HOUSTON — Today, the Senate Committee on Intergovernmental Relations (IGR) met at the University of Houston in Houston, TX to hear testimony regarding issues related to government transparency, local debt and bond elections.

As Chairman of the Senate IGR Committee, Senator Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa was pleased with these charges because of the need for a capital investment infrastructure and the need for transparency and accountability.

The testimony heard at today's hearing helps give the Legislature insight into the significant issues our local government entities are facing and ways to address our local debt. It is clear that transparency and accountability are the best tools we have for increasing public awareness and understanding of bond elections.

Senator Hinojosa issued the following statement following today's hearing:

"Through the Senate IGR Committee, we can study the authorization, issuance and appropriation of debt at the local and state level and examine the immediate and long-term fiscal impact that bonds and other types of obligations have on current and future generations of taxpayers.

Our communities are facing challenging issues and our lawmakers have a responsibility to make government more efficient, save taxpayer's money and help earn trust in our government entities. Our Texas families need to be informed and understand their local government's fiscal state to make better decisions while voting, while our local elected officials need to be informed of assorted funding options with a commitment to educate and be transparent with their citizens."

###