Legislative Alert From Texas

TEXAS STATE EMPLOYEES UNION

EMAIL BROADCAST UPDATE TO MEMBERS   May 4, 2011.

The Senate is scheduled to take up their version of the Budget this morning at 11:00 AM. Obscure Senate rules will allow it to come to the floor today without the customary 2/3 majority vote.

Although the Senate’s version of the budget is an improvement over the House’s version. The Senate’s budget would still:

Cut 5,300 state jobs

Leave schools $4 billion short of current funding

Cut 32,000 TEXAS Grants for higher education

Privatize all in-house custodial staff across the state

Reduces state retirement contribution for ERS and TRS

In addition to the numerous cuts, the provisions to use an additional $3 billion of the Economic Stabilization Fund (Rainy Day Fund) was removed from the proposed Senate budget last night.

ACT NOW!

We need everyone to call their Senators and tell them:

“This budget just won’t do. We need to maintain current services for our growing state.

We need to spend the Rainy Day Fund, find new revenue, and maximize all federal funds. The people of Texas deserve better.”

Find your legislators at http://www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us/

Mimi Garcia

Outreach Coordinator

Texas State Employees Union

Office: 512-448-4225

Fax: 512-448-4224