State Representative Phil King (R- Weatherford) announced today the allocation of federal education dollars that have recently been made available to Texas. School districts across Parker and Wise counties will receive a total of $8,058,906.
As we progress through this legislative session and attempt to craft a fiscally responsible budget in the shadow of the looming shortfall we are facing, there have been many calls from outside groups to spend money that we don’t have.
Rep. King was recently a guest on the Wallbuilders LIVE! radio program with Rick Green. They discussed the Texas budget, the current budget proposal from the House of Representatives, and how important it is that as a state we don’t spend what we don’t have.
The state house-approved budget includes cuts that underfund schools by $800 per student based on current funding laws, but Rep. Phil King said public education was cut far less than other sections of the $164.5 billion budget.
Facing a large budget shortfall, Texas Republicans came into the 82nd legislative session with total control and facing a few options. They could raise taxes and fees hope to overcome the shortfall that way, while also breaking their promises to Texas voters and risking more damage to an already weak economy.
Yesterday State Representative Phil King (R-Weatherford) successfully passed amendments to House Bill 1 (the state budget bill for Fiscal Years 2012-2013), which freeze hiring by state agencies and prevents $100 million of new broad-based fees from being implemented by the state on taxpayers. The hiring freeze amendment would call for a freeze on non-essential state hiring effective September 1, and would apply until August 31, 2013, the last day of next budget cycle.
Last week State Representative Phil King (R- Weatherford), at the request of schoolteachers and superintendents, signed on as co-author to HB 2491. In an effort to support teachers in the classroom, HB 2491 implements a two year moratorium to suspend all state mandated testing and assessments for a period ending September 30, 2013. In addition, superintendents may apply funds or appropriations originally intended for this testing to support teacher jobs and the resources they need.
Today State Representative Phil King (R-Weatherford) filed three bills to consolidate four state governmental agencies in an effort to preserve money that can be better used in the classrooms of public schools and for other essential services provided by the state.
State Representative Phil King (R-Weatherford) today lauded the great strides made by the Texas Legislative Tea Party Caucus, which was only organized a few weeks ago. The caucus, third largest in the legislature with 57 members, held an orientation for Tea Party groups from all across Texas. Over 300 Tea Party organizers, representing hundreds of thousands of voters, came to Austin for the orientation two weekends ago.
As you know, due to the projected reduction in tax revenues from the recent economic crisis, Texas must reduce the size of its $87 billion biennial budget by approximately $15 billion.
