5/11/10

The House Committee on Appropriations, under the direction of Chairman Pitts, met today in the Capitol Extension to receive a revenue update from the Comptroller's Office and budget update from the Legislative Budget Board. Speaker Joe Straus in an unusual appearance before the Committee spoke on the daunting challenges facing the legislature in the upcoming biennium. “Balancing our budget is going to require some hard choices,” Straus said.  “We cannot afford business as usual.”  The Speaker mentioned various cost containment strategies, including avoiding the creation of new programs and services that require funding, increases in bonded indebtedness obligations, and increases in governmental hiring and payroll costs.  He also mentioned the possibility of work furloughs and four-day work weeks for State employees. 

To view video recording of Speaker Joe Straus' remarks (10:17 am) to the Committee click on the link below.

http://www.house.state.tx.us/fx/av/committee81/00511a02.ram

To read full text of Speaker Joe Straus' remarks to the Committee click on the link below.

http://www.house.state.tx.us/news/release.php?id=3113