Nathan Macias - Texas State Representative District 73

Re-Elect Nathan Macias - Heart for Service, Heart for Texas

	TEXAS REPRESENTATIVE NATHAN MACIAS DISTRICT 73: Serving Bandera, Comal, Gillespie, and Kendall Counties
	For Immediate Release April 1, 2007	Contact: Adam Bell 512-463-0325

House Passes Budget for 2008-09 Biennium

Austin, TX - After nearly 18 hours of continuous floor debate, the Texas House passed a budget that meets the priorities Texans have asked for, while remaining fiscally sound. House Bill 1 (The Budget), by Representative Warren Chisum (R-Pampa), along with House Bill 2, lives up to the promise made to hard-working Texans by fully-funding property tax cuts, and exhibits fiscal discipline by fully restoring $2 billion to the state's Rainy Day Fund. After factoring in the Rainy Day Fund and the property tax reduction, government growth is limited to 5.4 percent - almost two percent below the level of "inflation plus population" growth.

Also in the budget, the Republican-led House has allocated $100 million to the state's homeland security department to fight terrorism and help secure our border. Also, recognizing that certain criminals need treatment, not incarceration, the budget includes $61.5 million to divert some inmates to treatment programs.

The Texas House continued to invest in our children and our teachers by increasing funding for public education by $2.4 billion, which includes a pay raise for teachers, librarians, nurses and counselors. HB 1 also secures the soundness of the Teachers' Retirement System and should fund additional pay for retirees this year. Higher Education was also increased by $925.9 million.

In the area of health care, the budget commits $4 million to fighting breast cancer, $1.3 billion for projected Medicaid and CHIP caseload growth, and nearly $700 million towards rate increases to medical providers serving Texans who need it most - including those in nursing homes.

Representative Macias said, "Even with all these priorities met, the budget leaves $4.2 billion unspent that I would like to see used for future tax relief. Though I had hoped for a smaller budget with more tax reduction, I believe it strikes the balance of meeting priority needs and achieving property tax reductions Texans have requested."

Representative Macias' Capitol office is located in the Capitol extension, Rm E2.704, and is reachable by phone at 512.463.0325, by fax at 512.463.5896, or by mail at: P.O. Box 2910, Austin, TX 78768.

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