Austin - Senator Kevin Eltife, R-Tyler, today filed a proposed constitutional
amendment to discontinue issuing bonds for cancer research. The amendment would not
abolish the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT), the agency
created to approve research grants to pharmaceutical companies and other entities.
Research and prevention activities could be supported by other state revenue.
"Like many Texans, I have lost a loved one to cancer and I understand the importance of
research for cures and treatments," said Senator Eltife. "However, I do not support the
State of Texas going into debt to accomplish these objectives, and would prefer that it be
funded on a 'pay as you go' basis."
Senator Eltife did not support the constitutional amendment submitted to the voters in
2007 because of the funding mechanism. Recently, CPRIT has been beset by reports of
improprieties in the grant awarding process. Proposals have already been filed in an
attempt to address those problems.
"I believe this agency will be held much more accountable if they have to compete for
general revenue dollars like other agencies rather than operating on borrowed tax
revenue. We cannot continue to put this state further into debt and we must prioritize
our spending," concluded Senator Eltife.
If passed by the House and Senate, SJR 19 would be presented to the voters on
November 5, 2013.
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For more information about state government, Senator Eltife encourages interested individuals
to contact his office at (512) 463-0101, e-mail him at kevin.eltife@senate.state.tx.us, or visit the
State of Texas website at www.texasonline.com.
Under this current 535 plus one...
We have had more welfare, we have had free phones, we had another illegal war... we have the use of or taxes dollars to rebuild the Muslim info structure..
We have been given less health care.. taxes if we don't have health care.. give a 3.8 surcharge because our state does not support obama care.. insurance cost thru the roof... the house thinks that our money from social security is a entitlement.. plus had a tax in crease of 2 %...
on average the middle class as congress see it.. has been taken for a 3700.00 less...in monies brought home...
need to send letter, emails or phone calls to the senators, house reps... let them know that what they are doing and have let go buy.. needs to be bung to a halt!
Pay as you go is one step in the right direction.. and all government should be run that way.. as we as citizens have to live that way..
enough said!