Susan Combs' Fall 2010 Newsletter

Dear Fellow Texans:

When I wrote you a year ago about the changes undergone by our country, I could not have imagined what has happened since. The new administration has in fact passed sweeping health care legislation which we believe is going to impose enormous new costs on consumers and taxpayers alike. What is perhaps most shocking is that of the 80 provisions in the bill that are significant, 50 of them could not have their fiscal impact calculated. Those costs are yet to be revealed. The ever tightening grip of the federal government on state budgets is causing citizens across the nation to question the direction of the country.

Texas is not immune to these forces or to the economic hardship being endured nationwide. While California, Illinois and Nevada, to name just a few, are highly visible, we are nonetheless experiencing challenges of our own at home. But thankfully we are still better off than most other states and it is because we have been prudent with our taxpayer dollars.

Texas leaders recognize that all taxpayer funds are, in fact, your money, and we owe it to you to be transparent and fiscally responsible with those dollars.

The challenges going forward also offer us the opportunity to take a fresh look at how government serves individuals, and whether it can be made simpler, smarter and faster as it accomplishes tasks for citizens. As always, I am so grateful for your support and for allowing me this wonderful opportunity to work in public service and to serve you and Texas.

Sincerely,
Susan Combs

Read the rest of Susan Combs’ Fall Newsletter here: http://www.susancombs.com/files/SusanCombsNewsFall2010.pdf