Capitol Steps - Representative Ken Paxton
I along with my legislative colleagues from the Texas Conservative Coalition have consistently called for fiscal restraint in the face of the current economic crisis.
Last week the Texas House of Representatives adopted our recommendations by passing a supplemental appropriations bill (HB 4586) that achieved vital goals without spending any money from the Rainy Day Fund (the Economic Stabilization Fund).
By carefully targeting our use of stimulus money we have passed a supplemental spending bill that funds textbooks and hurricane relief which includes funding for the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston while preserving the Economic Stabilization Fund in the event that we have a real deficit in the next biennium because of the economic climate.
Specifically my colleagues in the Texas Conservative Coalition and I have called for:
- Preserving the Economic Stabilization Fund (also known as the Rainy Day Fund);
- Using stimulus funds for strictly one-time expenditures that will not permanently grow government;
- Using stimulus funds to purchase textbooks instructional materials and technology for public schools.
Each of our recommendations is achieved by the Supplemental Appropriations Bill passed by the House.
While the primary budget debate remains the House has heard our message that Texas must not and cannot follow the failed spending practices of the federal government and California.
