FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 10, 2013
Contact: Carol Sims
carol@tcjl.com
AUSTIN—The Texas Civil Justice League (TCJL) today announced its support of financing the State Water Plan.
Today, Representative Allan Ritter (R-Nederland) introduced two bills, House Bills 4 and 11, which appropriate $2 billion from the state’s Rainy Day Fund to a revolving fund dedicated to building critically needed water infrastructure across the state.
“The Texas Civil Justice League understands that without an adequate and reliable long-term water supply, Texas’ future economic growth and prosperity will be put at grave risk,” said John Fainter, TCJL Chairman and President of the Association of Electric Companies of Texas. “We applaud Representative Ritter for taking the lead in the House to this very important issue.”
The Comptroller has estimated that the Rainy Day Fund will have a record balance of $11.8 billion available for the 2014-2015 fiscal biennium. Speaker Joe Straus and Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst have both stated that funding the water plan will be a top priority in both chambers this spring.
“While we recognize that there are many important financial challenges that demand attention this session, we simply cannot afford to defer meaningful action to secure water resources for our future,” said Hector Rivero, TCJL Vice Chairman and President of the Texas Chemical Council. “We look forward to working with Representative Ritter and members of the House and Senate to finally get it done.”
TCJL is a non-profit association of businesses, trade and professional organizations, and individuals advocating policies that strengthen the Texas business climate, attract new jobs and capital investment to the state, and provide greater economic opportunities for all Texans. Founded in 1986, the League has more than 5,000 members that collectively represent hundreds of thousands of Texans and Texas businesses.
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