations reflect those principles.
