Texas House Passes Fiscally Conservative Spending Limit

During the Texas House deliberations today, legislators approved an amendment to HB 7 that limits state spending growth to population growth plus inflation.  This is a very positive development that will prevent state government from gobbling up too much of the economy.  I'm happy to report that all three of Williamson County's elected representatives voted for HB 7 as amended.  (Larry Gonzales, Tony Dale, and Marsha Farney.)  Kudos to these Reps for taking a stand for fiscal restraint. 

Too bad we can't do something about the federal government, or even some local governments. 

Press release from the Texas Public Policy Foundation.

“Reining in the overgrowth of Texas state government has been one of the Texas Public Policy Foundation’s top legislative priorities for many years. Between 1990 and 2012, total state spending increased at 2.5 times the rate of population growth plus inflation. When government spending increases faster than population growth plus inflation, that means the cost of government per person goes up, the footprint of government gets bigger, and the ability of families and businesses to meet their own needs while covering the cost of government comes under greater strain.

“Over the last few years, Texas voters have sent a clear message that the footprint of state government is as big as we want to see it get, and that we wanted our elected leaders to be more rigorous and thoughtful about setting spending priorities going forward. TPPF appreciates the efforts of State Representatives Phil King, John Otto, Drew Darby, and the 103 legislators in total who yesterday approved an amendment to HB 7 that adds a population growth plus inflation measurement to the state spending limit.

“Now it is the Senate’s time to act.  Sen. Dan Patrick’s SB 101 and SJR 10 await a Senate floor debate, and we encourage all senators to support these vital measures.”

The Honorable Arlene Wohlgemuth is the executive director and director of the Center for Health Care Policy at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. She served 10 years in the Texas House of Representatives, specializing in health care issues.

The Texas Public Policy Foundation is a non-profit, free-market research institute based in Austin.