Texas 2009 - 81st Regular

Texas House Bill HCR29 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	81R6692 BPG-D
2	2	By: Pickett H.C.R. No. 29
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5	5	CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
6	6	WHEREAS, The impact of our nation's economic crisis has begun
7	7	to take a toll on Texas; Comptroller Susan Combs estimates that
8	8	2010-2011 revenues will suffer a $9.1 billion shortfall,
9	9	representing a projected 10.5 percent decline from the current
10	10	budget; and
11	11	WHEREAS, Spending cuts will affect not only education,
12	12	transportation, and other vital state services; state spending cuts
13	13	also undermine potential growth by removing dollars that would
14	14	otherwise be spent on goods and services produced or delivered in
15	15	the state; and
16	16	WHEREAS, The federal government is developing a stimulus
17	17	package aimed at jump-starting the faltering economy; under the
18	18	bill known as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009,
19	19	Texas could claim at least $27 billion in federal funds; the
20	20	stimulus plan would send hundreds of millions of dollars to
21	21	cash-strapped school districts and provide $5 billion to stanch the
22	22	flow of red ink from the state's Medicaid program; and
23	23	WHEREAS, In addition, the stimulus package would inject money
24	24	into our economy by assisting the ranks of the unemployed, which are
25	25	expected to increase by more than 100,000 this year and reach a
26	26	level of approximately 6.6 percent in 2010-2011; the state would
27	27	receive an additional $846 million for unemployment insurance, and
28	28	Texans losing jobs after September 1, 2008, would receive a subsidy
29	29	to help them keep their previous employer-sponsored health
30	30	insurance; and
31	31	WHEREAS, The Texas economy can also benefit by provisions in
32	32	the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 designed to
33	33	preserve and create jobs, to provide investment in technology,
34	34	transportation, energy efficiency, environmental protection, and
35	35	infrastructure, and to minimize or avert reductions in essential
36	36	services; and
37	37	WHEREAS, With oil and gas prices and exports declining, Texas
38	38	can expect to feel the effects of this recession more sharply; it is
39	39	essential that the state quickly take advantage of all stimulus
40	40	funds available from the federal government in order to lessen the
41	41	current impact of the economic downturn and prepare the foundation
42	42	for long-term growth and prosperity when the national economy
43	43	recovers; now, therefore, be it
44	44	RESOLVED, That the 81st Legislature of the State of Texas
45	45	hereby express its intent that the state accept federal economic
46	46	stimulus funds appropriated under the American Recovery and
47	47	Reinvestment Act of 2009 or any other such legislation.