Texas Lieutenant Governor Staying True To Conservative Roots
By: Nick Ochsner
Updated: January 10, 2013
AUSTIN -- Lawmakers in Austin say they have a lot to do these next few months, as they work through planning how to spend the Lone Star State's $100 billion budget.
However, Texas Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst remains committed to keeping the Texas Legislature one of the most conservative in the country.
Even before the 83rd Texas Legislature was gaveled in Tuesday afternoon, lawmakers in Austin had a reputation across the country as being a conservative bunch.
The same is true for Dewhurst.
"My record as Lieutenant Governor is the most fiscally and socially Conservative of any lieutenant governor in the country," said Dewhurst.
That's something Dewhurst says he's committed to protecting this session, even as he presides over spending increases to the tune of $8 billion extra dollars.
"Go back and zero-base our budget," said Dewhurst. "I want us to go back and look at everything. If something was a priority last session that isn't a priority today, then we shouldn't be funding it."
Dewhurst says that extra money is badly needed, especially after the deep funding cuts that were made 2 years ago.
This session, Dewhurst says he'll be working to make sure every school in the state is adequately funded.
"Any extra money we have, we need to set aside for the school finance fight that's going on right now," said Dewhurst.
Dewhurst says he's also committed to improving Texas' infrastructure ahead of a massive population boom that he predicts will double the Lone Star State's population in just a few decades.
"We'll be on track to dramatically increase our drinking water, our transportation capacity and our power generation," said Dewhurst.
However, Dewhurst hopes to make these improvements while staying true to his thrifty roots as a businessman.
"I want to continue to keep Texas a very fiscally and socially conservative state," said Dewhurst.
Dewhurst says that a chunk of the $8 billion budget surplus will actually be set aside in anticipation of a court ruling in the bundle of cases filed by rural Independent School Districts against the State of Texas.
Those rural school districts are seeking more state funding.
Lawmakers will only take up a bill to address and long-term solution to education funding after a court ruling is made on those lawsuits.
However, Texas Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst remains committed to keeping the Texas Legislature one of the most conservative in the country.
Even before the 83rd Texas Legislature was gaveled in Tuesday afternoon, lawmakers in Austin had a reputation across the country as being a conservative bunch.
The same is true for Dewhurst.
"My record as Lieutenant Governor is the most fiscally and socially Conservative of any lieutenant governor in the country," said Dewhurst.
That's something Dewhurst says he's committed to protecting this session, even as he presides over spending increases to the tune of $8 billion extra dollars.
"Go back and zero-base our budget," said Dewhurst. "I want us to go back and look at everything. If something was a priority last session that isn't a priority today, then we shouldn't be funding it."
Dewhurst says that extra money is badly needed, especially after the deep funding cuts that were made 2 years ago.
This session, Dewhurst says he'll be working to make sure every school in the state is adequately funded.
"Any extra money we have, we need to set aside for the school finance fight that's going on right now," said Dewhurst.
Dewhurst says he's also committed to improving Texas' infrastructure ahead of a massive population boom that he predicts will double the Lone Star State's population in just a few decades.
"We'll be on track to dramatically increase our drinking water, our transportation capacity and our power generation," said Dewhurst.
However, Dewhurst hopes to make these improvements while staying true to his thrifty roots as a businessman.
"I want to continue to keep Texas a very fiscally and socially conservative state," said Dewhurst.
Dewhurst says that a chunk of the $8 billion budget surplus will actually be set aside in anticipation of a court ruling in the bundle of cases filed by rural Independent School Districts against the State of Texas.
Those rural school districts are seeking more state funding.
Lawmakers will only take up a bill to address and long-term solution to education funding after a court ruling is made on those lawsuits.
