State Representative Mike Villarreal Texas House of Representatives FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 1, 2011

Contact: Phone: Email:

Peter Clark 512-463-0532 (o) 512-417-9262 (c) [email protected]

Texas House Takes Up Budget to Cut Education and Close Nursing Homes Villarreal Opposes Deep Cuts, Offers Amendments to Prioritize Education Austin - Today the Texas House of Representatives is debating House Bill 1, the Republican budget proposal for 2012-2013. The budget cuts state support for both public education and higher education by 21 percent, eliminating the TEXAS Grants financial aid program for incoming college students. The budget also cuts nursing homes by 33 percent, closing up to 80 percent of nursing homes according to recent estimates. According to the Legislative Budget Board run by the Speaker of the House and Lt. Governor, the budget would eliminate 335,000 jobs from the Texas economy over the next two years. The budget does not use any funding from the Rainy Day Fund or closing tax loopholes to support public education, higher education, or nursing homes over the next two years. State Rep. Mike Villarreal vowed to oppose the deep budget cuts. Rep. Villarreal said, "We need to make cuts, but I oppose this budget because it fails to prioritize supporting classrooms, keeping nursing homes open, and requiring big corporations to pay their fair share." Rep. Villarreal has filed several amendments for the House to consider during today's debate on the budget. His amendments would: -

Require the Comptroller to update the state's revenue estimate at the beginning of each fiscal year Require the Comptroller to make recommendations of tax loopholes that should be closed in order to fund education Increase funding for TEXAS Grants by $100 million Provide $4 billion in support to classrooms if the Legislature approves use of the Rainy Day Fund for the next two years. Provide $248 million for TEXAS Grants if the Legislature approves use of the Rainy Day Fund for the next two years.

Yesterday the House voted down an amendment by Rep. Villarreal to shift funding in the 20102011 budget from the Governor's office to TEXAS Grants. Rep. Villarreal is available throughout the day to discuss the budget and his amendments. ###