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TribBlog: Senate Starts Right Away on Budget

Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst announced he will name the Senate's committees on Thursday or Friday of this week, with one exception. He wants the Senate Finance Committee to get going right away, and named that panel this afternoon.

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Governor Rick Perry, Speaker Joe Straus and Lt. Governor David Dewhurst after their first weekly breakfast meeting saying they will work together on the state budget.
Credit: Bob Daemmrich

Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst announced he will name the Senate's committees on Thursday or Friday of this week, with one exception. He wants the Senate Finance Committee to get going right away, and named that panel this afternoon. All but two of the members were on the panel already. The list:

Steve Ogden, R-Bryan, chairman; Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa, D-McAllen, vice chairman; Robert Deuell, R-Greenville; Robert Duncan, R-Lubbock; Kevin Eltife, R-Tyler; Craig Estes, R-Wichita Falls; Eddie Lucio Jr., D-Brownsville; Jane Nelson, R-Lewisville; Dan Patrick, R-Houston; Kel Seliger, R-Amarillo; Florence Shapiro, R-Plano; Royce West, D-Dallas; John Whitmire, D-Houston; Tommy Williams, R-The Woodlands; and Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo.

Estes and Patrick weren't on the committee two years ago. Sen. Kip Averitt, R-Waco, didn't seek re-election, and Chris Harris, R-Arlington, wasn't reappointed to the panel.

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Economy State government Budget David Dewhurst Texas Legislature Texas Senate