By: Martinez Fischer H.R. No. 180
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Texas is facing the largest revenue shortfall in its
history, and this budget crisis will destroy the promise of Texas;
and
WHEREAS, among the proposed budget cuts already outlined in
H.B.1 are:
- the elimination of pre-kindergarten programs that would
have educated 192,000 children;
- a $1.57 billion budget reduction for nursing facility
payments ensuring that this state will not keep its promise
to our elders;
- the termination of 100,000 educational jobs, which will
cripple both our economy and our schools;
- a drastic reduction of $1.15 billion dollars for Texas
Closing the Gaps program meaning many Texans aspiring to
higher education will have to defer their dreams;
- the eradication of the existence of four community colleges
and, thus, altering the fate of the hundreds of students at
those schools; and
WHEREAS, the Governor has already identified five emergency
items but has failed to acknowledge the largest deficit in our
recent history and the biggest threat to Texas' prosperity and
promise to its citizens; and
WHEREAS, the Texas Constitution provides that each body of
the legislature can set its own course by an affirmative vote of
4/5; and
WHEREAS, this body duly acknowledges the challenges we face
with our economy and our revenue shortfall. As both Democrats and
Republicans, we recognize our budget as the single most important
legislative matter of this session and we are bound by duty and
service to our constituents to put all matters aside and devote our
full attention, roll up our sleeves, and work hard so that we can do
right by Texas by focusing solely on mastering this budget
challenge; and therefore be it
RESOLVED that pursuant to Article 3, Section 5 of the Texas
Constitution, that this Texas House of Representatives of the 82nd
Legislature declare our state budget as proposed in H.B. 1 be its
first and only order of business; and be it further
RESOLVED that we will work day and night to assemble a
committee, afford members the opportunity to weigh the proposed
budget and its impact on our constituents, and work together in
pursuit of a solution; and be it further
RESOLVED that this house will consider adding to its order
other bills related to the budget as well as other legislative
matters that 4/5ths of our body determine to be priority matters and
in the best interest of Texas pursuant to the Texas Constitution.