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Rep. Jim Hackworth - House District 33
IMMEDIATE RELEASE May
27, 2010
Talks Continue As House
Holds Firm To
Bipartisan Balanced Budget Plan
Budget restores programs that create jobs, improve
education,
protect children & fund flood assistance
NASHVILLE (May 27)
– On Thursday, State Representative Jim Hackworth (D-Clinton) and
members of the Tennessee House of Representatives expressed
frustration with the slow pace of the current budget process and
encouraged the Senate to take a less partisan approach to balancing the
state’s budget.
“The budget proposal
released by the House of Representatives is a balanced budget plan with
no new taxes that both sides can agree on and I believe it’s time to get
this done” said Hackworth.
Earlier in the week
members of the House Budget Subcommittee presented a modified version of
the original budget proposal. In the House version, the proposed
cuts to items such as teacher pay and the Agriculture Enhancement
Program for farmers would be restored. The House version also
restores funding for programs designed to reduce infant mortality rates.
“Tennesseans want
responsible government that isn’t full of needless spending or reckless
cuts,” said Hackworth. “Creating new jobs, supporting small
businesses, helping folks in need; these are things responsible budgets
do and the House plan reflects such priorities.”
In addition to restoring
many of the cuts in the Senate budget plan, the House plan includes
additional funding for farmers and victims of the recent floods in
Middle and West Tennessee. Currently the House plan calls for $20
million in funding to provide additional assistance to families and
businesses impacted by the flood.
“We have thousands of
Tennesseans trying to rebuild their lives and the faster they can
rebuild, the faster our state can move forward,” said Hackworth.
“We created a rainy day fund in the event of an emergency, and I believe
it’s safe to say that the rains have come to Tennessee.”
The House and Senate are
expected to continue budget talks through the holiday weekend and resume
floor sessions beginning Wednesday. For more information visit
www.capitol.tn.gov.
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