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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, The impact of our nation's economic crisis has begun |
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to take a toll on Texas; Comptroller Susan Combs estimates that |
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2010-2011 revenues will suffer a $9.1 billion shortfall, |
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representing a projected 10.5 percent decline from the current |
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budget; and |
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WHEREAS, Texas suffered the loss of 25,700 jobs in December |
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2008, and the state has seen a rise in unemployment claims over the |
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past year; the comptroller projects that another 111,000 jobs will |
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be lost in the coming months; and |
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WHEREAS, Spending cuts will affect not only education, |
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transportation, and other vital state services; state spending cuts |
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also undermine potential growth by removing dollars that would |
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otherwise be spent on goods and services produced or delivered in |
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the state; and |
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WHEREAS, The federal government is developing a stimulus |
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package aimed at jump-starting the faltering economy; under the |
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bill known as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, |
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Texas could claim at least $27 billion in federal funds; the |
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stimulus plan would send hundreds of millions of dollars to |
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cash-strapped school districts and provide $5 billion to stanch the |
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flow of red ink from the state's Medicaid program; and |
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WHEREAS, In addition, the stimulus package would inject money |
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into our economy by assisting the ranks of the unemployed, which are |
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expected to reach a level of approximately 6.6 percent in |
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2010-2011; the state would receive an additional $846 million for |
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unemployment insurance, and Texans losing jobs after September 1, |
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2008, would receive a subsidy to help them keep their previous |
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employer-sponsored health insurance; and |
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WHEREAS, The Texas economy can also benefit by provisions in |
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the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 designed to |
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preserve and create jobs, to provide investment in technology, |
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transportation, energy efficiency, environmental protection, and |
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infrastructure, and to minimize or avert reductions in essential |
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services; and |
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WHEREAS, With oil and gas prices and exports declining, Texas |
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can expect to feel the effects of this recession more sharply; it is |
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essential that the state quickly take advantage of all stimulus |
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funds available from the federal government in order to lessen the |
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current impact of the economic downturn and prepare the foundation |
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for long-term growth and prosperity when the national economy |
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recovers; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 81st Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby express its intent that the state accept federal economic |
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stimulus funds appropriated under the American Recovery and |
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Reinvestment Act of 2009 or any other such legislation that |
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allocates funds to our great state to ensure investment in jobs, |
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infrastructure, technology, energy, education, and health, thus |
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making certain that Texans, too, can participate in our nation's |
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economic recovery. |