Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Pitts asks Combs to testify about Texas' current, $4.3 billion deficit

 Rep. Jim Pitts, the House's chief budget writer, sent a letter late Tuesday to Comptroller Susan Combs, asking for her to explain to his committee -- in writing and in person -- just exactly how Texas fell into a fiscal ditch and how it might escape. Pitts, R-Waxahachie, asked Combs specifically to explain how and why state spending in the current two-year cycle will exceed the revenue guesses she made in 2009 by $4.3 billion -- at least, according to her January revenue estimate. He noted that in June 2009, she certified that the just-passed 2010-2011 budget was balanced. But on Monday, Pitts filed House Bill 275, to draw down rainy-day fund money to cover the gap Combs now projects for the cycle that ends Aug. 31. (Recent cuts may reduce it by a billion or so.)

Garrett: http://dallasne.ws/eZZfkM

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