By Raul Torres State Rep. Dist. 33
Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas Based on current spending levels the state budget has a projected shortfall of approximately $27 billion. Many pundits said this was a financial crisis. I disagree. I see it as an excellent opportunity for the State of Texas to show the nation how government can manage its resources through tough economic times just as the State of Texas did in 2003.
A little over a week ago the Comptroller released her estimate of state revenues for the next two years and it isnt a pretty picture.
I believe that it is imperative that the Texas Legislature produce a balance budget without tax and fee increases. As legislators we must set careful priorities to ensure that taxpayers limited resources are spent in the most important and critical needs of our state and its citizens.
Therefore if hard working Texas families have to make tough choices and cut back on their spending budgets because times are hard for them then so must our state and local governments.
That is why this past week I voted to reduce our states office budgets by 10 during session and an additional 4 when session is over. Its not only
logical and reasonable to do so but it is always financial wise to reduce spending when we just dont have enough revenues.
While the looming budget shortage may seem daunting to many Texans I am encourage by the fact this is not new for us in Texas. Rather we should heed the lessons of 2003 when the Legislature closed a $10 billion budget shortfall without raising taxes and resulted in a decade of economic growth and prosperity.
This is not fiction my friends this is a fact.
So during the next five months the decisions this legislature will make will determine what kind of future Texas will provide for all of us. A balanced budget without raising taxes and fees will keep a light tax burden on Texas
taxpayers encourage large capital investments by businesses and investors and these actions will lead to a wave of new jobs being created right here in Texas of which we desperately need right now.
However if you permit the Texas Legislature to raise taxes or continue to
expand government spending I believe that these actions will send Texas down the same paths we find California Illinois Nevada Michigan & Ohio ... all of which have high unemployment economic stagnation and are on the brink of fiscal bankruptcy.
You can make a difference. Be informed and be part of the process of governing.
As for me I welcome your prayers support & input.
