Austin — This week, Senator Robert Nichols (R-Jacksonville) was appointed to serve on the Texas State Senate Finance Committee, which is charged with writing the biennial budget for the state of Texas.

"I want to thank Lieutenant Governor Dewhurst for appointing me to this important committee," said Nichols. "As the only statutorily required legislation that must pass during a legislative session, I understand the importance of passing a balanced budget while limiting unnecessary spending."

As Chairman of both the Senate Transportation Committee and the Senate Select Committee on Transportation Funding, Expenditures & Finance, Nichols has worked to ensure the future reliability of current state transportation funding sources and finding alternative transportation funding options.

"I look forward to bringing my experiences with transportation issues to the Finance committee, said Nichols. "Between these committees, I will work hard to balance the budget while maintaining essential services and preserving the existing infrastructure to the level Texans expect and deserve without raising taxes."

In addition to Senate Finance and Transportation, Nichols serves as Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Intergovernmental Relations. He also serves on the Senate Natural Resources, Health and Human Services, and State Affairs Committees and is a former Vice Chairman of the Sunset Advisory Committee.

Since being first elected to the Texas Senate in 2006, Nichols has stayed faithful to the 'Texas Taxpayer Protection Pledge', which opposes any and all efforts to increase taxes. During his time with the Sunset Advisory Committee, he helped to eliminate six state agencies which saved the tax payers $161.9 million. He has been named a 'Champion for Children' by the Equity Center, a 'Friend of County Government' by the Texas Association of Counties and a 'Champion of Free Enterprise' by the Texas Association of Business.

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