CARTER AND FELLOW REPUBLICANS PREVAIL IN PASSING HOUSE BUDGET BILLS

April 4, 2011

(AUSTIN, TX) – Representative Stefani Carter (R-Dallas) voted in favor of House Bill 1, otherwise known as the budget bill, late Sunday night after many hours of debate over hundreds of amendments.

The Texas Constitution requires the passage of a budget every legislative session and this year it was a weekend long event. Debates began on Thursday morning when House Bills 4 and 275 were introduced. House Bill 4 effectively cuts about $1 billion out of the budget, which state leaders ordered last year as the fiscal crisis began. House Bill 275 allocated $3.1 billion from the Rainy Day Fund. Things wrapped up late Sunday night with the final passage of House Bill 1.

“These budget bills were not considered lightly my colleagues or me. I campaigned on a promise to balance the state’s budget without raising taxes, and we are now closer to doing just that,” said Carter.

Members of the House will go on to work with members in the Senate to reconcile the bills and create final legislation.
Stefani Carter is serving her first term representing House District 102, which includes parts of the cities of Dallas, Richardson, and Garland. She is a native of the Dallas area and a former prosecutor.

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