As Fiscal Cliff Looms Straus Appoints Leaders to Handle Sequestration

by: JimCardle
2012-11-13
Source: texasinsider
01/08/2020

Rep. Linda Harper-Brown to chair Special Committee

Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas Washington isnt working but the Texas House is" said Texas House Speaker Joe Straus instructing an Interim Committee on Texas Response to Federal Sequestration to recommend ways Texas can prepare for looming tax increases and spending reductions caused by gridlock in Washington D.C. The Congressional Budget Office has warned that such changes to federal tax and spending policy would lead to economic conditions in 2013 that will probably be considered a recession." Washingtons failure to agree on a deficit-reduction plan poses a number of threats to the Texas economy. The impending sequestration process would trigger across-the-board reductions in defense and non-defense spending putting thousands of Texas jobs at risk.

I hope federal leaders will find a way to reduce the deficit without increasing taxes or costing Texans their jobs. In the event that Washington remains at a stalemate however Texans need to know how the sequestration process will affect the state economy" Straus said.

Texans also face devastating increases in federal taxes if an agreement to avoid sequestration is not

reached. The Interim Committee on Texas Response will investigate:

How the Sequestration Process will affect the defense industry in Texas
The State Budget
Public & Higher Education and
the Tax Burden on Texas families and businesses.

The Committee will develop specific legislative proposals. Speaker Straus has appointed Rep. Linda Harper-Brown R-Irving to chair the Committee. Rep. Mike Villarreal D-San Antonio will serve as Vice Chair. This Committee has a very important job Rep. Harper-Brown said.

Texas priorities should not be held captive by Washingtons dysfunction and Texas families should not face the threat of higher taxes due to a lack of federal leadership. The Committee will highlight the dangers that the sequestration process poses to our economy our military our schools and other priorities. We will work to ensure that Texas is prepared to face this serious challenge.