AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Soaring costs from the Harvey storm are raising calls for Texas lawmakers to break open the state’s emergency piggy bank of more than $10 billion.
Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick signaled Friday that lawmakers are ready to use the state’s rainy day fund in response to the devastation of Harvey. But how much will be spent — if any — remains unclear.
Republican Gov. Greg Abbott has said the costs of Harvey could exceed more than $150 billion.
In Washington, the House on Friday voted overwhelmingly to send $15.3 billion in disaster aid to President Donald Trump. Abbott has praised that spending package but has been noncommittal about using state emergency dollars.
Harvey hit Texas as a Category 4 hurricane and flooded Houston with more than 50 inches (127 centimeters) of rain.
Texas - the first state to be reverse-mortgaged.
Yeah, pay your own way Texas 'cause you’ve been a drag on the nation’s finances as it is you,Texas, who gave us GWB who wiped out Clintons budget surplus and then lied us into Evil unending wars that exploded the national debt.
But that’s their rainy day fund, why on earth would they spend it on rainy days?
WTF? The rest of us pay so they can sit on $10 billion?
No need to spend that. The rain stopped.