For Immediate Release
Contact: Peter Clark, 512-473-2274

Austin - Today, the Texas Comptroller announced that Texas will face a projected budget shortfall of $4.6 billion. The Comptroller also announced that the Rainy Day Fund (formally known as the Economic Stabilization Fund, or ESF) will have $8.8 billion.

"As they manage this revenue challenge, Governor Abbott and the Legislature should work to make sure Texas families keep getting the services they need as they deal with high unemployment and a public health crisis," said Stephanie Rubin, CEO of Texans Care for Children. “State leaders should use the Rainy Day Fund and push Congress to boost funding to states during this crisis. In particular, Congress should quickly provide additional health funding to states by increasing the federal share of Medicaid costs.”

The state’s Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) recently outlined possible cuts to health services that were strongly criticized by advocates and legislators.

“This would be about the worst time imaginable for state budget-writers to make things harder on Texas kids and families,” said Ms. Rubin.

Last week, 37 Texas organizations urged Congress to increase FMAP Medicaid funding to states as a strategy for maintaining state services for Texans in the midst of the state’s revenue shortfall.

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