7/23/2019 Dan Patrick Letter About TRC (8-31-15)

1/1

Dan PatrickLieutenant Governor of Texas

President of the Senate

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Contact:Monday, August 31, 2015 512-463-0715

Lt. Governor Dan Patrick Statement on

Texas Racing Commission

AUSTIN The senate members of the Legislative Budget Board (LBB) today unanimouslyagreed to keep the agency open through the first quarter of the 2016 fiscal year.

The Legislature has already appropriated $15.4 million to the agency but voted to make theCommission's administrative funds totaling $1.5 million subject to LBB approval. TheSenate LBB members did not approve release of the Commissions administrative funding

but agreed to let the Commission's transfer funds already appropriated to cover the cost ofadministrative functions for three months.

"I fully support the proposal by senate members to allow the commission to use theirexisting appropriation dollars to continue covering administrative costs while racing boardmembers adjust their focus from expansion of gaming to their statutory purpose ofenforcing the Texas Racing Act and its rules to ensure the safety, integrity, and fairness of

Texas pari-mutuel racing," said Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.

We have been looking for a way to avoid a shutdown, said Senator Jane Nelson, R-FlowerMound and chair of the Senate Finance Committee. "Last week's actions weredisappointing, and we cannot look the other way when an agency exceeds its authority,defies the Constitution and picks fights with the Legislature."

###