(Austin, TX) — Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst announced the Senate Committee on Finance appointments for the 82nd Legislative Session late Monday afternoon. Senator Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa was appointed to serve as Vice-Chair of the Committee for a second term. The Senate Committee on Finance is composed of 15 members, is charged with writing the state's biennial budget and oversees legislation relating to the appropriation of general revenue funds.

Senator Hinojosa's appointment as Vice-Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance gives South Texas an important place at the table for the budgetary and fiscal conversations that will take place during the 82nd Legislative Session. Senator Hinojosa, who is also a member of the Legislative Budget Board, expressed appreciation for the appointment.

"I am honored that Lieutenant Governor Dewhurst is entrusting me with this responsibility. Our state is facing serious budgetary challenges that threaten to undercut even the most basic of state services," Hinojosa said.

Because of the urgent need to tackle the budget deficit, Lt. Governor Dewhurst went against the tradition of naming the entirety of the Senate committees' appointments, and instead identified only the members to the Finance Committee - the Finance Committee appointments coincide with the release of the Senate budget numbers.

"Now that the members of the Finance Committee have been appointed we need to get to work, collaborate with stakeholders and find solutions to the serious challenges that Texas faces in regards to the budget.

"The Senate budget makes more resources available for education and border security than the house version. In the Senate version, border Security will see an actual increase in funding over the last biennium including funding for additional criminal investigators. But it's not enough."

"The Finance Committee will be making some tough decisions this legislative session and we must do everything in our power to fuel Texas' economic recovery," Hinojosa concluded.

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