Published: 02-19-09

AUSTIN Today State Sen. Dan Patrick (R-Houston) and State Rep. Ken Paxton (R-McKinney) announced their decision to file spending limit legislation that will ensure Texas remains fiscally sound in the future.
We appreciate the leadership of Sen. Dan Patrick and Rep. Ken Paxton for sponsoring this important legislation which provides transparency accountability and some degree of certainty to Texas taxpayers" said Peggy Venable Texas director for Americans for Prosperity.
Texas is a beacon of fiscal sanity for the rest of the country and will continue to be when this legislation is enacted."
This legislation filed by taxpayer advocates Sen. Patrick and Rep. Paxton is a result of years of work by taxpayer advocates and will bring accountability and transparency to the budget process while providing protections for taxpayers.
This legislation provides stronger protections against a potentially uncertain economic future" Venable said. With more precise spending limits Texans can rest assured that good fiscal stewardship will be carried out in the future."
These spending limits have been a centerpiece for AFPs public policy since the organization started five years ago. Taxpayer protections are AFPs number-one state initiative.
The legislation will assure that Texas wont in the future end up in the catastrophic fiscal condition of California" Venable said.
Sen. Patrick filed Senate Bill 928 and Rep. Paxton filed House Bill 994. The legislation will apply a statutory spending limit to the appropriations that are acquired from state tax revenue.
Joint authors and co-authors for SB 928 include Sens. Jane Nelson (R-Flower Mound) John Carona (R-Dallas) Robert Nichols (R-Jacksonville) Kevin Eltife (R-Tyler) Bob Deuell (R-Greenville) and Troy Fraser (R-Horseshoe Bay)
Co-authors to HB 994 include Reps. Wayne Christian (R-Center) Phil King (R-Weatherford) Bryan Hughes (R-Mineola) Leo Berman (R-Tyler) Betty Brown (R-Athens) Brandon Creighton (R-Conroe) John Davis (R-Houston) Allen Fletcher (R-Tomball) Tim Kleinschmidt (R-Lexington) Jodie Laubenberg (R-Rockwall) Ken Legler (R-Pasadena) Tan Parker (R-Flower Mound) Mark Shelton (R-Fort Worth) and Beverly Woolley