Freedom Caucus Asks for Public’s Input on Budget Cuts

The Texas House Freedom Caucus is calling on Texans to be on the lookout for wasteful spending of their tax dollars via the state budget.

TFC has launched the Texas Accountability Project and is encouraging Texans to report suspected fraud, abuse, or waste of their tax dollars through the project website.

The examples of wasteful spending will be compiled into the “Texas Wastebook,” a biennial publication showcasing the most “egregious aspects of waste at the state government level,” according to a press release from the Texas Accountability Project’s website.

The results will be distributed to grassroots organizations across Texas and to colleagues in the Texas Legislature to increase awareness of “waste” in the Texas budget.

“Now more than ever, with so many Texans out of a job and businesses shut down, we must shine the harsh light of fiscal responsibility on every last tax dollar spent and work harder than ever to limit spending to essentials,” Rep. Mayes Middleton (R-Wallisville) said.

Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Texas House Speaker Dennis Bonnen sent a letter Wednesday directing state agencies and higher education institutes to cut their budgets by 5%. Certain departments and programs are spared, including Child Protective Services. 

With cutting government budgets on the table for the next legislative session in 2021, it is unknown what is identified as yet to be cut out and if the findings from the reports will be an inspiration. 

“After all, it’s your government, and it’s your money,” the Texas Accountability Project’s website states.