About one-third of Texas’ state budget depends on federal funds, which include grants, payments, and reimbursements from the federal government to state agencies. As written in the U.S. Constitution, states should be able to act as independent and sov- ereign entities. With more federal aid funding the state’s budget, legislators lose their independence to act responsibly for their constituents, and all Texans lose in the process.
With massive federal budget deficits and the national debt exploding, Congress must eventually find ways to slow spending. This change would likely affect how much Texas receives in federal aid, potentially putting pressure on the state’s budget without preparing in advance by increasing transparency and identifying ways to reduce the use of federal funds.