More Information

• Texas Funding for Schools Much Lower Than Before Recession
• Joint Budget Hearings Now Under Way at the Capitol
• Statement: National Task Force Calls for Reform of State Tax and Budget Systems

• We Must Preserve Our Women’s Health Program
• Press Release: New Report, Analysis Show State Will Invest $10 Billion Less in Kids Even as Their Needs Rise
• CPPP Appeals to Business Leaders in Letter by Former Lt. Governor Hobby and CPPP's McCown

CPPP Open Letter to Conferees on Budget

Writing the budget for Texas is a challenging and important responsibility. As a policy institute concerned about low-income Texans, we closely study the state’s budget and recommend key improvements. The House and the Senate have already funded many of our priorities in each chamber’s proposed budget. Consequently, we focus our recommendations on unfunded priorities and ways to reconcile differing approaches between the chambers. In part 1, we make three general recommendations regarding state spending. In part 2, we urge additional and important General-Revenue related spending primarily in health and human services. In part 3, we make recommendations regarding budget riders that have no General-Revenue impact. In part 4, we suggest ways to maximize federal TANF spending.