By Texas House Speaker Joe Straus
Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas This past election season brought new voters new enthusiasm & new life to the Republican Party. We witnessed inspiring human interest events. 2011 will undoubtedly include more memory-making moments for us individually but also for the state of Texas.
The 2010 year brought historic elections natural disasters and major news events such as the Texas Rangers in the World Series. .
In 2011 the 82nd legislature has now convened in Austin.
The makeup of the Texas House will be dramatically different than that of the 81st legislature. The House which had 76 Republicans and 74 Democrats at Sessions close in 2009 will gavel in with 101 Republicans.
Im proud of the gains we have made in this years election cycle. The strong Republican majority will allow us to continue to govern with the conservative principles that have made Texas one of the strongest most prosperous states in the nation.
We know we will be faced with a number of challenging tasks none more critical than our state budget. However I have already taken steps to address the
significant budget shortfall and ensure the state of Texas lives within its means.
Governor Perry Lieutenant Governor Dewhurst and I recently asked state agencies to reduce their budgets by an additional 2.5. These cuts are the right and conservative thing to do to ensure fiscal solvency for our state.
Last session my first as speaker I oversaw the passage of a state budget that reduced state general revenue spending by nearly 2 cut taxes for 40000 small businesses and fought to protect Texas Rainy Day" Fund.
Working together we will maintain those conservative principles and keep Texas the best state in the nation to live to work and to prosper.
A 5th-generation Texan Joe Straus represents House District 121 and was elected Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives by his peers at the commencement of the 81st Regular Legislative Session January 13 2009. Straus has been a leader on economic issues common sense tax relief & energy efficiency measures and is a San Antonio native.
