Texas 2009 - 81st Regular

Texas Senate Bill SCR15 Compare Versions

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

Old	New	Differences
1	1	81R6694 BPG-D
2	2	By: Shapleigh S.C.R. No. 15
3	3
4	4
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, Texas suffered the loss of 25,700 jobs in December
12	12	2008, and the state has seen a rise in unemployment claims over the
13	13	past year; the comptroller projects that another 111,000 jobs will
14	14	be lost in the coming months; and
15	15	WHEREAS, Spending cuts will affect not only education,
16	16	transportation, and other vital state services; state spending cuts
17	17	also undermine potential growth by removing dollars that would
18	18	otherwise be spent on goods and services produced or delivered in
19	19	the state; and
20	20	WHEREAS, The federal government is developing a stimulus
21	21	package aimed at jump-starting the faltering economy; under the
22	22	bill known as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009,
23	23	Texas could claim at least $27 billion in federal funds; the
24	24	stimulus plan would send hundreds of millions of dollars to
25	25	cash-strapped school districts and provide $5 billion to stanch the
26	26	flow of red ink from the state's Medicaid program; and
27	27	WHEREAS, In addition, the stimulus package would inject money
28	28	into our economy by assisting the ranks of the unemployed, which are
29	29	expected to reach a level of approximately 6.6 percent in
30	30	2010-2011; the state would receive an additional $846 million for
31	31	unemployment insurance, and Texans losing jobs after September 1,
32	32	2008, would receive a subsidy to help them keep their previous
33	33	employer-sponsored health insurance; and
34	34	WHEREAS, The Texas economy can also benefit by provisions in
35	35	the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 designed to
36	36	preserve and create jobs, to provide investment in technology,
37	37	transportation, energy efficiency, environmental protection, and
38	38	infrastructure, and to minimize or avert reductions in essential
39	39	services; and
40	40	WHEREAS, With oil and gas prices and exports declining, Texas
41	41	can expect to feel the effects of this recession more sharply; it is
42	42	essential that the state quickly take advantage of all stimulus
43	43	funds available from the federal government in order to lessen the
44	44	current impact of the economic downturn and prepare the foundation
45	45	for long-term growth and prosperity when the national economy
46	46	recovers; now, therefore, be it
47	47	RESOLVED, That the 81st Legislature of the State of Texas
48	48	hereby express its intent that the state accept federal economic
49	49	stimulus funds appropriated under the American Recovery and
50	50	Reinvestment Act of 2009 or any other such legislation that
51	51	allocates funds to our great state to ensure investment in jobs,
52	52	infrastructure, technology, energy, education, and health, thus
53	53	making certain that Texans, too, can participate in our nation's
54	54	economic recovery.