Anti-Tax Message Gets Chilly Reception at Senate
The Senate Finance Committee started laying groundwork for the 2013 Legislature. Photo by Liang Shi/KUT NewsAudio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
The Texas Senate Finance Committee met today in anticipation of January’s legislative session. Senators used the time go over the state’s financial health and begin hearing from stakeholders on budget priorities in 2013.
Lawmakers cut several billion dollars from the budget in 2011, and senators don’t seem eager to make similar cuts this time around.
The anti-tax group Americans for Prosperity came to the committee to preach its message of cutting taxes and limiting spending. But its ideas were not well received.
Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, pounded the group for proposing cuts at a time when the state is growing and demand for infrastructure and services is increasing.
Even retiring Sen. Florence Shapiro, R-Plano, joined in the fight, telling the group’s representatives their arguments were falling on deaf ears after the group called several elected officials “left-wing lobbyists.”
Shapiro was the only Republican that joined in on the attack. The other Republicans on the committee, including new committee chairman Tommy Williams, remained silent.
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