SENATOR LOIS KOLKHORST APPOINTED TO SENATE BUDGET COMMITTEE

  

Senator Lois Kolkhorst, along with five other senators, were appointed by Lt. Governor Dan Patrick to serve on the budget conference committee, charged with crafting the final version of the state spending bill.

Along with Kolkhorst, the Senate team will be led by Finance Committee Chair Senator Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, and includes Senators Joan Huffman, R-Houston, Juan Hinojosa, D-McAllen, and Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown.

The move to appoint Kolkhorst marks the first time in recent history that a freshman Senator has been appointed to the powerful committee. Earlier this week, the House announced its five members of the conference committee, which includes Appropriations Chairman John Otto, R-Dayton, and Reps. Sylvester Turner, D-Houston; Sarah Davis, R-West University Place; Trent Ashby, R-Lufkin; and Larry Gonzales, R-Round Rock.

"It is an honor to serve as a budget writer for the greatest state in the nation," Kolkhorst said.  "My fundamental goal is to help craft a fiscally responsible budget that meets the needs of all Texans."

Senator Kolkhorst had previously served twice on the state's budget conference committee during her fourteen-year tenure in the Texas House of Representatives.

Last week, the Texas Senate approved a two-year, $211 billion budget which includes almost $4.5 billion in property and franchise tax relief, while increasing the state's border security efforts by over $800 million. The Senate conferees will begin meeting with their House counterparts next week to reconcile their differences.